Alstom opens new Work & Wellbeing Suite in Derby

The launch formed part of a wider Health and Wellbeing Roadshow at the Derby facility, which coincided with the company’s Health and Wellbeing Week (Monday 15 – Friday 19 June) that took place across Alstom sites in the UK and Ireland, and around the world. 

The new facility – a dedicated space inside the 150-year-old factory – provides colleagues with access to expert support, guidance and resources to improve wellbeing both at work and beyond. The Suite reinforces Alstom’s ambition to create a workplace culture where wellbeing is embedded into everyday life and supported at all levels of the organisation.

Alstom’s flexible Work & Wellbeing Suite includes a new and expectant mother room, a dark room, a multifaith prayer room, a stretching room, three quiet zones, as well as a bright, open space perfect for group exercise and social events. 

Based on an initial concept from colleagues Amanda Roe and Aimee Smith, the Suite was designed and redeveloped by the Derby Wellbeing Champions. These are a group of volunteers led by Annie Curtis and Amanda Roe who, alongside their core roles, promote a positive and supportive workplace culture, and help ensure colleagues have access to the resources they need to flourish.

“At Alstom, we recognise that our people are our greatest strength, and their wellbeing is fundamental to everything we do. The opening of our Work & Wellbeing Suite in Derby – alongside our wider activity during Wellbeing Week – demonstrates our continued commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where everyone can thrive,” said Andy Butters, Managing Director Derby Litchurch Lane Works at Alstom.

He added: “By bringing together expert partners and providing accessible resources, we are empowering our people to take control of their mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing. I would also like to personally thank the Derby Wellbeing Champions, whose dedication has made this possible alongside their already busy roles.”

The Derby Wellbeing Champions are part of an Alstom network across the UK and Ireland, which is led by HR and Occupational Health. To date, 26 Alstom sites across the two countries have a Wellbeing Lead who, along with their local Wellbeing Champions and Mental Health First Aiders, work with colleagues to promote wellbeing initiatives, increase awareness, break down stigma and drive culture change.

Embedding wellbeing across every aspect of working life

The Work & Wellbeing Suite reflects Alstom’s holistic approach to wellbeing, bringing together four key pillars:

• Mental wellbeing – Encouraging open conversations and access to support

• Physical wellbeing – Promoting healthy lifestyles, prevention and early intervention

• Social wellbeing – Fostering connection, inclusion and belonging

• Financial wellbeing – Building confidence and resilience in managing finances

This was echoed through the Health and Wellbeing Roadshow, where employees had the opportunity to engage directly with Alstom colleagues and specialist partners, attend talks, and access confidential one-to-one support. External organisations included Baton of Hope, Chubb, Livewell, Health Assured, HSBC, Mrs Tickly Toes, Onebright and Tough to Talk.

“Baton of Hope is the UK’s largest suicide awareness and prevention initiative, working to drive open conversations, challenge stigma and ensure more people can access the support they need. Creating spaces like Alstom’s Work & Wellbeing Suite is so important in helping to normalise conversations around mental health and ensure people feel supported, listened to and able to seek help when they need it,” said Mike McCarthy, Co-Founder of Baton of Hope, who spoke at the facility’s launch.

He added: “We’re proud to work with organisations such as Alstom that are taking meaningful steps to prioritise wellbeing and break down the stigma that still surrounds suicide and mental health. We are delivering Royal Society for Public Health -accredited training to Alstom staff, and Baton of Hope is very grateful for the company’s wider support. We’ve been working together since 2023 and we look forward to continuing a partnership dedicated to improving – and saving – lives.”

Derby Litchurch Lane is one of the world’s largest rolling stock factories, and the only UK facility that designs, engineers, builds and tests trains for domestic and export markets. The factory was opened by the Midland Railway in 1876 and the city of Derby has been building trains continually since 1839. In 2022, Derby was chosen by the Government as the home of Great British Railways following a vote by the public between contender cities.

The Work & Wellbeing Suite is currently open to Alstom staff, with the aim to extend its reach to partner organisations based at the site – including Opus Group and Yellow Rail – and visitors to the Works. Alstom sites in Wolverhampton and Plymouth are already preparing their own Work & Wellbeing Suites, and the company hopes others across its 37 UK and Ireland sites will establish their own going forward. 

Inaugurated on Tuesday 16 June, the Suite marks another step in Alstom’s long-term commitment to building healthier, more inclusive workplaces.