In today’s fast paced world, creating a healthy workforce is more important than ever. A healthy workforce is not just about physical health, but also mental, social and professional well-being. One company that has successfully achieved this is Arbtech, the UK’s leading ecology consultancy.
Under the leadership of Robert Oates, Founder and CEO, Arbtech has created an environment that promotes overall health and well-being for its employees, and it has been recognised for its sustained efforts for a second consecutive year by being named on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025 list.
How Can Companies Create the Ultimate Healthy Workplace According to Arbtech?
Robert Oates’ unique background, which includes military service and being a Jiu-Jitsu champion, has played a significant role in shaping Arbtech’s culture. His entrepreneurial drive coupled with his passion for fitness and learning have been instrumental in creating a workforce that is not only healthy, but also highly motivated and productive.
One of the key aspects of Arbtech’s approach is the emphasis on mental health. The company offers unique perks such as paying staff to read inspirational literature. This not only encourages continuous learning, but also helps in reducing stress and improving mental well-being.
Additionally, Arbtech has a flat organisational structure, which means there are no timesheets or laborious forms to fill in. This level of trust and autonomy given to the staff helps in reducing work-related stress and promotes a healthy work-life balance.
Social health is another important aspect of Arbtech’s culture. The company encourages team-building activities and offers a mini social budget that allows employees to meet up in small groups and engage in activities of their choice.
This helps in building strong interpersonal relationships among employees, which is crucial for a healthy and cohesive workforce. It also gives employees paid annual leave to dedicate time to a research and development project of their choice.
Professional health is also a priority at Arbtech. The company offers numerous opportunities for professional growth, including an unlimited CPD (Continuing Professional Development) fund to support staff in furthering their careers. Arbtech also runs an Ecology Internship Programme to tackle the gaps in the ecology skills market.
This programme provides promising ecologists with valuable skills and experience, with some being offered full-time roles at the end of the internship. This not only helps to address the industry skills gap, but also ensures that employees are well-trained and motivated.
Physical health is not neglected either. Arbtech encourages its staff to be active both physically and mentally. The company offers gym membership opportunities and subscriptions to services like Audible, Spotify Premium or Blinkist, which employees can use while driving to work, visiting the gym, or going on a walk/run. These initiatives help in promoting a healthy lifestyle among employees.
Arbtech’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, being named on the Happiest Workplaces List by WorkL.co and featured in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work two years in a row.
Over the last 20 years, Robert has built the business from the ground up and now employs a150-strong team strategically located throughout most of England and Wales. It is these specialists that deliver rapid solutions to sensitive on-site environments and constraints with the focus on gaining planning consent for developments as fast as possible.
How Does Social and Professional Well-being Boost Workplace Health?
The Arbtech brand has become successful in its field and takes pride on how it sets itself apart from the rest, particularly in a typically underpaid and undervalued industry.
This has been achieved through growing an organisation with a flat structure and full autonomy for its employees with direct and open access to Robert where needed, embedding perfectly balanced trust and flexibility into every aspect of the business.
Creating the ultimate healthy workforce requires a holistic approach that addresses mental, social, professional and physical health. Arbtech’s success story serves as an excellent example of how a company can achieve this by fostering a culture of trust, autonomy, continuous learning and well-being.
By prioritising the health and well-being of its employees. Arbtech has not only created a happy and motivated workforce, but also sets a benchmark for other companies to follow.
