Fix Auto celebrates 150th qualified mental health first aider

Fix Auto this week celebrated its 150^th successful candidate to have undertaken the company’s two-day mental health first aider course. Fix Auto UK aims to ensure every franchise partner boasts at least two certified mental health first aiders.

The training milestone was reached when the latest class of 14 completed the mental health first aid England tutorial. Speaking after the latest course came to a close, Carl Norton, Fix Auto UK’s regional business manager (who is also the network’s qualified mental health first aid trainer), said:

“It’s yet another proud moment for the network. It blows my mind to think here we are, three years on from when we first started talking about the project, that we now have 150 people as qualified mental health first aiders.”

Mental health first aider training

Fix Auto set out with an initial plan to ensure that each repair centre in the Fix Auto UK network had at least two qualified mental health first aiders. Fix Auto has since expanded the mental health project, extending training out to all head office staff and key supply partners.

Norton, whose day-to-day role provides business support for franchisees in northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, commented further on the mental health first aider training programme:

“More importantly, the programme is working, too. I have received numerous calls over the last 18 months from candidates who’ve undertaken the course on how they’ve either identified and helped a colleague struggling with their mental health or were actually approached for help. Having someone to talk to is crucial when it comes to mental health support.”