Nicola, Owner and Director at Seddon, argued that mental health should not be treated as a standalone wellbeing issue. Instead, it is closely linked to the industry’s ability to attract, train and retain skilled workers.

Nicola Hodkinson, Owner and Director at Seddon, said: “Mental health is not a separate wellbeing agenda; it sits at the centre of how the industry works.”

Nicola pointed to the industry’s reliance on self-employment and subcontracting. These offer flexibility but often come with instability, including no sick pay, holiday pay or pension. Workers who move frequently between projects can also miss out on peer support, and financial pressure can discourage people from taking time off even when they are unwell.

The article draws on University of Warwick research into on-the-tools workers. It found long hours, programme pressure, financial insecurity and social isolation were recurring themes, while stigma and concern about future work made people reluctant to talk about their mental health.

Fragmented employment also makes it harder to train and develop the workforce. Clear progression routes are less visible, and the SMEs and micro-businesses that employ many skilled trades face financial and administrative barriers to training.

Nicola said that mental health champions, toolbox talks and confidential support services all play an important role, but they cannot fix the problem on their own. She is calling for procurement to focus on whole-life value, social value and long-term partnerships. Risk should be shared more fairly across contracts, pipelines of work should be more predictable, and direct employment should be encouraged where appropriate. Public sector clients have a particular role to play by setting realistic programmes and supporting workforce development.

By aligning skills policy, employment models and procurement, Nicola believes the industry can create the conditions needed to retain its people and close the skills gap.

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