As Mental Health Awareness Week has arrived, we sat down with our HR Manager, Rupi Gill-Sodhi, to talk about her role as a mental health first aider. We discussed how this supports her HR responsibilities and why promoting open conversations around mental health is critical in today’s work environment.
Q: Rupi, can you tell us a bit about your role as HR manager at Pirtek?
I oversee the HR practices across Pirtek UK, aligning people strategies with business goals. A big part of my role is cultivating a positive workplace culture, something that ties directly into our focus on mental health. I also support our franchise network, particularly on employee relations. While they’re independent businesses, we offer guidance on HR best practice to ensure fairness and compliance across the board.
Q: Why do you think mental health is such a vital topic for businesses today?
Mental health has been a taboo subject for too long, and organisations are realising that they can’t ignore it anymore. More candidates are asking what we do to support mental health—it’s becoming a marker of a responsible employer. At Pirtek, we want our employees to feel safe, supported, and heard. We’ve seen how simply opening the door to these conversations can change everything.
Q: What inspired you personally to become a mental health first aider?
I often have informal chats with employees who open up about personal struggles. I wanted to be better equipped to support them. The training really opened my eyes—it helped me understand signs I’d never thought to associate with mental health challenges. It’s about recognising those signs, listening without judgment, and guiding people to the right support.
Q: What does the role of a mental health first aider involve?
It’s not about being a therapist—it’s about being a first point of contact. We learn how to spot signs of stress, anxiety, and depression, how to start supportive conversations, and how to direct people to professional help. A brilliant tool we use is the Hub of Hope app, which shows local mental health services based on your postcode. Sometimes, people just need to know help is out there—even if it’s through an app.
Q: How do your responsibilities in HR complement your mental health first aider role?
They go hand in hand. HR can sometimes seem formal or solution-driven but being a mental health first aider has reminded me that sometimes people just want to be heard. It’s okay not to have all the answers. Showing empathy, being present, and creating a safe space—that’s just as valuable as any policy or procedure.
Q: Pirtek operates in a male-dominated industry. Why is male mental health a particular focus?
There’s still stigma around men opening up—many feel they need to “just get on with it.” That’s why we’ve worked with organisations like Andy’s Man Club and rolled out mental health first aid training across the business. Many of our engineers work alone or in quiet environments. Loneliness, silence—it all adds up. We want them to know they’re not alone. It’s okay to talk, and we’re here to listen.
Q: Any advice for someone thinking about becoming a mental health first aider or a business considering implementing a mental health strategy?
Do your research. It’s not as heavy a role as people think—you’re not expected to solve everything. You’re there to listen and guide. Make sure your trainer fits your culture too; we found one who really engaged with our people. Also, don’t go it alone. Build a network. We’ve created a peer group among our trained first aiders to debrief and support each other.
And even if you don’t become a first aider—just being more approachable can make a difference. Sometimes, a smile or a “how are you really doing?” can open the door for someone who needs it.
Final thoughts
Mental health isn’t a trend. It’s a commitment to your people. At Pirtek, we’re proud to be fostering a culture where employees can speak up, reach out, and support one another. As Rupi puts it: “We’re not here to fix everything, but we are here to listen. And that’s a powerful start.”
Under the Hard Hat
At Pirtek, we work across a broad range of hard hat industries and we’re passionate about positive mental health. We care for the mental wellbeing of our customers, technicians, employees and colleagues. We know that mental health in the hard hat industries needs to be spoken about and the stigma associated with it must be removed. Therefore, we have launched Under the Hard Hat to bring more awareness to mental health and to provide help and support to our network through our partnered charities.
Learn more about Under the Hard Hat here: https://pirtek.co.uk/about/under-the-hard-hat/
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