Tradespeople will enjoy a brew to help tackle mental health in the construction sector in a major tour of branches of the UK’s largest builders’ merchant.
Travis Perkins, Tarmac Blue Circle and Band of Builders have entered a partnership for the ‘Big Brew’ tour, an initiative designed to provide a safe space for construction workers and tradespeople to take a break, talk openly about any mental health challenges they face and encourage conversation.
More than 75 Travis Perkins branches are due to host events in 2026. The tour kicked off with three Big Brews on the same day with events in Yorkshire, at Brighouse branch, and in East Anglia at Ipswich and Martlesham Heath branches.
During the events, tradespeople are invited into branches to have a chat with fellow workers ‘over a cuppa’, as well as having access to the wellbeing services of leading construction charity Band of Builders.
Research has revealed construction workers are almost three times more likely to die through suicide than workers in other industries, with two construction workers losing their lives to suicide every day in the UK.
Carine Jessamine, Group Marketing Director for Travis Perkins, said: “We are proud to be at the heart of the Big Brew tour with Tarmac Blue Circle and Band of Builders once again this year.
“We hosted events in around 30 branches last year and received fantastic feedback so we wanted to reach even more people. We are delighted to be more than doubling the number of events compared to last year.
“The statistics around the mental health challenges facing construction workers and tradespeople are very concerning and we have a duty of care to ensure our customers – and our colleagues – are equipped with the information to assist them and their families as and when they need it.
“Band of Builders does a fantastic job in general, and specifically with the Big Brew, so we are thrilled to be able to support an event which is crucial to our industry and those operating within it.
“Lots of our branches will be getting involved and information will be provided on a branch-by-branch basis before the events they are hosting.”
Garry Gregory, Packed Products Director at Tarmac, said: “Following the success of last year’s tour and the positive impact it had within the community, we’re proud to be supporting the Big Brew Tour once again.
“Mental health remains a hugely important issue across the construction industry, and initiatives like this help create the space for open and honest conversations.
“By working alongside our partners at Travis Perkins and Band of Builders, we’re able to reach an even wider audience this year and continue supporting tradespeople who may be facing mental health challenges.”
Tony Steel, Operations Director for Band of Builders, said: “The Big Brew is solely designed to help construction workers and tradespeople and we have been humbled to support many tradespeople at each event.
“Having the backing of Travis Perkins and Tarmac Blue Circle is a huge boost to the campaign and really helps ensure we are reaching as many people as possible in 2026.”
Travis Perkins is part of Travis Perkins plc and the UK’s largest supplier of building materials to the building and construction industry.
Featuring a network of over 500 branches, it supplies thousands of products and materials, including a tool hire service, to trade professionals and self-builders across the nation. It offers a wide range of quality timber, building materials, kitchens, plumbing and heating, landscaping, painting and decorating essentials and tools for the job.
