Jag Nagra, HR Director for Toolstation, told Electrical Times: “We’re a business that cares about our colleagues and this investment recognises their hard work and is designed to support them with the rising costs they face.

“We have also introduced a series of policies designed to promote wellbeing and provide support for different life events. These initiatives are integral to our ambition to create a workplace that supports colleagues in moments that matter and may have an impact on their working lives.”

This series of industry-leading policies cover the following:

• Flexible working for colleagues that have worked at Toolstation for a minimum of 13 weeks
• 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory for maternity, adoption, or surrogacy circumstances
• Two weeks paid paternity leave
• New parents have up to 10 days additional leave during the first two years to cover emergencies
• One weeks additional paid leave for both new parents for the two years following the birth of their child
• Two days paid leave for those undergoing fertility treatment or an IVF cycle
• Two weeks paid leave for those affected by miscarriage and two days paid leave for affected partners
• A Trans and Gender Reassignment policy that supports colleagues going through the process of transitioning, provides single sex spaces and use of non-gendered terminology when referring to a group of individuals or an individual of unspecified gender identity
• Its Menopause Policy provides a wide range of adjustments to support colleagues experiencing the menopause

Toolstation has also taken steps to help promote positive emotional wellbeing at work, including introducing a network of trained mental-health first aiders and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme that is available whenever colleagues need support or advice for their mental health. It has also recently introduced the Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace App for, available to all colleagues. The benefits include an annual health check, access to a digital GP, a second medical opinion, and mental health and nutritional consultations.