Archwood Group employee wins Workplace Champion at Credit Union of Wales Awards 2022
A member of Archwood Group’s HR team has won Workplace Champion at the Credit Union Wales Awards 2022, following the success of recent employee financial wellbeing projects.
Based in Chirk, North Wales, Archwood Group is a leading manufacturer of timber products. Jess Budenburg, a HR Generalist at Archwood Group, was awarded Workplace Champion at this year’s Credit Union of Wales Awards in Cardiff on Thursday 20th October. The recognition follows Jess’ hard work putting together a series of financial wellbeing projects that the business setup in response to the pandemic and rising cost-of-living crisis.
Each year, the Credit Unions of Wales works together to celebrate the exceptional people who work tirelessly to improve the financial wellbeing of communities and give recognition to unsung heroes across the workplace. Coinciding with International Credit Union Day in October, the annual awards have become a highlight of the year since its first year in 2017. Categories include school and payroll partners, volunteers, lifetime achievement, access to financial services and workplace champion.
Archwood Group prides itself of its array of mental and physical benefits in place for employees but noted that the cost-of-living crisis and the effects of the pandemic had left their employees open to economic and financial setbacks. The decline in financial resilience can have significant effects on mental health and wellbeing, relationships and workplace performance.
To provide help and advice around these turbulent times, Archwood Group worked with Money Works Wales to set up a mentorship and payroll saving scheme. Alongside this, the team organised a cost-of-living road show, which incorporated, initiatives and charities such as Citizens Advice, KIM Mental Health Charity, Warm Wales, Welsh Water and more.
Following the dedication and hard work around these topics, HR Generalist, Jess Budenberg, was awarded Workplace Champion for her contribution to planning and carrying out these projects.
Jess comments: “Our main aim as part of the HR team at Archwood Group is to take care of our employee’s wellbeing. The aftermath of the pandemic and the rising cost of living pose many threats to financial wellbeing in particular and this has taken the upmost precedence amongst our recent work.”
“It was an honour to receive the Workplace Champion at this year’s Credit Union of Wales Awards, but our work won’t stop there. The team and I will continue to put these importance schemes in place and following the success of our first roadshow, we’re looking into carrying this out again over the next few months.”
Josh Burbidge, Managing Director of Archwood Group, comments: “Here at Archwood Group, we are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our employees. As a family-run business for over 150 years, our employees have always come first.”
“The work that our HR team has done to provide support and advice for our employees has been above and beyond. Jess’ hard work on the mentorship and payroll saving scheme shows just how well-deserved this award is.”
