Lucion is thrilled to announce that we've been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2026 Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards for the People & Culture category.
Our entry, “From Fractured to United: Cultural Transformation Through Wellbeing,” showcases our commitment to revolutionising mental health and inclusivity within our business and the wider construction sector.
Addressing The Mental Health Crisis In Construction
In an industry where two construction workers die by suicide every day in the UK, 700 people every year, we are committed to changing the narrative within our business and the wider industry. Our comprehensive cultural transformation, built on three pillars of Educate, Engage, and Empower, is designed to facilitate open forums around mental, health, wellbeing and inclusivity at Lucion.
Led by Carolyn Cole, Chief People Officer at Lucion, Carolyn commented on our latest awards shortlist saying:
“Being recognised as a finalist validates what we’ve always believed, that protecting people is as important as protecting the planet.
We are about creating a workplace where every single person feels valued, supported, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. When our people thrive, our business thrives, and ultimately, our clients receive better service.”
Employee Voice Driving Innovation
Part of the process to cultural change is employee engagement. Our initiatives are employee-led, not top-down mandates. Our Brew Crew men’s mental health group, Circles women’s development community, Rainbow Network for LGBTQ+ support, and Every Stage women’s health forum were all created in response to what our colleagues told us they needed.
This approach has delivered tangible business results. When we listened to our people, operational improvements followed – further strengthening our On Time Delivery. But more importantly, our people results demonstrate the positive impact of our wellbeing plan.
Real Change, Measurable Impact
Since launching our wellbeing strategy in 2025, our business has achieved remarkable results:
- 12% of our workforce trained as Mental Health First Aiders – exceeding our 10% target and ensuring support is accessible across all sites
- 100% of managers completing Lucion Lifecycle training, equipping them with the skills to lead with empathy and confidence
- 25% female representation in our inaugural STEP Leadership Training programme, deliberately building a diverse leadership pipeline
- 4.2/5 Leadership Health Score from our Manager Awareness Survey
Lucion’s commitment extends beyond our own organisation. As signatories to the Building Mental Health Charter and The Baton of Hope Workplace Pledge, and through our partnership with the Lighthouse Club, we’re actively sharing our learnings to drive sector-wide change.
Recognition and Future Commitment
This Constructing Excellence finalist position follows our recent win of the Employee Wellbeing Initiative of the Year at the British HR Awards in April 2026, further cementing our position as leaders in workplace culture and mental health support.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to:
- Maintaining 10%+ Mental Health First Aider coverage as we grow
- Achieving 30% female representation in STEP Leadership Training by 2027
- Reaching Disability Confident Employer status by 2028
- Continuing to share our journey – including our challenges – to help other organisations transform their cultures
Chief Executive Officer Phil Coles commented;
“We’re proud to be finalists, but the real achievement is in the everyday moments. The colleague who felt able to reach out when struggling. The manager who had a difficult conversation with compassion. The Brew Crew session where someone realised they weren’t alone. That’s what this recognition represents – and that’s what we’ll keep fighting for.
I look forward to releasing our updated culture and wellbeing plan for 2026/27 which outlines all the great things we have achieved during the past year and solidifies our commitments for the future.”
The Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards winners will be announced at the ceremony on the 18th June 2026 at the The Athena, Leicester.
