Support employee work-life balance

AG Paving and Building Products, headquartered in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, designs and manufactures concrete landscaping and building products, including paving flags, blocks, walling and facing bricks, for residential and commercial projects across the UK and Ireland. It is a third-generation, family-owned business focused on quality, innovation, and more sustainable construction solutions.

Cathy Maguire, Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ) Manager, explains how AG Paving and Building Products introduced employee wellbeing initiatives and how they have benefited both employees and the business.

"AG developed its approach to employee wellbeing to create a workplace where people can thrive both personally and professionally. We pursued the Take 5 Workplace Wellbeing Accreditation to provide a structured, recognised framework for embedding wellbeing across the organisation and measuring its impact."

Our wellbeing initiatives in practice

"A key milestone in this journey was the creation of Activ8, our dedicated wellbeing programme. Activ8 covers four key areas of wellbeing to support employees in different aspects of their lives. These are physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing, delivered through a mix of campaigns, workshops, challenges, and awareness activities throughout the year."

"AG tailors wellbeing initiatives by adapting activities to reflect the age profile, roles and interests of our workforce. For example, inclusive options like walking challenges support participation across different fitness levels and life stages."

"We also consider gender-specific needs within our wellbeing approach. As a predominantly male workforce, we run targeted campaigns such as Men’s Health Week to raise awareness of key physical and mental health issues and encourage open conversation. We also support gender inclusion through initiatives like Women in Business and focused events, including International Women’s Day workshops to empower and support women in the organisation."

"Across AG, colleagues act as visible role models by leading by example and openly sharing personal experiences to help normalise conversations around health and wellbeing. This peer-led approach drives engagement, builds trust, and ensures initiatives are shaped by employee feedback and remain accessible across the organisation."

"AG’s leadership team supports and promotes employee wellbeing through clear visibility, active involvement and ongoing investment. They regularly engage with employees on-site, participate in wellbeing initiatives and lead by example, reinforcing that wellbeing is a shared priority across the business."

"Our senior leaders also back this commitment with dedicated resources, including expanding the HSEQ team, allocating a specific wellbeing budget and enabling employees to take time to participate in wellbeing initiatives. This combined approach ensures wellbeing is embedded into everyday operations and consistently promoted at all levels of the organisation."

Measuring the success of our staff wellbeing initiatives

"AG measures success through a combination of engagement data, employee feedback and participation trends, giving a well-rounded view of impact. Feedback is gathered through annual surveys, pulse surveys and one-to-one meetings, with free-text comments providing detailed insight into what’s working and where improvements can be made."

"Staff participation levels in wellbeing initiatives are also tracked, with increasing uptake over time seen as a strong signal that employees value and trust the programme. We also look at the quality of engagement, for example, how initiatives spark conversations, reduce stigma, and encourage employees to share experiences. Overall, success is measured less by hard metrics and more by signs of positive cultural change such as stronger engagement, open communication, and a visible shift towards a more supportive and wellbeing-focused workplace."

Benefits to our business and our staff

"AG has seen clear benefits from its wellbeing initiatives, including consistently high employee engagement of around 85% and increased participation in wellbeing activities. This encourages stronger collaboration between individuals and different teams. This has helped create a more open, trusting, and supportive workplace culture. The programme has also strengthened our employer brand, supporting talent attraction, retention and long-term business performance."

"Employees benefit from improved access to mental, physical, and financial support, including early health interventions. There is a greater sense of being valued, improving morale, confidence, and general wellbeing. This has fostered a culture where people feel comfortable speaking openly when discussing health and seeking help."

"Workplace wellbeing is an ongoing journey. We will continue to build on engagement by expanding targeted initiatives and refining programmes based on employee feedback, ensuring they remain relevant as the workforce evolves."