SGUK Innovation Award

BMHA were delighted to win the Safety Groups UK (SGUK)Award for Innovation 2024 which was presented at an Awards Ceremony in IOSH in Leicester last week.

The SGUK Innovation Award is designed to recognise health and safety innovation,  and is open to all organisations of any size based or operating in the UK. The aim of the Award is to celebrate and share best practices, the latest thinking, and innovation in health and safety management.

(l to r) - Ian Coombes,  SGUK Board Member, Ernie Spence, BMHA Secretary, Andrew Cooke, Group SHE Director, GRAHAM & BMHA Committee Member, Rachel Dorovatas, Director of Industry Training & Support, CITBNI and BMHA Committee Member,  Norman Stevenson, SGUK Board Member, Stephen Laws, Chair, SGUK 

The Mental Health in Construction Signposting Service is geared towards offering workers in the sector an easy route to access help/advice from a range of mental health service providers. Our slogan is ‘You’re only 2 clicks from help!’

Accessed through a QR code the webpage containing the information (hosted by Northern Ireland Safety Group) has been accessed thousands of times since the official launch on World Mental Health Day last October.

Organisations in the construction sector are encouraged to display the QR code (see the helmet sticker left) on sites, in offices and at other location where their workers can see it.

Ian Coombes CMIOSH, SGUK Board Member, Trustee & Awards Committee Member said

“The judges appreciated the submission was comprehensive and well-prepared, with extensive evidence of activity and impact. 

They also acknowledged that this was an innovative response to an important issue affecting the construction industry. The entry showed innovation throughout and will have a lasting legacy. It provides a reproducible model for other industries and other health and safety issues.

The concept of forming an alliance of stakeholder organisations to create and promote a single, cohesive signposting service for those in need to find support was innovative and has been shown to be effective.  The independent website provides an ever-open bridge. The simple and effective message ‘2 clicks from help’ and QR code is a motivational aid to those in need. https://www.nisg.org.uk/building-mental-health”.

Part of the Awards Ceremony includes the winners outlining their entry.

Ernie Spence shows the audience what they see after scanning the QR code

Following the ceremony Wilson Lambe, BMHA Chair remarked.

“I’m elated BMHA have won this prestigious award. It justifies the hard work put in by all committee members.

I find it gratifying to see the industry in Northern Ireland come together to tackle the stigma of poor mental health.

At BMHA we don’t celebrate the numbers of people that have interacted with the service but the fact that we have been able to facilitate the interaction they have with mental health support services.

The concept is easy to recreate and for such an important cause BMHA would be happy to assist any organisation willing to undertake such an initiative”.

Who are SGUK?

The organisation, which is a registered charity (originally established in 1947) is the coordinating body for the network of around 73 local voluntary Occupational Health and Safety Groups located throughout the UK. As an 'umbrella' organisation, they exist to promote awareness and knowledge about work-related health and safety risks and how to manage them.

SGUK run a series of National Awards and Northern Ireland Safety Group as well as winning the Alan Butler Award for Excellence (making them the top Safety Group in the UK) also picked up the Albert Porter Rose Bowl as the Safety Group linked with BMHA.

Jimmy Fenton, PRO, NISG, Secretary Nicola McCracken and Committee member John Thompson receive the Albert Porter Rose bowl (awarded to the Winning organisation’s Safety Group) from SGUK Board Member Norman Stevenson.

Find out more about BMHA (including the free resources available and how to get involved) by scanning the QR code (below).

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