BaxterStorey and Waste Knot mental health partnership marks industry first

BaxterStorey has become the first company to partner with Waste Knot’s new mental health campaign for hospitality staff.

 

The campaign from the fruit and vegetable waste prevention organisation supported BaxterStorey’s internal WOW (Wisdom of Wellbeing) team to reconnect with nature, thereby alleviating symptoms of stress, burnout and anxiety.

 

Other departments from BaxterStorey will be invited to attend the course under the partnership.

 

Jess Latchford, founder of Waste Knot, developed day-courses on regenerative leadership, wellbeing and green therapies at Brook Farm, which she delivers alongside Pete Thompson, owner of Nature Based Farming.

 

Activities include paddle boarding, open water swimming, open-fire cooking, yoga and forest bathing, among others.

 

It comes after a study conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health discovered that over half of respondents (62%) believed the industry does not do enough to support the physical and mental health needs of employees, while less than a quarter (23%) felt comfortable raising mental health concerns with their employer.

 

Greg Bramwell, director of food and beverage at BaxterStorey and executive sponsor of the group’s WOW network, said: “As a business, we have a duty of care to protect and safeguard our people, especially in these extremely tough times for society. We believe the answer to this is to give them the time and space to temporarily step back from the pressures of day-to-day life and reconnect with nature.

 

“Our collaboration with Waste Knot will ensure our people have exposure to the environment and access to professional support networks, as well as providing education, exercise and some much-needed fun in the process.”

 

Lizzie Hennig, head of nutrition at BaxterStorey, added: “As well as feeding over one million people a year, we have a responsibility to do right by our teams. Our partnership with Waste Knot and Waste Knot People is part of our Nourish to Flourish mission and our ‘people, planet, purpose’ strategy. Nourish to Flourish focuses on taking a holistic view of health, wellbeing and sustainability and is how we are going to tackle sustainable nutrition.”