For Richard Abrahams, mental health isn’ t a side note to running a business, it’ s the foundation it’ s built on. Our industry is known for long hours, high pressure and solitary working. Richard knows first-hand how this can affect our professional, and personal wellbeing …

This belief was the basis of a mental health event Richard recently hosted, bringing together industry professionals, clinicians, and people with lived experience. The session, a mix of panel discussions and open Q & A, revealed just how widespread stress and burnout have become in construction and fenestration. For many, it hit close to home.

“ We all have mental health, just like we have physical health,” Richard says.“ But too often, we ignore it until it breaks down. I’ ve seen what pressure can do to people in this trade.

“ We talked about why people are more stressed than ever. About full‘ stress buckets’, anxiety, burnout, even suicide. The reality is heartbreaking, but also preventable.

“ But, you don’ t need a complicated wellness plan. You need to rest. Get outside. Talk. Eat properly. Sleep enough. These simple things are powerful.”

Richard is passionate about helping teams understand how

trauma, fear, and even childhood experiences shape how we respond to stress today. Through workshops on trauma-informed practice, leadership, and emotional intelligence, he helps businesses not only spot the signs of someone struggling, but know what to do next.

This drive to protect and empower others is personal.

Richard has spent over 30 years in the industry. After a short stint at Yorkshire Television, Richard joined Elmhurst Windows in 1992, never expecting to stay. But the“ summer job” soon became a calling.

Under the guidance of his father, Jack Abrahams and operations expert Enid Everick, Richard immersed himself in the day-to-day workings of the business. He eventually took over as Managing Director, a role he’ s held for more than 25 years.

“ I grew up hearing my parents talk about business and customers, it fascinated me,” he says.“ Enid taught me the operational ropes, but I always wanted to get out and meet the customer. That’ s where I’ ve always believed the heart of the business lives.”

Elmhurst has evolved from offering timber and aluminium windows to being a leader in uPVC and conservatory roof systems. But as Richard sees it, the biggest transformation hasn’ t

been in the product; it’ s in the people.

“ Today’ s customers are more informed than ever. Sales isn’ t transactional anymore. It’ s consultative. And if you’ re not building trust, you’ re not building anything.”

This insight led Richard to launch a suite of training programmes that blend modern sales psychology with communication, leadership, and wellbeing. Courses include everything from advanced sales coaching to conflict resolution, team building, and trauma-informed leadership.

Richard draws not just from lived experience, but from years of professional training.

His Wholehearted Leadership course, for instance, draws on lessons from elite sport and business coaching to help managers inspire, rather than control. His Effective Communication sessions are rooted in non-violent communication techniques, helping

teams navigate tough conversations with empathy. And his Trauma-Informed Practice workshops prepare businesses to respond compassionately to customers and colleagues who may be struggling beneath the surface.

“ Installers, business owners, salespeople, we all face challenges,” Richard says.“ But no one teaches us how to deal with them. That’ s what I want to change.”

At the core of everything Richard offers, whether it’ s a tailored seminar, a team-building away day, or a mental health workshop, is a simple message: success isn’ t sustainable without self-care.

“ You can have the best product, the best team, the best margins, but if you’ re not looking after yourself and your people, it’ s all at risk,” he says.

Whether you’ re managing a fitting team, running a one-man band, just setting up shop or been in the trade for decades, Richard’ s story is a reminder that personal and professional success are never separate.

For more on Richard’ s mental health advocacy, training courses and sales coaching for the fenestration and construction industries, visit www. richardabrahams. co. uk or contact him directly at richard @ elmhurst-windows. co. uk