Utility Week

22 | 12TH - 18TH JULY 2019 | UTILITY WEEK Operations & Assets Utility Week Awards winner case study L anes Group is a wastewater network services mainte- nance partner for Thames Water, and it developed an inno- vative happiness app and well- being practitioner programme. Lanes Group says the app is transforming the company's ability to support its teams. As a result, workplace happi- ness has increased and employ- ment churn has more than halved, saving over £1,000,000 a year in training costs. The scheme also supports safety, operational, and customer ser- vice performance across the largest and most complex waste- water network service in the UK. The app, launched in Decem- ber 2017, is a new way to support the 1,100 personnel that deliver a £100 million a year service by combining real-time data analy- sis with practical professional wellbeing help. It measures indi- vidual and workforce happiness. At the start of each shi„ , … eld workers answer the app's ques- tion: "Tell us how you feel?" Those who click "unhappy" or "very unhappy" are asked if they want to speak to someone. If they click yes, they are contacted by independent well- being and mental health practi- tioner Kelly Hansford. She oŽ ers advice, acts as an advocate, and works with external health pro- fessionals to support the shi„ worker. She also supports nine mental health … rst aiders. Of the problems submitted, 80 per cent were found to be non-work related. During 2018, dozens of colleagues have been helped with problems including depression, homelessness, debt, and family disputes. Hansford has started working with family members to resolve their problems and to reduce pressure on Lanes employees. The app and practitioner ser- vice dovetails with a wider well- being programme, Well.Me. It includes personal coaching, food and hydration advice, … tness, and stress reduction. The objectives are to: • provide a tool for monitoring workforce happiness and tar- get support, App transforms workforce wellbeing Lanes Group plc and Thames Water won the 2018Health and Safety Award. Utility Week takesa look at what they achieved. What the judges said… The judges said the winning entry makes a "tangible di erence to workers' wellbeing". Health & Safety Award Award winner: Lanes Group plc and Thames Water Entry criteria: 1. Quality of entry (clear, evidence based etc) 2. Evidence of innovation 3. Quanti… able bene… ts for workforce, business and customers 4. Commitment to all round health and safety policy 5. Evidence of wider adop- tion/setting best practice for the industry 6. Evidence of sustainability bene… ts The Utility Week Awards are held in association with Capgemini, CGI and Microso„

• Cover