Stress Awareness – Supporting Minds at Work
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health issue at some point. While most conditions are mild and treatable, anxiety and depression are particularly common and can arise from both personal and work-related challenges.
We would like to introduce you to a timely opportunity to support your team’s mental health and boost your business performance. In line with UK design best practices, we are offering guidance based on the Health and Safety Executive’s Working Minds campaign.
There are three main reasons employers should look to prevent work-related stress and support good mental health;
- it’s the law
- it’s good for business
- and it’s the right thing to do
The law requires all employers to prevent work-related stress. In practical terms, that means doing a risk assessment at an organisational level and acting on it. Failing to manage stress at work can cost employers in reduced productivity, sickness absence, or even losing a valued member of the team.
The Working Minds campaign brings together a range of practical tools and support to help employers, managers and workers.
Get started in 5 steps:
- Reach out and have conversations
- Recognise the signs and causes of stress
- Respond to any risks you’ve identified
- Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken
Make it Routine to check in on how people are feeling and coping
Stress Indicator Tool
Preventing work-related stress, depression and anxiety is a legal duty, it’s good for business and it’s the right thing to do. By being proactive, you can improve productivity, reduce sickness absence and help retain valued workers.
Employers can use the Stress Indicator Tool to start conversations about stress at work, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that workplace conditions do not exacerbate mental health. Learn more about HSE’s Stress Indicator Tool (SIT) and how it can help you manage stress in your organisation.
Skills White Paper Published
The Government has published a Post‐16 Education and Skills White Paper, which includes a new target for two‐thirds of young people to participate in higher‐level learning by age 25, including at least 10% pursuing higher technical education or apprenticeships, in order to ensure they have ‘the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow’s job market’.
To achieve its target, the Government will be introducing the lifelong learning entitlement in September 2026 to provide a single funding system for post‐18 education. It is also consulting on new qualification pathways, with V Levels to be introduced at Level 3 to offer a vocational pathway for learners. The new V Levels will replace all other Level 3 qualifications sitting alongside A Levels (academic pathway) and T Levels (technical pathway with industry placement). Two new pathways are also proposed for Level 2: occupational and further study. The consultation on the design and implementation of the new pathways is open until Monday 12 January 2026 for members to share their views.
Following publication of the Skills White Paper, the Government has also set out how it plans to reform the national curriculumfor 5 – 16 year olds to ensure every young person has a ‘cast‐iron grip’ on the basics of reading, science and maths. It is part of how the Government will meet its target for two‐thirds of young people to participate in higher‐level learning by the age of 25, and the new national curriculum will be published by spring 2027 and implemented in full from September 2028.
Driver resources to help you ensure vehicle roadworthiness
Two thirds of vans stopped at the roadside by the DVSA have a safety critical defect.
Penalties for driving an unroadworthy vehicle include:
- a fine up to £2500
- three penalty points
- or a driving ban.
The legislation on vehicle roadworthiness is very clear – your vehicles must be safe and roadworthy at all times.
It’s also important to know that the law applies to both the driver and the operator – in other words, the employee (the driver) and the employer (the operator) have joint responsibility for vehicle roadworthiness whether it’s a van, a car, a PSV, a motorbike or an HGV.
Are you sharing the right messages with your drivers? The FREE Driving for Better Business fleet safety focus can help.
Download your driver resources here.
Work-related road risk is the risk that someone driving a vehicle on the roads as part of their job may be involved in a collision.
Government road traffic collision and casualty statistics have consistently shown that around a third of all fatalities and injury collisions involve at least one person who was driving for work.
Good management of driver safety and the reduction of road risk in your teams starts with understanding what should be included in your driving for work policies.
The Driving for Better Business risk and policy e-book will clarify:
- employer and employee responsibilities
- the key areas where road risk lies – there are more than you’d think
- the business impact of getting it wrong
- the business benefits of getting it right.
This Week: The UK Fencing Awards 2025!
The countdown is over — it’s finally here!
This Thursday, 13th November, we’ll be celebrating the very best of our industry at the UK Fencing Awards 2025, taking place at the iconic Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge.
The evening promises to be a fantastic celebration of innovation, skill and dedication across the UK fencing sector — with a champagne reception, three-course dinner, F1 simulator challenge and a special appearance from our guest speaker, Perry McCarthy — the original Stig from Top Gear!
We can’t wait to reveal this year’s winners across 12 categories, recognising excellence from apprentices and suppliers through to major project contractors.
“With the Awards less than a week away I would like to thank all the Entrants, Sponsors and the Judges for the time and effort that they all contribute to recognise our industry. Will be great to see old and new faces and looking forward to a bigger and better Awards with all the winners announced next week. Thanks also to the AFI team for making it happen.” said Pete Clark
To all our finalists — good luck!
And to our sponsors, judges and entrants — thank you for helping make this incredible event possible.
Stay tuned next week for photos and highlights from what promises to be the fencing industry’s biggest night of the year!
FenceX Feedback – We’d Love Your Views
After a record-breaking FenceX 2025, we’re already planning the next event — and we want your feedback!
Whether you attended as a delegate or exhibited at the show, your views are invaluable in helping us shape the future of FenceX — including whether it remains a one-day event or expands to two days.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey:
👉 Delegate Survey
👉 Exhibitor Survey
Your input will help us build on this year’s success and make the next FenceX even better.