As a people focused business with an inclusive and supportive culture, we’re proud to have achieved the Menopause Friendly Accreditation.

Across HF, 62% of our people are female, with a relatively young demographic of 85% of the workforce under the age of 50. With a focus on retaining talent and promoting from within, it’s essential to provide the right support, including menopause support, as our people mature and develop in their careers.

The Menopause Friendly Accreditation was established in 2021 by Henpicked. It certifies high standards and proven practices and is an industry-recognised mark of excellence which assesses the effectiveness of organisations across culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.

Three key highlights within HF stood out during the assessment:

  • The M Word Network – set up via MS Teams for those experiencing symptoms to share stories and tips with others. There are opportunities to meet virtually at a peer-to-peer support session, and the network encourages local face to face meetings, including lunch time walks and coffee & catch-ups.
  • Menopause Support Hub – all menopause‑related policies, guides and resources are housed on the organisation’s Menopause Support Hub on the Intranet, ensuring information can be found quickly in a single, trusted location.
  • Menopause Champions – all 13 offices have a menopause champion, providing a dedicated person people can approach, as an alternative to their line manager, if they’re experiencing menopause symptoms.

Underpinning these initiatives are the embedded annual training and awareness sessions which are made available to all and are highlighted during the induction process. It’s pleasing that a large number of male colleagues attend the training, provide positive feedback and thank the organisers for the opportunity to attend.

“HF impressed our panel by backing up what they said they were going to do through taking visible action and staying true to their word,” says Deborah Garlick, Founder and CEO of Menopause in the Workplace by Henpicked. “Their inclusive approach is noteworthy as they seek to engage all their workforce in an open and encouraging programme that resonates well with people. HF has created a supportive and empathetic culture which has afforded people the opportunity to explain how they feel and what they need to support them in their work. Their Menopause Friendly Accreditation is very well deserved.”

Oliver Bate, CPO said, “We’re very pleased to have achieved the Menopause Friendly Accreditation as a key part of our commitment to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our culture is entirely people focused and building our talent pipeline through retaining great people at every stage of their careers is vital as well as simply being the right thing to do.”