Jackie Brennan, the Construction Wellbeing Catalyst, is an international speaker, sought after coach, trainer, CEO and Founder of Construction Wellbeing.
After working in construction for 39 years, from the ground up to the board table, Jackie knows what it takes to build a construction company that really thrives.
She also knows where the gaps are.
Jackie literally turned her life upside down after she realised that whilst she loved her job, she also wanted something more from her work.
Instead of returning to a corporate job she decided to take on a new purpose and direction by sharing a different perspective on mental health and wellbeing.
Today, through speaking and coaching, Jackie challenges current thinking and offers a compelling business case for changing the approach to workplace wellbeing. She’s now on a mission to show you how.
Jackie Brennan, Workplace Wellbeing
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
Hello! Although I'm originally from Northern Ireland (with the accent to prove it), I now live in England.
I spent 39 years working in the construction industry, starting from entry-level positions and climbing the ladder to the boardroom.
As a woman, I often found myself the first, and frequently the only, in my role and team. These experiences have taught me resilience, the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of breaking boundaries.
I have moved approximately 41 times throughout my life, which is a testament to my adaptability and love for change.
One of my greatest passions in life is travelling. I've had the privilege of visiting numerous countries and experiencing incredible sights, such as passing through the Panama Canal, walking along the Great Wall of China, witnessing the Terracotta Army in situ, and visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal.
Yet, despite my adventurous spirit, I genuinely appreciate solitude and the beauty of silence.
Books are my constant companions and the window to my insatiable curiosity. From childhood, my nose has always been buried in a book. I once packed 14 books for a two-week holiday, though technology has made it easier to feed my reading addiction, thanks to Kindle!
People often say my superpower is patience, but I believe it's more about my willingness to truly listen to others. This patience or active listening, is possibly the key to my success, both personally and professionally. So, while I may seem quiet, rest assured that I'm absorbing, learning, and constantly evolving.
Overall, my life has been a remarkable journey filled with unique experiences, and I am grateful for every opportunity that has come my way.
Can you provide an overview of your business – Workplace Well-being and its main purpose or mission?
I believe that too many construction companies are investing significant time, money and energy into their people, yet sickness, absence, burnout and mental health issues are not decreasing. It’s putting unnecessary pressure on their existing resources because many construction companies still struggle to attract and retain good-quality people
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Having been in the construction industry for 39 years and worked from the bottom to the boardroom I know what it takes to build a construction company that thrives. I also know where the gaps are.
That’s why I’m building the UK’s most practical well-being framework for over 1000 construction companies to be the bridge between their people and performance.
I do this by delivering a simple step-by-step system, built on existing company processes to create a workplace wellbeing strategy and culture that significantly increases engagement, productivity and sustainable growth where everyone thrives.
What inspired you to create your business – Workplace Wellbeing?
After completing a three-year construction contract in Canada, I returned to England, intending to take a month-long break before diving back into my next contract.
However, as weeks turned into months, I found myself stepping back from corporate life. I had reached a point of burnout, which was a huge wake-up call for me.
Since being introduced to NLP in 2011, I have been fascinated by the intricacies of the human mind and became a master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). This fascination took me down various paths, leading to qualifications in hypnosis, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and breathwork. These techniques opened up new perspectives on mental health and well-being for me.
During my time away from the corporate world, I became acutely aware of the mental health crisis plaguing the construction industry. This was a sector I knew intimately, and I was deeply concerned about the well-being of the people within it. I realised that I was uniquely positioned to make a difference. I had industry experience, I understood the pressures and challenges, and now, I had a toolkit of techniques to help proactively manage mental health and wellbeing.
This inspired the creation of Workplace Wellbeing. It was a merging of my experience with my passion and knowledge.
My goal is to bring a proactive approach to mental health and well-being into the construction industry and to provide the tools and resources necessary for both individuals and organisations to thrive.
I believe that by combining my background and qualifications, I can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those working in construction and contribute to creating a healthier, more supportive work environment.
What are the key features or services that your business – Workplace Wellbeing, offers?
Workplace Well-being is dedicated to unlocking existing resources and fostering thriving people and businesses. I strongly believe in putting well-being at the heart of strategic planning, driving sustainable performance, productivity, and growth.
In essence, Workplace Well-being offers a holistic approach to mental health and well-being in the workplace, combining strategic planning, knowledge transfer, and practical tools to foster a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.
Recognising the unique nature of every organisation, Workplace Wellbeing offers bespoke solutions tailored to the specific needs, risks, and requirements of each client. I understand that no two companies are alike, and so my approach is always customised, reflecting the organisation's distinct culture, goals, and challenges.
My services can be delivered as standalone offerings or combined in various ways to create a comprehensive well-being strategy. Whether you require a single keynote talk, a series of coaching sessions, or a full-blown mental health assessment and ISO 45003 implementation, I adapt to meet your needs.
For organisations seeking a more integrated approach, my full-service offering functions much like a virtual Chief Wellbeing Officer. This holistic package encompasses all my services, providing consistent guidance and strategic oversight for existing well-being practices. Yet, it comes without the burden of typical administrative overheads associated with such a high-level role.
By integrating the services in this way, I can work closely with teams to drive a culture of well-being from the top down, fostering a healthy, productive work environment where everyone can thrive. It becomes part of the organisation’s DNA.
I believe with Workplace Well-being by your side, the journey towards a healthier, more resilient organisation becomes a shared endeavour, guided by expertise and a deep understanding of the human mind and body
What are your future plans or goals for Workplace Wellbeing?
The future of Workplace well-being is anchored in our vision of transforming workplaces into environments where well-being IS valued just as much as productivity and growth.
My primary goal is to expand my reach within the construction industry and beyond. I aim to touch the lives of more employees, equipping them with the tools to take control of their well-being, thereby fostering resilient individuals who can contribute positively to their organisations and society as a whole.
I also plan to evolve the offerings, introducing new programs and services that cater to the emerging needs and challenges in workplace wellbeing. This includes leveraging the latest research and developments in neuroscience, mental health, and well-being to ensure my services remain cutting-edge and highly relevant.
Another key objective is to create a network of like-minded businesses, professionals, and individuals who share my passion for promoting wellbeing in the workplace. By forming strategic partnerships and collaborations, we can amplify our collective impact and create lasting, systemic change across industries.
Ultimately, our mission for Workplace Wellbeing is to create a world where wellbeing is not just today's buzzword but is fully integrated into the DNA of every organisation.
I aim to make wellbeing an essential pillar of corporate culture, ensuring that employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to lead fulfilling, balanced lives at work and beyond.
In essence, my vision for Workplace Well-being is to be a catalyst for change, inspiring and guiding organisations towards a future where well-being is seen not as an optional extra, but as a fundamental component of sustainable success.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing about the construction industry, it would be to shift the focus onto people, putting the human back into the workplace. I believe that businesses thrive when their people thrive, and for that to happen, organisations must focus on the well-being of their employees as much as their bottom line.
The modern workplace can often seem like a machine, where employees are seen as cogs in a wheel, their value measured purely in terms of productivity and output. This approach is not just dehumanising, but it's also short-sighted. It overlooks the fact that it is people, with their creativity, passion, and dedication, who are the real drivers of success.
By putting people first, organisations can create a culture where employees feel valued, heard, and cared for. This fosters not only greater well-being and job satisfaction, but also boosts motivation, engagement, and loyalty, leading to higher productivity and performance in the long run.
Therefore, I would like to see a cultural shift where every organisation genuinely values the mental health and wellbeing of its people. This means not just providing resources and support for mental health, but also fostering a culture of openness and understanding, where employees feel safe to speak up about their struggles and seek help when needed.
In essence, my dream is for a world where "putting people first" isn't the exception, but the norm. A world where businesses recognise that their greatest asset isn't their products or services, but their people.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
The pivotal moment in my life that brought me to where I am today was the period of self-reflection and realisation I experienced after my return from Canada.
It was during that time that I confronted my burnout and finally recognised the need for a change in direction.
During this time of introspection, I not only delved deeper into my longstanding fascination with the human mind but also faced many unresolved personal issues simmering beneath the surface. For most of my life, I had set an incredibly high bar for myself, striving for perfection and suppressing my emotions, believing that working harder was the answer to everything. My identity had become completely tied up with my work and it had taken a significant toll on my health and overall wellbeing.
By finally understanding this and having the tools and techniques to be able to let it all go. I found what I call my inner fluency. I claimed back my identity and even though it was challenging, it was also a transformative one, pushing me to reassess my values and priorities.
That transformative period of introspection, growth, and self-healing ignited my passion for helping others, leading me to create Workplace Well-being.
The experience was a turning point, empowering me to leverage my unique combination of construction industry knowledge and mental health expertise to drive positive change.
It was a defining moment that not only altered the course of my career but also inspired my commitment to fostering healthier, more supportive work environments for the benefit of all.
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