Bath chartered financial planning firm Unividual has launched a wellbeing programme to help combat the lasting effects of Covid-19 on the health of its employees.
Unividual, which also has an office in London, said it had listened to feedback from staff over the impact Covid-19 had on their health.
As a result it has brought in national wellbeing company Outliers to carry out an independent survey to identify what its advisers and paraplanners find difficult in their role and how this impacts on their stress, wellbeing and physical and mental health.
Unividual first got in contact with Outliers after a client recommended the business.
Unividual marketing director Cherie-Anne Baxter said: “We all know operating in our industry isn’t easy. It is even harder for those joining with no prior experience.
“Our in-house academy Unicademy fast-tracks aspiring finance professionals and we want to equip them with the mental, physical and social tools to excel at a level in their career that many of their peers won’t have yet reached.”
She said looking after staff wellbeing did not only improve morale but had a knock-on effect on the service they can provide to clients.
“If advisers are balanced and resilient they can better coach clients who feel the pressures of managing their finances,” she added.
“Outliers have been fantastic. They are down to earth, humble, fun and our staff really relate to them. These things do cost money, but we are already starting to see a return on investment.
“The program has made us reassess certain management situations which has improved the level of psychological safety in the organisation.
“Staff seem happier and more relaxed at work. This will be an ongoing investment as we will continue to support each person through the different challenges in their careers.”
Family-run Unividual, which employs 25 people, was founded by Cherie-Anne’s father John Baxter. Her brother Lewis also works in the business.
The firm had more than 2,500 applications for its bespoke training scheme Unicademy, pictured, this year and took on six new people in September to train to become financial advisers, paraplanners or team leaders within the firm.
Outliers operations manager Ed Challis MBE, a British Army Captain who has also worked as a financial adviser, said:
“Unividual is a dream business, leading by example. They want to do everything they can to support people's wellbeing and what they are doing is so unique in the industry.
“I witnessed first-hand how hard it is working in financial services. Unividual are hiring young talent to help get people into the industry and some in their 20s may not have developed the level of resilience that people in their 30s and beyond have.
“Unividual had a simple remit: how do we build a resilient workforce who can feel safe at work and enjoy their job by embracing pressures.
“After a consultation period we launched a transformational programme that explores the Unividual culture, leadership style, psychological safety and wellbeing.
“We are using tools like psychological profiling, one-to-one coaching, group training sessions and digital provision.
“All sounds great but would amount to nothing if it wasn’t for the buy-in from the Unividual leadership team and their people.”
