How Arup used Unmind to drive cultural change
Content
- About
- Problem
- Solution
- Outcome
Stats
- HQ: London
- Industry: Design Services
- Company size: 10,000+ employees
- Product: Unmind for Individuals
About
Arup is a leading sustainable development consultancy with 19,000 employees across 33 countries. In 2021, it partnered with Unmind to deliver a next-level wellbeing strategy that put evidence-based proactive and preventative support first.
Arup leveraged senior leadership buy-in, impactful internal comms and a network of passionate ambassadors to drive meaningful change in its organizational wellbeing culture.
Problem
Arup recognized that while wellbeing was a priority, mental health stigma and inconsistent support were still barriers to creating a truly proactive culture. Employees needed access to evidence-based mental health resources, but simply offering tools wasn’t enough. The challenge was to drive meaningful engagement, reduce stigma, and ensure that mental wellbeing became an integral part of the company culture, supported by leadership and embraced across all levels.
Solution
In 2021, Arup partnered with Unmind to deliver a comprehensive wellbeing strategy that focused on evidence-based support. The initiative was driven from the top, with strong senior leadership backing and an impactful internal communications campaign to raise awareness. Arup used multiple touchpoints to align wellbeing content with key moments like Mental Health Awareness Week and Men’s Mental Health Month.
Arup also fostered a network of passionate wellbeing ambassadors, like Jordan, a Team Coordinator, who shared his personal experience with anxiety and the benefits he found in using Unmind’s features like mindfulness courses and sleep stories. Jordan, like other ambassadors, helped his colleagues by signposting them to Unmind’s resources using tools such as the ‘Invite a Colleague’ feature.
Jordan shared:
I did a lot of the mindfulness courses to learn how to manage anxiety and screenshot the resources so I can easily go back to them. I love using the sleep stories at night. I also like the Shorts because you can do them anywhere. At the bus stop, walking to work, wherever you need to.
The strategy emphasized the importance of storytelling and leadership involvement, which Mikey Bishop, Wellbeing Coordinator at Arup, highlighted:
Senior leadership buy-in increased awareness of the wellbeing team’s goals and ensured widespread communication at regional, local, and departmental levels.
Outcome
Arup’s wellbeing strategy, anchored by Unmind, led to significant improvements in engagement and mental health support across the organization. Employees embraced the tools and resources offered, driving meaningful change in their daily routines and overall wellbeing.
During this internal campaign period, Arup saw
• 98% increase in Unmind sign-ups.
• 56% increase in active users.
• 53% increase in completions of Unmind’s Wellbeing Tracker.
• 228% increase in Mood Tracker completions, helping employees monitor and manage their daily emotions.
• 16% rise in the use of Shorts, providing quick, in-the-moment wellbeing support.
Arup’s focus on leadership involvement and employee storytelling has helped to destigmatize mental health and create a culture where wellbeing is embedded in the company’s values. As
Jordan noted: “We’re very human here.”
Arup plans to continue building on its internal communications and storytelling approach, expanding the focus to topics like stress, anxiety, and grief. This next phase aims to further enhance relatability and deepen the connection employees feel with the company’s wellbeing initiatives.