“What are the best tips you have found in your organisation to tackle workplace stress and boost workplace wellbeing?”
This was the question discussed by The Printing Charity’s Nicola Peacock and panellists Donna James and Sam Morgan from Signspeed and Stuart Harley from XPlorer Group at the 2025 Print Show.
The importance of checking how people are
Sam explained: “As a small business, we rely heavily on being able to do things to try and identify if people are struggling. We have morning meetings to engage and ask how people are doing, and we all understand it is about balance – the need to monitor how people are alongside the need to get the work out the door. This is why we need that awareness of what’s going on within the team.”
For Stuart, leading a franchise network, the situation requires a different approach. “I see myself as part of [the franchisees’] businesses. The head office team aims to touch base with each business owner fortnightly, and we also speak to staff whenever we can in person. We help franchisees to learn supportive management styles.
“Like any business, we have franchisees who are happy to talk, and those who don’t. But what we do know is that if we see pressure somewhere in the business the same thing is probably happening in other places, too. So we want to make sure all our people understand the importance of wellbeing.”
Wild swimming and walking meetings
Donna explained why building a culture of workplace wellbeing has to include looking after business leaders’ own wellbeing. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. You need to be the best you, so Sam and I commit time to our own support network of various resources.”
For Donna and Sam, this includes taking inspiration from local organisations doing positive things in this arena. “Where we are based, the DPJ Foundation in Pembrokeshire provides wellbeing support for people in agriculture, and we’ve been inspired by what they do.”
Showing an innovative approach to looking after personal wellbeing while working, she added: “Time spent outside is important. Sam and I have the best management meetings in the sea!”
Stuart also takes the working day outside if possible. “If I have a remote meeting I put my headphones in and go for a walk,” he says.
Creating opportunities for open communication
Stuart places clear value on open and honest communication throughout the whole business. “When I first joined,” he recalls, “I took everyone out and encouraged them to say whatever they wanted, and be honest. We a result of this we got some fantastic ideas, and ran with them. If we see something great from one of the franchisees, we will always shout about it.”
Signspeed have provided staff training on how to have difficult conversations at work; and how to speak to others in the organisation to encourage them to speak out when they need to, too. “We are determined to empower our team to talk about things, not just say ‘I’m fine’.”
Sam says: “Part of it is taking part in activities together. We’ve been quad biking and done cocktail making, but it doesn’t have to be expensive: for example, we’ve got a beach clean coming up – and Donna and I are still trying to persuade the team to take part in a cold water swim!”
This was reinforced by members of the Signspeed team in the Knowledge Zone audience, who said that as they are a small team they are all together and build friendships in the business, so can pick up when someone’s not alright.
Stuart says: “Supporting wellbeing can be the smallest, off the cuff things, such as fish and chip Fridays, which we do at head office and encourage franchisees to do too. Overall, I am now thinking about a set wellbeing budget, which is something I wish I had considered before.”
Sharing support from the Printing Charity
For both Xplorer Group and Signspeed, the Printing Charity helpline sits within their businesses as a free, independent wellbeing support cornerstone that’s open to all.
Stuart said: “Information about the helpline is there when anyone opens the intranet, for everyone to find.”
Donna and Sam make sure they share the range of Printing Charity support and advice content, sent via email or on social media, with everyone as a regular resource addressing different challenges.
The Printing Charity is here to help everyone in print help their colleagues. It starts with a conversation: email helpline@theprintingcharity.org.uk for more.