Former builder and construction owner Steve Anderson, 42, has over 20 years experience in the construction industry. He is now the Founder & CEO of HappiHub, a platform dedicated to improving mental health and well-being in the construction industry. Key clients already include LFS (London Fire Solutions), MCS Group, Glencar and Wrenbridge Sport.
Mental health issues in the construction industry have reached a critical point, with workers facing unprecedented levels of stress, depression/anxiety, and addiction. The demands of the job, long hours, and a culture that often values toughness over mental well-being is behind recent statistics indicating that construction workers are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population with 7,000 lives lost to suicide in the construction industry alone*.
After his own personal journey through addiction recovery and the tragic loss of a friend to suicide, Steve’s personal transformation inspired the creation of HappiHub. He has been working as a mentor and life coach for several years and went on to study CBT Therapy and is now pursuing a Psychology degree.
CEO Steve Anderson comments:
“After my own stint in rehab and losing a friend to suicide, I started to realise the approach of telling these ‘Alpha males’ that they have to talk doesn’t and won’t ever work. We needed to find out what the roadblock is to why they don’t talk in the first place and give them the discreet tools and support to get them to feel safe. That’s when we see amazing results happen.”
HappiHub provides discreet, accessible tools and support systems that cater to the unique needs of construction workers, who often face significant mental health challenges but are less likely to seek help due to the industry’s “Alpha male” culture. Programs are designed to break down the barriers to mental well-being by creating a safe environment where people feel comfortable seeking help. This is achieved through engaging workshops, the innovative HappiBot Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the HappiCare support platform.
The HappiCare Offering provides a comprehensive mental health support system with the following features:
- 24/7, 365 Support: Instant, confidential help whenever it’s needed.
- HappiBot: A discreet, anonymous chat system designed for construction workers.
- Multilingual Support: Ensuring accessibility for a diverse workforce.
- 50% off 1-to-1 Expert Support: Access to an exclusive Black Book of Professionals, including therapists, coaches, nutritionists, personal trainers, and sleep experts.
- Tailored Mental Health Policies & Resources: Custom support materials designed specifically for your company’s needs.
- Financial Guidance: Helping workers manage stress beyond the job site.
- Company Impact Reports: Detailed monthly reports outlining the impact of support on your workforce, helping you track progress and measure success.
- Access to The App: Content and support from experts with regular updates to ensure continuous engagement and support.
HappiBot – The 24/7 Power Tool provides:
- 24/7, 365 Support: Instant, confidential help whenever needed.
- Discreet, Anonymous Interaction: Designed specifically for the construction industry to break down barriers to seeking help.
- Holistic Support: Covers mental well-being, nutrition, fitness, sleep, and money management—areas identified as the biggest challenges on-site.
- Comprehensive Network: Linked to all the UK’s major prevention companies, ensuring users get the best possible support.
- Multilingual Support: Accessibility for a diverse workforce.
Nutritional Awareness in the Construction Industry
It’s well known that construction life often runs on Steak Bakes, Greggs pit stops, garage meal deals, and energy drinks, but HappiHub educates workers on how to make smarter choices, like proper hydration. During their interactive workshops the team look practically at diet choices, for example how a can of red bull contains not just caffeine, taurine and artificial colors/preservatives, but also approx. 14 tablespoons of sugar! They look at the nutrition from a builders point of view – looking at reducing the saturated fats by saying “rather than 2 steak bakes, try having 1 instead”. The viewpoint from a builder helps this with the understanding that overnight you’re not going to get many builders eating avocados, nuts and seeds, but you may substitute the packet of crisps for a banana.
Kate Crofts, Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach at HappiHub focuses on the importance of fitness/nutrition for construction industry well-being. She states:
“I believe that nutrition is important, we need to see food as energy but these people have a builders mentality so, I won’t be preaching to everyone about the benefits of nuts and seeds but getting them to make better choices at McDonalds, long days and stress and pressure means that they need to look after themselves. If you only have 1 car forever you would look after it better.”
Building A Better Culture of Care
- Boost Productivity & Retention: Happy, healthy employees are more engaged and less likely to leave.
- Reduce Absenteeism & Burnout: Proactive mental health support reduces sick leave and workplace fatigue.
- Enhance Workplace Safety & Performance: A clear mind leads to fewer mistakes, better decision-making, and a safer worksite.
- Align with ESG Goals: Demonstrates a genuine commitment to social impact, workforce well-being, and mental health awareness.
HappiHub Adding Social Value
As part of their community commitment and as a CIC (Community Interest Company), HappiHub is built on a “Pay It Forward” model. For every employee or subcontractor a company supports, HappiHub helps another person on behalf of that company, amplifying the social value impact.
The HappiHub team of experts includes Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach Kate Crofts, Behavioural Therapist Jim Wilby, Manager of External Therapists Tilly Loughnane and Sleep Consultant, Hypnotherapist, and Therapist Leanne Naylor.
Follow HappiHub on LinkedIn.
