MOLSON Group will be teaming up with the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity for a series of mental health talks during ScotPlant 2024.
Two daily presentations will take place on the Molson stand, and the equipment specialist is also designating a prominent area where representatives from the charity will be based throughout the event to chat to anyone looking for information about the wide range of support services available to construction workers and their families.
The hope is that workers struggling with mental health and wellbeing issues will feel more comfortable in the relaxed ScotPlant environment to open up and seek out the support they require.
Nicola Campbell, regional ambassador for Scotland at the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, said that many workers in the sector remain unaware of the free help services that are available, including access to emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing support.
“We lose two construction workers to suicide every day and we haven’t seen those numbers go down,” Nicola said. “We’re waiting on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) giving us the latest figures from last year because we helped more numbers than in previous years. For us, that’s great because we are reaching people, but sadly it just emphasises the large number of people that really do need the support.
“Awareness is the biggest thing so it’s about getting to as many people as possible.”
The charity is currently embarking on its MakeItVisible campaign, which sees a taskforce travel to construction sites across the UK to deliver mental health talks to those operating at the coalface. The team is comprised of former construction workers who understand the ins and outs of the industry.
“To ever hear the guys speak, they’re engaging and it’s great to see how they connect with the construction audience at that level,” Nicola added. “The industry does need that conversation. Sometimes when I go out to sites, not many people will come forward. Maybe their HR teams will come up and speak to me on behalf of (workers), but not necessarily (the workers themselves). But when the guys go out, it’s very effective and very, very powerful.”
While there are more female workers in construction than in previous eras, the sector remains predominantly male. Nicola said there is still often a stigma around men discussing mental health and one of the charity’s goals is to eradicate the ‘man up’ approach and make men feel safe when it comes to speaking out.
She explained, “The most important reasons why men don’t come forward are: 1) they feel ashamed rather than brave; and 2) job security. A lot of people feel that they’ll be a liability or micro-managed out of their position. You can fix broken arms as far as some are concerned, but not minds.”
Nicola stressed that the support provided by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is both non-judgmental and confidential. The organisation doesn’t reveal information to employers relating to any of their workers, or even divulge statistics regarding how many members of their workforce have contacted them.
Traditionally, ScotPlant Saturday has attracted many sector workers who come along to the show with their families. Nicola hopes this will provide an extra incentive for those requiring support to speak up.
“You don’t connect more with yourself than when you’re with your family, because they give you cause to re-think how you’re seeing the world,” she stated. “That family wants them home and to be around. These events are where you get the person, not the employee.”
Molson, as a company, takes mental wellbeing extremely seriously. The business is currently rolling out mental health first aiders across the workforce along with a network of other support options. All managers in the company also receive mental health first aid training.
Molson Scotland sales director Alistair Murdoch is a committee member and past chair of Lighthouse Club Scotland West. He revealed that the idea for the ScotPlant presentations came up during a committee meeting due to the potential to reach a vast audience of plant operators and other sector workers.
“We attend black tie construction events throughout the year to promote the charity, but they’re really aimed at company owners,” Alistair explained. “The ScotPlant presentations are designed to get to the guys who work on site, so that they know about the charity, they know who to contact, and what it can do for them, rather than just going in at the top level.”
Last year the business teamed up with customer Blackwood Plant Hire, whose MD Paul McCormack is also a committee member of Lighthouse Club Scotland West, to raise money and awareness of the charity. A Kobelco digger supplied by Molson to Blackwood was wrapped in the #MakeItVisible colours, with both companies pledging to donate £1 for every hour the machine worked for a full year. ScotPlant will provide a stage to reveal a second SK130 wrapped in the #MakeItVisible colours, which will be present on the Molson stand in the operator challenge area.
Molson will be bringing products from its entire portfolio to ScotPlant including the latest innovations from manufacturers such as Kobelco, Hydrema, Thwaites, Sennebogen, Rokbak, Ammann Terex and Finlay. Stand highlights will include the new hybrid Finlay J-1175 mobile jaw crusher.
The firm will also be showcasing six machines from its newest equipment partner – XCMG – comprising a range of excavators and a wheel loader.
With brand awareness vital to launching new products, Alistair admits ScotPlant 2024 has come at the perfect moment.
“It’s landed for us at the right time,” he said. “We’ll get the brand name out there and a full display at ScotPlant.
“The sales team are looking forward to launching the product and get feedback from all our present and future customers. I’m sure XCMG products will be the talk of the show!”
The mental health presentations will take place on both days of ScotPlant 2024 at 11am and 2.30pm. For more information about the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, visit www.lighthouseclub.org
