As Mednet celebrates 10 years as a Mindful Employer Charter Signatory, the company’s commitment to mental health remains as strong as ever. As the Leeds Mindful Employer Network’s June Employer Spotlight, we’re proud to shine a light on an organisation that has spend a decade putting people first.
The Leeds-based healthcare communications agency has built its culture around a simple but powerful principle: Making Health Whole, recognising the person beyond the diagnosis and supporting wellbeing in all its forms. For Mednet, supporting mental health isn’t a standalone initiative but something woven into the fabric of the organisation, shaping both the way they work and the way they support their people.
Through inclusive employment practices, strong community partnerships and a culture built on connection and support, Mednet continues to demonstrate what a genuinely people-centred workplace can look like. From helping people return to work through partnerships with Workplace Leeds, to fostering wellbeing across a growing remote workforce, they are showing that business success and employee wellbeing go hand in hand.
Leeds Mindful Employer Network caught up with Mednet to learn more about their journey, their approach to wellbeing and why mental health remains central to everything they do.
Can you tell us a little about Mednet and the work you do?
Mednet is a healthcare communications agency working with Pharma to provide communication strategies and content. The work we do is centred on the principle of Making Health Whole – seeing the person beyond their diagnosis and ensuring communications are meeting the needs of everyday people.
Mental health and “whole person” wellbeing seem deeply connected to Mednet’s culture and approach. Where does that commitment come from as an organisation?
Mednet’s CEO previously worked as a mental health nurse, and many of the team have a personal connection to mental health awareness. Inclusion has been built into our DNA since the business was formed, and a big part of that is being able to support those who have faced mental health challenges, including helping people find and retain full-time work through our partnership with Workplace Leeds.
Mednet has grown significantly while operating largely remotely. What have you learned about supporting connection, wellbeing and culture across a remote or hybrid workforce?
We know that connection and feeling part of a community is vital to supporting positive wellbeing – especially at work. That’s why we run regular socials, both in-person and online, to help bring the team together. From virtual quiz nights to our annual charity walk to raise money for Leeds Mind, we’re always looking for ways to bring the team together.
Tell us about your Back to Work scheme and why this is important to you at Mednet
Having stable employment can really help people in their mental wellbeing, but we also know that getting and retaining full-time work can be tricky for people who have had to take time out to care for their mental health. That’s why we chose to work with Workplace Leeds to help support people back into work through mentoring, work experience and CV assistance. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the people we’ve worked with go on to flourish in their future work.
Your work increasingly focuses on the connection between mental and physical health and the importance of supporting patients holistically. Why do you think that conversation matters so much — both within healthcare and workplaces more broadly?
Research has shown that when people feel supported emotionally and mentally as well as physically, they’re more likely to adhere to their medical treatment, manage their symptoms and experience positive health outcomes. We know that physical and mental health don’t exist in a vacuum, so it’s important to look at both together in order for us to feel the best we can.
What advice would you give to other employers who want to create a more mentally healthy, supportive and inclusive workplace culture?
Definitely sign up to the Leeds Mindful Employer Network – there’s loads of advice there that can help if you’re not sure where to start. It’s also a good idea to have open conversations with your team to find out if they have any suggestions and work out what their pain points are. We have individual Wellbeing Action Plans for each member of our team too, which helps people identify what support works best for them, their typical signs of stress and how they navigate stressful situations, so that managers have a better understanding of how their teams work.
2026 marks 10 years of Mednet being a Mindful Employer. What does it mean to Mednet to be a Charter Signatory?
This is hugely important to us, as it means we’re doing our bit to support our team and shows the longevity of our commitment. Our commitment to mental health isn’t something new, it’s something we’ve done for a long time and will continue to do well into the future.
Why did you decide to join the Leeds Mindful Employer Network and is there anything exciting coming up at Mednet that you’d like your fellow members to know about?
We chose to join the Mindful Employer Network as part of our ongoing dedication to supporting our team’s mental wellbeing. While it’s something we’ve been doing for a long time, we know that there’s always value in learning more and hearing what other people are finding works.
On the 10th July we’re bringing our team together to walk 25km from Bingley to Leeds to raise money for Leeds Mind. We have a Just Giving page set up if anyone from the network is able to donate! https://www.justgiving.com/page/mednet-group-8
Thank you so much to the team at Mednet for contributing to this blog and congratulations on their 10th anniversary as a Mindful Employer
Join the Leeds Mindful Employer Network.
Sign the national Mindful Employer Charter.
Would you like your organisation to feature in an employer spotlight? Drop us an email at mindfulemployer@leedsmind.org.uk to tell us your story.
