Support with addiction for workers at Northampton industrial estate thanks to charity partnership

Businesses at a Northampton industrial estate will be offered support for their workers around addiction thanks to a unique partnership with a national charity.

Brackmills Industrial Estate Business Improvement District (BID) has agreed to become Aquarius Life's very first advocate.

The charity, which is this month officially launching its Northamptonshire division, supports people affected by alcohol, drugs and gambling and offers help to employers via policies, training, and workshops.

BID chief executive Sara Homer said: “By partnering with Aquarius Life, we are taking practical steps to help our businesses safeguard the health and wellbeing of their employees.

"Safety on the estate is one of our key objectives and this partnership will enable businesses to get practical support, which will benefit not just employers but all businesses on the estate.

“Particularly appealing is that Aquarius Life is a charity which means all income generated is reinvested into the charity’s community services, so has the additional benefit of serving the both the BID’s and our businesses’ corporate social responsibility agenda.

“Our businesses pay an annual BID levy, which means we can constantly improve and invest in the estate and this new partnership is part of our commitment to supporting all our businesses with any challenges or requirements that may arise.”

The partnership means Brackmills businesses will have access to training and awareness programmes, help with their alcohol, drug, health and wellbeing policies and on and off site one-to-one and group psychological support.

It will hopefully encourage businesses to recognise the challenges behind the issues of addiction as well as reducing the stigma and showing how it affects the workplace.

Dean Horton, from Aquarius Life, added: “We are proud to be launching our new advocacy scheme here in Northampton and delighted that Brackmills – one of the most prestigious industrial estates in the UK – has come on board.

"We look forward to running events, helping companies with their policy documents, providing training and much more.

"Everything we do will be about helping businesses to help their employees, and improve a workplace for all

“We look forward to rolling this advocacy programme out across Northamptonshire and, longer term, the UK.

"For now, though our priority is Brackmills and supporting the 120 plus businesses based there.”