Team champions: How MSP Capital’s workplace culture supports wellbeing

Pictured above: Team volleyball on the beach

Promoting health and happiness at work is a key aim for any responsible business, not least those keen to be an employer of choice. And in the post-pandemic era, more and more firms are taking a proactive approach to ensuring the mental health of their teams.

Just how important that is can be seen in statistics from the Health and Safety Executive who report that stress, depression or anxiety accounted for half of all cases of work-related ill health in 2020/21.

At Poole-based property finance lender MSP Capital, team wellbeing is a major priority and many actions are taken to support it.

Recognition

The team celebrates a Wellbeing Champion each month. This is a way of recognising and rewarding a colleague who has shown a commitment to their mental health. It could be a big or a small step, a fitness goal they have reached, an effort to improve their lifestyle or a challenge that has pushed them in a positive way.

Another initiative, Cheers for Your Peers, gives team members the opportunity to give shoutouts and a dinner gift to any ‘unsung heroes’ or those needing a boost for whatever reason.

This year, the team relocated completely from the world of work and went away together for a whole weekend. The aim was to relax, have fun and get to know each other as friends as well as colleagues.

And this year MSP Capital invested in the appointment of its first in-house mental health first aider. Another three colleagues are being trained up over the winter.

Praise

The workplace culture and support for wellbeing have impressed recent intern Harry Frost whose summer work experience was extended into a longer-term paid opportunity.

Harry, 20, approached the firm after he had worked at a recruitment company and while studying business management at the Open University.

He said: “I wasn’t too sure what to expect and I was surprised at how big the company is. In my first few days it was quite relaxed and there was lots of induction. I met the team and talked about what each department does. I spent time in operations, finance, underwriting, valuation and marketing, learning about the whole loan process. They treated me as a member of the team right from the start and made me feel included and at home.

"Everyone is entrepreneurial, works hard and they gave me a range of ad hoc tasks and mini-projects to work on. While I was expected to be hands-on and manage my workload to some extent, I felt completely supported.

"Everyone was approachable and happy to take the time to work closely with me. I wasn’t micro-managed. It was a great balance between having the chance to work independently and be a team member.”

Energy and focus

While working on projects from different departments Harry said he enjoyed the wider culture and social life. One month he was made the Wellbeing Champion for several reasons: his dedication in the in-house gym; playing with colleagues in a beach volleyball tournament in aid of charity; and cycling to work each morning.

The team were also amazed that on a car-free travel-to-work day, he went to the extent of paddle boarding across Poole Bay and walking into the office from Poole Quay.

Reflecting on his work experience and status as a Wellbeing Champion, Harry said: “MSP Capital have a great culture. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who made me feel so welcome.”

Becky said: “Both we and Harry have benefited from and enjoyed the internship.

“It is great to have someone so dedicated and focused on their career and personal progression. That’s the kind of energy and focus that MSP Capital loves.”

And highlighting the importance to MSP Capital of focussing on staff wellbeing, Becky said: “This year we have worked hard to lay the foundations for keeping our team happy and healthy. In 2023 we plan to further increase this focus, expanding access to support and continuing to invest in the future of our team.”

Discover more at mspcapital.co.uk