Serving the Teesside Business Community | 49
Picture by Doug Moody
Lesley Vogwill, Sophie Trenouth,
Neil Joslin and Emma Smith
explain e2e’s mental health
awareness drive and support for
local community initiatives
MENTAL
STRENGTH
Salvage firm drives home mental health message
B
ritain’s biggest collective vehicle
salvage operator is driving home
a message about the importance
of looking after mental health in the
workplace.
Three e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management
staff have completed a course that will help
them offer first aid to colleagues who may
be suffering from mental health problems.
e2e – which was known as National
Salvage Group (NSG) before undergoing
a major rebrand earlier this year – works
mainly with insurers, as well as fleet
management and car leasing companies
and others.
The business was set up in the mid-
1980s by a group of salvage companies
who wanted to offer insurers a seamless
total loss management service. It now has
around 26 staff, mainly based in its HQ on
Dudley Road, Darlington, which has just
undergone an impressive renovation.
Chief operating officer Neil Joslin says
caring for its staff, as well as for customers
and members, is at the heart of what e2e
does and why it has been so successful for
three decades. So when one of his team
told him about the course being run by St
John Ambulance, he was keen to give it a
go.
“We wanted to know if it was a good
course and so Emma Smith, from our client
service team, agreed to be our guinea pig,”
he explained.
“When she came back speaking so highly
about what she had learned, we didn’t
hesitate about sending the others.”
Emma is passionate about the issue,
having been open about her own mental
health struggles.
“I’m proud to be part of a company
that recognises the importance of mental
health,” she says. “People are often
embarrassed by it but they shouldn’t be – it
affects so many people.
“Our role is mainly showing them where
they can get help because there are so
many services available.
“We’re also trained to keep our eye on
our colleagues and if I notice somebody
isn’t their usual self or is experiencing
problems in their personal life, I now have
the skills to be able to approach them
and ask how they are and open up some
communication. Just knowing we’re there
and have been trained gives people that
little bit of comfort.”
e2e’s 31 members, who range from
small family business to large, multi-site
operators, remain independent but benefit
from centrally negotiated and managed
contracts.
“We win contracts from insurers and
then manage those contracts on behalf of
our members, giving insurers a single point
of contact for their instructions, queries and
billing,” says Neil, who is currently recruiting
three new people to work in business
development roles.
“We process about 70,000 vehicles
a year and our website salvagemarket.
co.uk auctions 2,000 salvaged vehicles per
week. Our members are much more than
salvagers – they’re really recyclers.”
By Michael McGeary
As well as looking after its own staff, the
firm is also doing as much as it can to play a
part in the local community.
Data analyst Sophie Trenouth has
responsibility for coordinating its efforts,
which include supporting a new bio-dome
at St Mary’s Primary School in Newton
Aycliffe, taking part in litter picks and
supporting food banks and a women’s
refuge.
“We’re constantly looking out for more
ways we can be involved in the community,”
says Sophie.
Neil is also keen to continue offering as
much support as possible to his staff and
plans to send at least one more person on
the mental health first aid course.
Emma is hoping other firms will follow
e2e’s lead.
“It would benefit everybody, from a self-
employed person through to companies
with hundreds of staff,” she says. “It’s so
needed!”
For more information about the course
and mental health in the workplace, visit
mhfaengland.org.
Chief operating
officer Neil Joslin