<h2>HI CHRIS, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? AND HOW ARE YOU OUT OF 10?&nbsp;</h2>
<p>I am great thanks; a solid 8 I would say.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>WHERE DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT TALK CLUB AND HOW DID THIS PARTNERSHIP COME ABOUT?</h2>
<p>They first came on my radar through Instagram I think and then they just kept popping up everywhere and seemed to be doing amazing things all the time so I reached out to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinthorpetherapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavin </a>and we met over a coffee and he shared the full story of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/talkclubcharity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Talk Club</a>, how it started, the journey and where they want to take it which was inspiring and incredible what they have achieved in such a &nbsp;short space of time both in terms of growth but more importantly impact. They are incredible.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>AS THE CEO OF SR2, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S CRUCIAL TO PRIORITISE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE TEAM?&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Put simply, the better people feel the better people will perform so it should be a priority for any business.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>HOW DOES PRIORITISING MENTAL HEALTH POSITIVELY IMPACT THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE TEAM?</h2>
<p>I hope it provides further evidence that we care no1. We have been the very first business to do this partnership with Talk Club and offer this support and service to our staff alongside many other health and well-being benefits we offer the team like weekly boot camps, HEKA Wellbeing allowance, unlimited holiday, and financial coaching. The 3 key pillars Talk Club focuses on for mental fitness are Sleep, Diet and Exercise. Whilst people need to take accountability for themselves and what they do day-day to positively impact those 3 key pillars, if we can create an environment that helps support, foster, and encourage good habits against those pillars then I have no doubt it will positively influence their lives and mental fitness as well as their performance and productivity at SR2.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>THE PILOT HAS BEEN GOING FOR TWO MONTHS NOW, HOW DO YOU THINK IT HAS GONE? WHAT FEEDBACK HAVE YOU HAD AND HAVE YOU SEEN ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE TEAM?&nbsp;</h2>
<p>I naturally haven&rsquo;t had huge amounts of feedback as it&rsquo;s a confidential service however the fact every week is booked out solidly tells its own story. We also provided extra sessions with our MHFA practitioners that we have in the business who are around every day. These have been hugely useful sessions and helped give some insightful feedback. Lots of businesses have MHFA&rsquo;s in the team but so often overlook who is looking after them. MHFA&rsquo;s are on the front line of your business and people naturally will speak with them in that role and share and unload a bit at times which can weigh heavy on that individual. We have had monthly sessions as a team of SR2 MHFA&rsquo;s and these have been incredible to help support each other and share so without doubt this has been a positive step for the business.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>DID YOU HAVE A SESSION AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT YOU GOT INVOLVED?</h2>
<p>I have yes. Not something I have ever done before, to be honest, but I wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone a little as I am not a big talker in truth and see what it was like firsthand. Being a CEO can be a lonely place at times, to say the least, and having had my session I felt noticeably lighter and better for it. I had been attending the group MHFA&rsquo;s sessions as I am a trained MHFA myself and those sessions were incredible and very reflective for me and then 121 was no different. Having never done anything like that before, I came away feeling super positive and I will book in future chats if I can squeeze in.</p>
<h2>ARE THERE PLANS TO CONTINUE WITH THE TALK CLUB SESSIONS?&nbsp;</h2>
<p>100% we have piloted it for 3 months and I feel like it has been a huge success in what&rsquo;s been a difficult year for everyone with the recession and cost of living crisis and everything else going on in the world right now it has been a hugely beneficial additional layer of support to our team.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THESE SESSIONS TO OTHER BUSINESSES AND WHY?</h2>
<p>A total no-brainer if you genuinely care about your people. &nbsp;</p>

1 in 7 people experience mental health problems in the workplace

Why I want a mentally fit business | Chris

<p>It&rsquo;s a good time to be in the clean energy business, everyday more and more people realise that a shift in how we generate energy is needed to fight the climate crisis. Because of this, investment in clean energy sectors like EV production and battery storage has never been higher, with estimates showing that spending on clean energy technologies and infrastructure is on track to <a href="https://www.iea.org/news/investment-in-clean-energy-this-year-is-set-to-be-twice-the-amount-going-to-fossil-fuels">hit $2 trillion in 2024</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s safe to say that across the clean energy industry, business is booming! But this rapid growth isn&rsquo;t all Sunshine and Lollipops, as the industry now faces a new challenge: finding the skilled talent to power it!&nbsp;</p>
<p>In 2020, the <a href="https://www.eon.com/en/innovation/future-of-energy/energy-and-beyond/energy-transition-faces-a-shortage-of-key-workers.html">clean energy sector employed 12 million workers</a>, and predictions suggest this could rise to 38 million jobs by 2030 and 43 million by 2050. That&rsquo;s a whopping 216% increase in the next five years alone &ndash; With the industry needing to fill 26 million jobs by 2030 it has never been more important for firms to focus on bringing in talent.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is where Employee Value Proposition (or Employer Branding) comes into play, helping to futureproof your talent pipelines for sustainable growth. Your company&rsquo;s EVP is not just a short term hiring tool, it&rsquo;s the foundation for attracting, retaining, and engaging the skilled workforce needed to grow your business. &nbsp;</p>
<h2>Understanding Employee Value Proposition (EVP)</h2>
<h3>What is an EVP?</h3>
<p>Your company&rsquo;s Employee Value Proposition is the mix of factors that determine how attractive a company is to potential employees, i.e., what value to employees get from working for your brand!</p>
<p><strong>These Factors include:</strong>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Compensation and Benefits:</strong> Competitive salary, health benefits, and retirement plans.</li>
<li><strong>Career Development Opportunities:</strong> Growth paths, training programs, and leadership opportunities.</li>
<li><strong>Work-Life Balance:</strong> Flexible working hours, remote work, and time-off policies.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Company Culture:</strong> Inclusivity, teamwork, and employee engagement initiatives.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Purpose/Mission:</strong> The organisation&rsquo;s societal and environmental impact, especially vital for clean energy.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Importance of a Strong EVP in the Clean Energy Sector&nbsp;</h2>
<p>While the mere fact that your firm is in the business of preventing climate disaster with clean energy and sustainable technology ticks the Purpose/Mission box for most potential candidates, you can&rsquo;t rest on the laurels of being a company doing good&hellip; &nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;&hellip; After all, every other company in the industry has the same mission as yours, meaning your firm still needs a competitive edge to attract the top talent.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Attracting Top Industry Talent</h3>
<p>With so many jobs to fill, the clean energy sector is grappling with a significant talent shortage. As demand for clean energy and green technology grows, so does the need for the top engineers, scientists, and IT professionals, making a solid EVP vital to have if you want to attract the brightest minds in energy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Companies like &Oslash;rsted and OVO have not only built reputations around sustainability and innovation, but also created strong EVP programs that appeal to purpose-driven professionals. By demonstrating your commitment to both your employees and the environment, you will create a reputation as an employer of choice for top talent.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Retaining and Engaging Employees</h3>
<p>Retaining great employees is just as important as attracting candidates. Having a strong EVP also plays a crucial role in retaining talent; when your employees feel valued and aligned with your company&rsquo;s mission, they&rsquo;re more likely to stay with your company over the long term. In fast-evolving industries like battery storage, where innovation and expertise are essential, losing key employees at any level can be a costly setback.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beyond just retaining staff, a well-communicated EVP will enhance employee engagement. A valued and respected employee is a motivated employee, meaning that having quality benefits and admirable values lead to increased productivity and creativity&mdash;essential drivers of innovation in the clean energy sector.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Building a Strong EVP for Clean Energy Firms</h2>
<p>As we mentioned earlier, just by being in the clean energy industry, your team have a head start when creating an EVP for your brand (as long as you&rsquo;re not Green Washing your brand), as the mission of combating climate change will positively align with the personal values of the vast majority of people. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;But, having a head start doesn&rsquo;t mean that you should just stop there, the race to secure the top clean energy talent is long and competitive, so your EVP needs to be just as competitive!&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Aligning EVP with Company Mission and Values</h3>
<p>Starting with the easy consideration, sustainability should be at the forefront of your EVP in a real way, that is backed up with proof and action. This can be done by communicating how your firm is helping to drive the green energy transition, showcasing specific ways your employees contribute to fighting climate change, and being transparent about the less &lsquo;green&rsquo; parts of your business.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Offering Competitive Compensation and Benefits</h3>
<p>With the competition for top talent heating up, it is essential that your firm offers competitive salaries and benefits to retain talent and attract new candidates. But remember, money isn&rsquo;t anything, so you need to consider non-monetary benefits like: flexible working schemes, hybrid working models and generous annual leave policies can all be difference makers for candidates choosing their next employer.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Promoting Career Development and Continuous Learning</h3>
<p>As the technology behind the green revolution evolves, so should your team&rsquo;s skills. By your staff learning and development opportunities, such as certifications and training in the latest green technologies, your company shows its commitment to professional growth. Which will attract forward-thinking professionals to your company and ensure that your existing workforce is equipped to innovate in the fast-changing world of clean energy.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Cultivating a Positive Work Culture</h3>
<p>In any business, company culture is an integral part of any EVP offering, creating a workplace culture that promotes collaboration, diversity, and innovation helps your talent feel supported and engaged. Clean energy firms that create a sense of community and purpose are more likely to build a workforce that stays engaged and motivated for the long term.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Long-Term Benefits of a Strong EVP in Clean Energy</h2>
<p>It&rsquo;s all well and good for us to talk about how to create a strong EVP for your firm, but you&rsquo;ll likely be wanting to know the upside of investing your time and energy creating an EVP. Well, if you do make a push making a compelling EVP, you can expect to see:&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Sustainable Talent Attraction and Retention</h3>
<p>Having a strong EVP will ensure that your company will continue to attract and retain top talent over time, as industry talent knows your firm is a great place to work. As the demand for clean energy and electric vehicles grows, building a reputation as an excellent pipeline will help attract top talent and create a future-proof talent pipeline of skilled professionals flowing into your firm.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Driving Innovation and Business Growth</h3>
<p>Attracting and retaining the right talent through a compelling EVP drives innovation. With the clean energy industry advancing rapidly, a committed and engaged workforce is key to staying ahead of the curve. The result? A stronger, more resilient business, primed for sustainable growth.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Enhancing Company Reputation and Brand</h3>
<p>A strong EVP also boosts your company&rsquo;s reputation. In an industry where partnerships, investors, and customers are paying closer attention to sustainability credentials, having an engaged, purpose-driven workforce can enhance your employer brand, making you more attractive to all stakeholders.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Let SR2 Power Your Growth!</h3>
<p>In the <a href="https://sr2cleanenergy.com/">clean energy sector</a>, a strong EVP is more than a recruitment tool&mdash;it&rsquo;s a necessity for sustainable growth. It helps attract top talent, retain and engage employees, and drive innovation. By aligning your EVP with your company&rsquo;s mission and offering competitive compensation, career growth opportunities, and a positive culture, firms can ensure long-term success.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If your EV, battery storage, or clean energy firm is looking to strengthen its EVP and attract top talent, SR2 Clean Energy can help. As a socially responsible recruitment firm, we specialise in connecting companies with candidates who align with their values and mission. Reach out to us today to learn how we can assist in powering your company&rsquo;s growth.</p>
<h3>Read Our Clean Energy Recruitment Report</h3>
<p>We have recently <a href="https://sr2cleanenergy.com/becoming-a-talent-magnet/">published a report</a>, looking at how companies can overcome the skills shortage in the clean energy industry &ldquo;<a href="https://sr2cleanenergy.com/becoming-a-talent-magnet/">Clean Energy Culture: Your Guide to Becoming a Talent Magnet</a>&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This report explores the current state of hiring in the clean energy sector, the benefits of becoming a &ldquo;talent magnet&rdquo;, how to transform your firm into an attractive destination for top energy talent and much more.</p>

In 2020, the clean energy sector employed 12 million workers, and predictions suggest this could rise to 38 million jobs by 2030 and 43 million by 2050. 

Why a Strong EVP Powers Sustainable Growth in Clean Energy

<p>Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.</p>
<h2>But what does self-care mean to me?</h2>
<p>Self-care to me is giving myself time to do the things I love, feed my soul, and fill my cup. Life can become super busy, and we can almost forget to spend time on ourselves and with ourselves. Self-care has become a non-negotiable to me over the past 4 years, at least once per week I spend a full day by myself doing whatever makes me feel good, normally a Sunday resetting for the week ahead. I also make the effort to give myself at least an hour a day doing something that makes me feel good.</p>
<p>Self-care can sometimes have a misconception of being a face mask and a movie, while that is someone&rsquo;s ideal self-care routine for other people it&rsquo;s ticking off things on their to-do list. It&rsquo;s different for every individual person as it&rsquo;s personalised to what fuels you, grows you and makes you feel good. A book that really helped me with this is<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/working-hard-hardly-working/grace-beverley/9781529159004" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Working Hard or Hardly Working</a> Grace Beverly</p>
<p>I have noticed a huge shift in my relationships, creativity, energy and view on life since making this a priority. Being able to give more to my friends, family, and career has made a significant difference as I have refilled my own cup, and given myself the time to emotionally and mentally rest as well as physically.</p>
<p>Types of self-care I love:</p>
<p>🙏 I will walk every day with a podcast for at least an hour</p>
<p>🙏 Buying a coffee and a croissant</p>
<p>🙏 Spending time in the gym</p>
<p>🙏 Journalling before I go to bed</p>
<p>🙏 Meditation/Yoga</p>
<p>🙏 Cooking</p>
<p>🙏 Cleaning the house</p>
<p>🙏 Working through my to-do list</p>
<p>If you don&rsquo;t currently have self-care in your routine, the best place to start is to write a list of the things that make you happy and you love to do, then a list of the things you enjoy that keep you healthy both physically and mentally and slowly start to implement them into your current routine.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/char-johnson-06a70179/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Post by Char Johnson</a></em></p>

What Does Self Care Really Mean? | Char

<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Monday 15th January is &lsquo;Blue Monday'</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Blue Monday was first coined as a term by psychologist Cliff Arnall, as he claimed he had calculated the most depressing day of the year. He never intended it to be seen as a negative, more an opportunity to inspire people to make bold decisions and maintain their mental health.</span></p>
<h3><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The 3 main pillars of mental health are;</span></h3>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Sleep</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Exercise</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Diet</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Focussing on getting plenty of the above will help you stay mentally fit &amp; health.</span></p>
<h3><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">New Pillars</span></h3>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Additional to the 3 main pillars above, advisors have recently added 3 new pillars, which can also support your mental health/mental fitness; </span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Light - Getting outside in the morning is the best way to get some light into your life, or you can get a lamp such as a &lsquo;Lumie&rsquo; for your dingy home office to help when indoors.</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Connection - this is all about spending time with your friends &amp; family. Chatting in the office, or a quick call to someone close to you is the best way to stay connected on a daily basis.</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Nature - Spending time in nature has been shown by multiple studies to benefit your mental health. A walk in the morning or at lunch is also a great way to get your light exposure in!</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Staying mentally fit</h3>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here are some methods of staying mentally fit that SR2's very own mental health first aiders swear by themselves.</span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Going to the gym at lunch, or even a 15-minute walkaround castle park. We even had a contract &amp; perm crossover walk last week.</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Whether you&rsquo;re training for a marathon or just walking 15 minutes a day, anything you do will have a positive impact!</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Boundaries around your work and personal life -sometimes leaving on time to go for some food with your friends is going to be better for you than staying late at work and burning out.</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">A creative outlet - perhaps painting, listening to music or reading a book works for you when you want some time to relax.</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Journalling is a great way to get your thoughts out of your head. Whether it&rsquo;s in the morning or evening it&rsquo;s a good exercise to try</li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Turning your phone off for an hour in the evening - our phones get bombarded all day, so a break in the evening to concentrate on some time to yourself could be a good idea</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">By<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/douggear-javascript/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> Doug Gear</span></a></span></p>

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F**K BLUE MONDAY | Doug

The 3 main pillars of mental health are;

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