Nationwide Platforms celebrates colleagues leading the way in workplace wellbeing
As the UK marks the first-ever Mental Health First Aiders Day (12th November 2025), Nationwide Platforms is celebrating the colleagues behind its growing network of trained listeners.
The network of trained listeners includes people like Quality and Compliance Manager, Scott Glen, whose journey from engineer to advocate reflects a wider cultural shift across the powered-access industry.
Scott joined Nationwide Platforms 15 years ago as an apprentice engineer and went on to hold various roles within the business, including time as a technical trainer before moving into his current role. It was during his training work that he first realised how often colleagues would turn to him to talk, an experience that eventually led him to pursue Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) training.
“In engineering, we’re a practical bunch; we like to fix things,” says Scott. “But what I’ve learned through MHFA training is that most people don’t need fixing. They just need someone to listen, to help them find the answer that’s already there within themselves.”
What began as informal conversations during technical courses soon grew into something more structured. Scott recalls being surprised when trainees started returning to him — and bringing others — simply because he was someone who would listen without judgement. “At one point I had people queuing up for a chat,” he laughs. “That’s when I realised, I needed proper training to understand how best to support them.”
With encouragement from HR, Scott completed an internal mental health awareness course before undertaking accredited MHFA training. The experience, he says, was transformative. “The training made us look at ourselves first, at how we deal with pressure and what our own signs of stress look like. That self-awareness is what allows you to spot it in others.”
Since then, the company’s wellbeing network has grown steadily, ensuring there are trained first aiders representing different regions and job families. “That’s really important,” Scott explains. “An engineer might not feel comfortable opening up, but they’ll be more comfortable talking to a fellow engineer. Having MHFAs across different roles makes sure there’s always someone people can relate to.”
Breaking down stigma — particularly among male colleagues — remains one of the biggest challenges. For Scott, normalising open conversation is key. “In our industry, you still get that attitude of ‘just get on with it’. But the truth is everyone struggles at some point. What’s changed in the last few years is people are realising they’re not alone. Once one person opens up, it gives others permission to do the same.”
One simple initiative that helped embed that culture is the company’s “Ask twice” reminder, encouraging employees to follow up their everyday “Are you OK?” with a genuine second check-in. “Sometimes that second question makes all the difference,” says Scott. “It lets people know you really mean it, that you’re not just being polite, you’re making space for a real conversation.”
“Our 26 Mental Health First Aiders play an essential role in promoting wellbeing across the business,” said Karen Maguire, UK HR Director at Nationwide Platforms. “Scott’s story shows how small acts of empathy can spark lasting change in workplace culture.”
Nationwide Platforms continues to expand its network of MHFAs and wellbeing resources including Westfield Health Employee Assistance Programme amongst other tools, building on the principle that safety and wellbeing go hand in hand. By empowering colleagues to support one another, the company hopes to make mental health conversations as normal — and as vital — as any discussion about physical safety.