There’s a tendency to treat mental health like a conversation reserved for one week of the year. A campaign. A hashtag. A reminder in the calendar.
But in reality, looking after people is built in the quieter moments - checking in properly, making time to pause, noticing when someone might need support, and creating environments where people feel able to speak openly without feeling judged.
That’s what Mental Health Awareness Week looked like across Fortus this year.
This year’s theme was “action”, and throughout the week our teams took time to reconnect, reset and support one another in simple but meaningful ways. From coffee mornings and getting outdoors, to Wear Green Day and creating space for honest conversations, the focus wasn’t on grand gestures - it was on the small actions that genuinely make a difference to how people feel at work.
The relationships we build, the conversations we encourage and the culture we create all shape whether people feel supported day to day. And for us, that’s not something that starts and ends with one awareness week - it’s part of how we want people to experience working with and alongside Fortus all year round.
Our people and clients alike
At Fortus, we work closely with ambitious SME business owners across Yorkshire who are often balancing growth, responsibility and uncertainty all at once. Behind every business is a person managing pressure, making difficult decisions and trying to navigate challenges that don’t neatly stop at the office door.
That’s why we believe support goes beyond delivering technical expertise.
Of course, we help businesses across tax, accounts, audit, payroll, business finance and wealth - but we also understand the importance of bringing clarity, reassurance and confidence when people need it most. Sometimes the biggest value comes from simply knowing someone is there to help you work through things.
Extending support into our communities
Through the Fortus Foundation, we recently supported a project with HelloHope, focused on mental health initiatives within the farming community - a sector we know well and one that faces very real challenges around pressure and isolation.
It’s a partnership rooted in making support more visible, accessible and relevant to the people who need it, and a reminder that taking action doesn’t always have to mean huge change. Often, it’s about creating opportunities for people to feel heard, supported and less alone.
The same approach shapes how we support our own people internally.
Alongside initiatives like Mental Health Awareness Week, through our employee benefits our teams have access to year-round support through our Employee Assistance Programme, Medicash wellbeing allowance and online wellbeing resources - all part of creating an environment where people feel supported to do their best work and build long-term careers.
As an independent Yorkshire business, we’re proud to grow alongside the companies, people and communities we serve across York, Leeds, Scarborough and beyond.
Because real progress - in business, in wellbeing and in life - often starts with the actions that seem small, but matter most.
