Like it or not, we have always been a male dominated industry. Thankfully this is now evolving, and the industry is much better for it.

The Jacksons Group employs more than 500 people across the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Wight and Mauritius, so I wear many hats on a daily basis, and mental health and wellbeing in the workplace is becoming an increasingly important one.

The automotive industry, with decades of male dominated influence, has inevitably created a ’laddish’ culture and an environment where you are just expected to get on with it.

Long hours, with weekend working and constant pressure to deliver have been the norm, where reaching out for help can appear less strong or unmanly.

This is in part the problem of the industry, but also a problem in the way men feel about discussing what some would perceive as a weakness.

The common thought is that men are just expected to ’get on with it’.

At Jacksons, we work hard to try and be different.

Everything is more personal here than in similar sized UK dealerships across: work and social lives cross in our close island communities and this is a great enabler for creating a more inclusive workplace.

Of course, having engaged employees is critical to delivering on the business objectives.

Ensuring that all team members understand the part they play in the organisation, how they impact on the larger team and its ability to deliver customer service creates a more supportive and considerate workplace. If you’re not serving a customer, you are serving someone who is.

This considerate environment is increasingly enhanced by the rapidly changing diversity within our industry: 35% of our workforce are female, with a growing number now filling managerial and more senior roles.

This is a very welcome shift that helps create better diversity in the workplace and the shedding of some of the historic ’laddish’ culture.

This isn’t about being ’PC’, it’s about greater diversity and individuality delivering a better, healthier workplace for all.

Understanding the importance of society is another key issue in changing culture.

’We always look to support our staff in the causes they are invested in, from sponsoring the amazing team at Isle of Play, to helping the Foodbank with back-to-school rucksacks, we look to support our teams both in and out of work.

CSR has long been an overused buzzword in big business. Corporate Social Responsibility is important though.

Aside from the benefit to the community, it gives employees pride in their place of work, to see the business making a positive impact on the lives of our island population.

On International Men’s Day, it is important to reflect on how we support each other, be kinder to ourselves and what more we can all do to remove the stigma associated with talking about mental health.