Staff feedback, ideas and forums

The Almac Group is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Craigavon. With over 7,500 employees across 18 international sites, Almac provides specialist services across the full drug development lifecycle, including diagnostics through to manufacturing and distribution.

Kyla Herron, HR Business Change Manager, explains how Almac identified the needs of their employees with caring responsibilities outside work and responded by introducing a dedicated staff support network.

Identifying the needs of staff with caring responsibilities

"Almac takes a data-informed approach to workforce wellbeing. Through employee engagement and demographic analysis, the organisation identified a growing number of staff balancing work with caring responsibilities."

"On further exploration, we identified that many employees didn’t identify themselves as carers, despite managing significant responsibilities. Others responded feeling isolated in their circumstances, overwhelmed, and unsure where to access support. These findings highlighted a clear gap in existing provision and the need for a more inclusive, targeted approach to supporting working carers."

Developing the Working Carers Network

"In response, Almac introduced a Working Carers Network, building on its existing Working Carers Toolkit. The network provides a safe and supportive space for employees to connect with colleagues in similar situations, share experiences, and access support during working hours. The network is employee-led, with members shaping discussion topics, speakers and priorities. Our Health and Wellbeing Team facilitates the network sessions, providing support that ensures coordination and continuity."

"We integrated the network with wider support mechanisms, including the Working Carers Toolkit. The toolkit supports employees with caring responsibilities and helps colleagues and line managers understand what being a carer involves and how to provide appropriate support. It also provides clear signposting to reliable information and support. We also deliver annual awareness sessions during Carers Week and provide training for line managers to help equip them with the skills to identify and provide practical support to staff with caring responsibilities. This approach ensures the support provided remains relevant, flexible, and aligned with employee needs."

Benefits for employees and the organisation

"The employee support network has delivered clear benefits for both employees and the organisation. Participants report feeling more supported, understood, and valued at work. The combination of emotional and practical support has contributed positively to wellbeing, morale and motivation."

"At an organisational level, the network has strengthened Almac’s inclusive workplace culture, supported employee engagement, increased job satisfaction and raised awareness of caring responsibilities along with the challenges that come with caring roles. The success of the network has led to expansion, with additional groups now being established across other company sites."

Lessons learned when establishing an employee support network

"We have learned several lessons on our journey to establish an employee support network. We have discovered that you must ensure that the purpose of the employee support network is clear from the outset. You should provide the right level of facilitation, but allow the group to evolve organically rather than over-structuring it. It is also important to have regular reviews to ensure that the purpose and aim of the employee support network remains in focus."

"Employee-led support networks can play a critical role in improving wellbeing, strengthening inclusion, and responding to the real-life challenges employees face – particularly when backed by strong organisational commitment and practical resources."