Wellbeing. Mindfulness. Exercise. Just a few of the reasons we’re a top 100 small company to work for.

We’re delighted to announce that for the third year running, we’ve been named in Sunday Times’ Best Small Companies to work for. And on top of that, we’ve yet again received a Best Companies three-star accreditation for extraordinary levels of employee engagement!

We’re exceptionally proud – not just for this stellar recognition (which is always lovely to have) – but of the incredible work our teams have put in to make ForrestBrown such a great place to work.

We’re well aware of the fact that feeling good is strongly linked to producing quality work, which is why we’re so passionate about our unique wellbeing initiatives – ensuring each person here is truly looked after. It’s what makes ForrestBrown so special, and keeps our “Share Purpose. Feel Proud.” culture standing strong.

So, here’s a little about what we’re doing to look after our ForrestBrowners.

Our people team are advocates of “five ways to wellbeing” – one of which is practising mindfulness. Through this, we’re encouraging ForrestBrowners to take notice and reflect on our thoughts and behaviours – whether it’s focusing on being more present with face-to-face interaction instead of email or relaxing in our breakout area. Maybe even taking a moment of solitude in our massage chair.

We have a coach come in regularly to spend an hour with small groups over lunch, covering topics on mindfulness (there’s a lot more to it than you think!) – focusing on training the mind to focus, improving self-awareness and cultivating a positive mindset to yourself and others. This is then followed by a guided meditation. Sessions are optional, of course, but we’ve found that the more of us who practise mindfulness, the better we all are at combatting stress and becoming far more resilient in the workplace.

The link between exercise and good mental health is well-known, which is why Workout Wednesday was one of the first-ever wellness initiatives we put in place at ForrestBrown. Our weekly fitness get-together is a terrific way to bond, get into shape and switch up the momentum a little – as well as socialise with people outside their usual teams.

There are activities here for all fitness levels across a huge range of sports – pilates, yoga, bootcamp, badminton, squash, netball, football, running and circuits, to name just a few. And we make sure we actively schedule in time for this so team members can make their workout sessions – whether that’s starting later on a Wednesday or finishing a bit earlier.

Since moving to our new Bristol office in July, we’ve begun complimentary breakfasts for all ForrestBrowners – every day! Each morning before the work day starts we offer a selection of bread, toast, fruit, cereals, yoghurt and juices for the team. So whether people have just come out of a morning #WorkoutWednesday sweat and want to refuel – or just want to grab some toast – we’re making sure they have a good start to the day.

We like to have a bit of fun with breakfast, too – creating themed events around celebrations or events, like pancake day or “fruit salad Fridays”. We’ll always have vegetarian and vegan options, too. For our weekly lunches, we’ll try different things each week, always eating together.

That’s the other side of it too – we like everyone to sit down in one place and enjoy nutritious food as a team. It’s the best way to get to know each other outside the work setting.

Every month, we’ll feature a talk or a workshop around wellbeing from the experts at Wellspace.  In these sessions we cover a range of topics – from sleep to nutrition; caffeine to posture. Our speakers dive into the science and psychology behind these topics as well as including practical sessions and tips and tricks to make small changes to improve our lives day-to-day.

A culture of understanding and appreciation for mental health is vital. Promoting fitness and mental health initiatives is just one part of how we’re creating a sense of wellbeing – the other is active, ongoing, day-to-day support from our very own team. ForrestBrown has signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment to show our support on this.

We’re proud to say that a growing number of our team members have taken part in mental health first-aid training, including our directors and people team. And through this, we’re advocating a very open culture around mental health topics, encouraging people to talk about what’s going on with them and feel comfortable asking for help.

For example, we encourage frequent 1:1 sessions and have implemented a “shelf help” library in reception, where you’ll find plenty of reading on mental health, sexuality, assertiveness and anxiety. Plus, our new health insurance provider offers eight complementary therapy sessions, including talking therapies and hypnosis.

That’s just one part of the great overall health package we have to make sure you’re looked after in every way. Our benefits package also caters to a wider range of needs – from enhanced parental leave to pensions.