Case study
AS Watson
Since partnering with AS Watson Group in 2018, we have delivered bespoke employee mental health and wellbeing programmes globally along with conflict management, de-escalation and personal safety programmes to colleagues in the UK.
What we did
Mental health
We developed and delivered training across the business, from the CEO to senior leaders and managers.
Personal safety
Our personal safety courses include professional actors to bring training to life in realistic scenarios.
Conferences
We continue to deliver key messages about wellbeing at internal conferences, virtually and in person.
Train the Trainer
We developed a bespoke course for roll out and then trained Superdrug and Savers trainers how to deliver it.
Tailored wellbeing for AS Watson
We developed a tailored approach to support AS Watson, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer, addressing the needs of employees from the CEO to frontline staff.
Our collaboration has included national and regional conferences, classroom courses, and live virtual sessions for a global workforce.
The materials were culturally relevant, translated into multiple languages, and enriched with country-specific resources, ensuring the training was impactful and meaningful across regions.
Conflict management and personal safety
Staff in stores are all too often in the firing line. They run the risk of meeting an angry or aggressive customer with potential flashpoints being refunds, refusing service and shoplifters.
We developed a tailored course, focusing on communication and awareness skills, and use our team of specialists and actors to help workers manage unpredictable, potentially volatile situations.
Empowering leaders through train the trainer
AS Watson invested in a bespoke Train the Trainer Programme, equipping employees across the UK and Europe with the skills to deliver impactful mental health and wellbeing training internally.
By integrating mental health awareness into leadership development, they have built a sustainable and scalable approach to workplace wellbeing. This proactive strategy empowers their teams to provide ongoing support, reducing reliance on external providers and ensuring a long-term, positive impact across the organisation.
Key messages and shareables
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic we have been supporting AS Watson Group by providing content and resources to help them look after the mental health and wellbeing of their people.
What the client said
"Since 2018 Terry and the team from Oakwood have worked with us as we’ve continued to invest and evolve our development programme. From large scale conferences to local sessions, Terry and team have delivered thought provoking and practical learning on all areas of Mental Health, that resonates within a retail world. They do this whilst ensuring a high level of care given the topic at hand and being responsive to the needs of the learners, even after the core training session has ended.
We’re looking forward to the next phase of our training that will help empower more people in our business whether that’s on an individual basis, to improve their own mental health, or in their capacity as team leaders, line managers and in leadership roles in creating the right environment for everyone to thrive."
Peter Macnab
CEO, Superdrug
"I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Oakwood Training since 2018 across both Superdrug and Savers. The quality of the training they deliver is exceptional. They listen and adapt their sessions to engage every level of the business and have supported us in driving a culture of wellbeing in our business.
For our leaders, it’s helping them have the right conversation with their teams on wellbeing and also re-focusing them on small changes that can have a positive impact on their wellbeing."
Amy Davies
People Director, Superdrug
"How amazing to have our own in-house set of trainers trained by the fabulous Oakwood! A massive thank you to Oakwood Training, as they have been supporting Savers Health Home & Beauty to help our managers build confidence, have great conversations and raise awareness about mental health."
Sharon Curness
Head of People, Savers Health & Beauty
"I’ve worked with Terry and Team Oakwood on multiple projects. It’s a sad fact that the violence and aggression is on the rise in the retail sector and AS Watson wanted to be proactive and give our colleagues the knowledge and tools to defuse a potentially intense situation that could put our teams, colleagues or visitors at risk.
The feedback’s been incredible, fun and engaging. Our retail colleagues are telling us it helps to build their confidence. I highly recommend Team Oakwood – An innovative training provider that works towards tailoring their solution to your business."
Claire Reeves
People Development Content & Design Manager, AS Watson Group
Another fantastic session from Pete and Andy at the Superdrug Store Manager roadshows
Charlene Smout
People Development Manager, Superdrug
What the client said
"We were looking for a partner, who had a positive approach to Mental Health & Wellbeing. Someone who could convey the message in an engaging way while still being laser sharp about the seriousness of taking care of your own wellbeing. It was important to select a Programme, which could embrace our Colgate Culture and at the same time tap straight into various local cultures and allow each individual to feel invited and listen to.
The Programme has been a great success with incredible high participation on both the virtual instructor-led sessions and the eLearning modules. What we particularly love is the bite-sized, fun and interactive way the eLearning is constructed with a great variety to keep the learner hooked.
The equal and unpretentious dialogue Oakwood masters creates psychological safety and opens up for dialogue, vulnerability - and the opportunity to proactively take responsibility"
Susanne Vang
Talent Acquisition & Learning Manager - Northern Europe, Colgate-Palmolive Company
"We were looking for a partner, who had a positive approach to Mental Health & Wellbeing. Someone who could convey the message in an engaging way while still being laser sharp about the seriousness of taking care of your own wellbeing. It was important to select a Programme, which could embrace our Colgate Culture and at the same time tap straight into various local cultures and allow each individual to feel invited and listen to.
The Programme has been a great success with incredible high participation on both the virtual instructor-led sessions and the eLearning modules. What we particularly love is the bite-sized, fun and interactive way the eLearning is constructed with a great variety to keep the learner hooked.
The equal and unpretentious dialogue Oakwood masters creates psychological safety and opens up for dialogue, vulnerability - and the opportunity to proactively take responsibility"
Susanne Vang
Talent Acquisition & Learning Manager - Northern Europe, Colgate-Palmolive Company
Oakwood's approach to Mental Health training was perfectly pitched for a senior team. The training was engaging, accessible, informative, important and mind-broadening. We came away with a much clearer picture of how mental health issues affect people at work.
Lord Simon Wolfson
CEO, Next
Oakwood's approach to Mental Health training was perfectly pitched for a senior team. The training was engaging, accessible, informative, important and mind-broadening. We came away with a much clearer picture of how mental health issues affect people at work.
Lord Simon Wolfson
CEO, Next
Oakwood's approach to Mental Health training was perfectly pitched for a senior team. The training was engaging, accessible, informative, important and mind-broadening. We came away with a much clearer picture of how mental health issues affect people at work.
Lord Simon Wolfson
CEO, Next
"We were looking for a partner, who had a positive approach to Mental Health & Wellbeing. Someone who could convey the message in an engaging way while still being laser sharp about the seriousness of taking care of your own wellbeing. It was important to select a Programme, which could embrace our Colgate Culture and at the same time tap straight into various local cultures and allow each individual to feel invited and listen to.
The Programme has been a great success with incredible high participation on both the virtual instructor-led sessions and the eLearning modules. What we particularly love is the bite-sized, fun and interactive way the eLearning is constructed with a great variety to keep the learner hooked.
The equal and unpretentious dialogue Oakwood masters creates psychological safety and opens up for dialogue, vulnerability - and the opportunity to proactively take responsibility"