Over 1,000 retail workers to attend Retail Trust’s wellbeing festival

Theo Paphitis Retail Group and The Entertainer are among the 200 retailers sending staff to the Retail Trust’s wellbeing festival for retail workers when it returns to London next week on May 25.

Together Fest, which was first launched by the Retail Trust last year to unite retail colleagues for a brilliantly restorative day out, will double in size and capacity for 2023 to accommodate 1,200 people from over 200 retailers, which will also include H&M, Starbucks and Next.

It aims to bring to life the Retail Trust’s ethos of improving the hope, health and happiness of the UK’s three million workers with a full day of inspiring talks, masterclasses and interactive sessions featuring an all-star line-up of wellness champions and celebrities, including comedian Katherine Ryan, TV doctor Dr Alex George and legendary England footballer Stuart Pearce MBE.

Theo Paphitis, Chairman and owner of Ryman, Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue and London Graphic Centre said: “Together Fest was a big hit with the TPRG colleagues who attended last year, and I know this event will be no different.

“Together Fest is a day out of the office that personifies what the fantastic work of the Retail Trust is all about - good people, wellbeing, inspiration and taking a moment to breathe whilst understanding all the benefits of being in this fantastic retail sector and our part in it all."

A spokesperson for The Entertainer added: “We’re proud to be a part of the Retail Trust’s Together Fest and hope that our colleagues who attend will enjoy coming together with others in the industry at the event, which champions improving the health and happiness of workers in the UK.

“At The Entertainer, we work with the Retail Trust to provide staff a range of company-wide benefits including virtual GP appointments, wellbeing support and much more which we hope enriches the hope, health and happiness of each and every one of our colleagues across over 170 stores, distribution centres and head office.”

Presenter, author and flexible working campaigner Anna Whitehouse aka Mother Pukka will host the event and Together Fest’s long list of wellbeing experts also include burnout coach Jayne Morris, nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, best-selling self-help author Jen Sincero, foodie pioneers Bosh! and sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning.

There will be talks on topics such as preventing burnout, making healthier lifestyle decisions and raising awareness of domestic abuse, masterclasses where attendees can learn how to improve their sleep, banish imposter syndrome and tackle life’s ‘tiny traumas’, and performances and workshops. including a live poetry recital by mental health activist Charly Cox, healthy cookery demos and craft workshops by crafts retailer Hobbycraft.

Kacie Ball, Hobbycraft’s craft workshop business managersaid: “At Hobbycraft, we're working harder than ever to bring everyone back together – to include, to inspire and to get great conversations happening again. Crafting together, no matter what your experience level or ability, is a fantastic way to relax, bond, inspire each other and create something amazing. By partnering with the Retail Trust, we are thrilled to be showcasing how effective our craft workshops can be on team's wellbeing at their upcoming Together Fest.”

Research carried out by the Retail Trust last year found that a third of people working for the UK’s biggest retailers wanted to quit the industry, while eight out of 10 retail staff had experienced declining mental health due to financial concerns, abuse from customers and post-pandemic fatigue.

Retailers from across the sector work with the Retail Trust to improve the hope, health and happiness of their staff and H&M, Next, Starbucks, Domino’s, River Island, Dunelm, Pets at Home and Waterstones (who will also host a pop-up bookstore at the event), are some of its partners bringing their employees to Together Fest 2023.

Staff from other brands including Harvey Nichols, and Oxfam will also attend Together Fest event is also being supported by B&Q, Dentons, Everlast Gyms, Fiorucci, Hobbycraft, Holland & Barrett, Kärcher, Newton Europe, Nutun, Oracle Retail, Revolution Beauty, TwentyCi, TJX Europe, Usdaw and Wagestream.

Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust added:“Together Fest represents everything that the Retail Trust has always stood for, both by equipping people with the essential tools to improve their wellbeing and by fostering a real sense of pride in working for the retail industry.

“We’ve built on the success of last year's event and all the amazing feedback we received from the hundreds of retail workers who attended to make this year’s Together Fest even bigger and better.”