Member profile Bob Wagner, The Healing Hub
Stress is the number one challenge facing organisations today, according to Bob Wagner.
Bob is the chief executive and ‘chief stressbuster’ at The Healing Hub, an app-based business that helps individuals and employees to make positive changes to their mindset, performance and wellbeing. He has been an IoD member since 2006 and is a familiar face at regional events.
After 30 years working in human resources and people development, Bob developed a passion for creating behavioural change at speed. Having sold his previous business, he wanted to address the challenge of stress for individuals and organisations by delivering wellbeing programmes that support and empower employees.
He joined founder Nikki Owen as a director of The Healing Hub in 2021.
The firm has a mission to reduce workplace stress by 50%. Bob admits this is a “massive” challenge but says companies cannot afford to ignore the harmful effects of stress including absenteeism, poor productivity and employee burnout, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The firm has taken its first step by creating a 66-day programme for organisations to roll out to their employees.
The R66 programme has been designed to create new healthy habits that positively impact mindset, wellbeing and performance. Unlike other apps, The Healing Hub stays in regular contact with users and supports them to proactively manage their mental and physical health.
Following a successful pilot with selected teams, a large energy provider has now offered the programme to their entire operational team. The Healing Hub is in discussion with major fmcg and professional services firms who are seeking new ways to escalate the welfare and wellbeing off their employees.
Bob says: “We have got tremendous passion and energy for improving mental health and wellbeing among employees, but you have to do it right.
“It takes up to two months to form a habit so we make sure we stay in regular touch with users, for example by giving them a stress-busting activity every day. We are getting great feedback from people, who say they are more relaxed and managing their stress more effectively.”
