A Stoke-on-Trent clinic that has benefitted from a Keele University business support programme is offering a free health and wellbeing package of support to employers in return for feedback on their pilot project.

Torus Wellbeing Clinic, based in Shelton, is preparing to launch the first tier of its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), after being awarded funding through the Business Bridge* project earlier this year.

Torus is looking for companies with ten employees or more to give them feedback on the programme, which is designed to help employers support staff health and wellbeing.

The first tier is being delivered online with access via a web portal, and provides self-help information, online meditation, Qi-gong and yoga classes, and a wellbeing workshop. The programme enables a business and their employees to choose health-related topics specific to their needs. Feedback gained will help shape the programme going forward, ahead of launching tiers two and three next year.

The clinic in Cemetery Road was set up by Dr Nicola Brough three years ago and already offers a wide range of holistic treatments, classes and services including counselling and psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, nutritional therapy and craniosacral therapy, colonic hydrotherapy, massage, myofascial release, reflexology, Systematic Kinesiology, Reiki, Yoga, Qi-gong and Meditation.

Dr Brough said: "Given what we have all been going through over the last six months, there has never been a more important time to look after our health and wellbeing. Covid-19 has taken a toll on everyone in one form or another, especially on business and on staff. This pilot is about providing tailored support to help people to feel good and function well. An employee assistance programme can be a frontline tool to help organisations to address mental and physical health in the workplace. It’s designed to boost staff morale, help increase productivity and we hope reduce any staff absenteeism.

"Getting feedback from companies in this test phase will be absolutely invaluable for us, it will help us evaluate the pilot and shape what we deliver going forward, ahead of the official launch and the rollout of Tiers Two and Three next year.

"A recent study identified that more than 50% of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but didn’t feel they had the right training or guidance to do so – we want to change that and I’d urge any company who would like to take part to contact us."

To get involved or find out more please visit the Torus Wellbeing Clinic website.

Business Bridge

The Business Bridge programme, accessible through the Keele University Business Gateway, is open to Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire SMEs who are looking to grow their business into the healthcare and medical supply chain. 

The programme (Ref: 32R18P02530, Medical Research and Development Centre Phase Two) is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme.