Travis Perkins plc announces new partnership with The Lighthouse Charity

16 May 2025: Travis Perkins plc, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, has announced a new two-year partnership with Lighthouse, the construction charity which provides free 24/7 emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support for construction workers and their families.

This partnership will help the Group shine a spotlight on the importance of prioritising mental health, both internally and externally, to help drive meaningful change across the business and the wider industry.

The partnership will initially focus on upskilling the Group’s own workforce, through a mixture of Lighthouse facilitated lunch and learn sessions, more formalised training for up to 1,000 managers and refresher training for the Group’s 100+ mental health first aiders.

The Group’s Specialist Merchants Managing Director and wellbeing sponsor, Catherine Gibson,explained: “The mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues is important to all of us at Travis Perkins Group, we will be focusing on upskilling our managers to equip them with tools and knowledge so they are better able to support their own and their teams’ wellbeing. It is our aspiration to help leaders have great conversations, and to enable them to use tools such as swapping stories, offering a listening ear or strengthening colleague connections in other ways, so we can be at our best at work and at home.”

CEO of the Lighthouse Charity, Sarah Bolton, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Travis Perkins to ensure their teams are accessing the support and training they need to facilitate a positive mental health culture. Encouraging frank conversations within the industry will help reduce the stigma of sharing concerns surrounding poor wellbeing, including mental health. Amplifying the message of support across every level of our industry is critical and working collaboratively with organisations such as Travis Perkins helps us achieve that.”

Over time, this partnership programme will become more external facing, with the Group’s businesses using their position as leaders in the industry to strengthen connections with customers and suppliers by promoting the importance of good mental health and wellbeing.

For those working in construction who are struggling, the Lighthouse is available 24/7 for free and confidential support:

  • 24/7 helplines; 0345 605 1956, (UK)  1800 939 122 (ROI)

  • Live chat www.lighthousecharity.org

  • Text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) or 50808 (ROI)

  • Find out more at www.lighthousecharity.org

ENDS

Contact:

Travis Perkins plc
[email protected] 
Tel: 01604 592307

Images: High res images are available here and here

About Travis Perkins plc

Travis Perkins plc is the UK’s leading distributor of building materials to trade customers. The Group operates market leading businesses, including Travis Perkins Builders’ Merchants, Toolstation and a number of specialists in the civils market (Keyline), heating and ventilation (BSS) and drylining and insulation (CCF), and many more. The company, which employs around 17,000 colleagues and has 1500 locations nationwide, has a proud heritage that spans over 200 years. For more information, please visit www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk

About Lighthouse

The Lighthouse Charity provides 24/7 holistic support to our UK and Ireland construction community on all aspects of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.

A crucial element of the charity’s strategy is to provide a range of free and widely available reactive and proactive resources to support the industry.

They  offer a free and confidential 24/7 helpline, live web chat service and text facility which provides a range of information, guidance and support on a huge variety of wellbeing issues. These services are complemented by their free self-support app,  along with their Lighthouse Beacons who provide a safe space for people to share concerns. For more information, please visit lighthousecharity.org