Prioritising Wellbeing: Highlights from Our Health & Wellbeing Day at First Derivative

At First Derivative, we often talk about performance, growth, and delivery, but underpinning all of that is something far more fundamental: the wellbeing of our people.

On March 24th, our Newry office took a deliberate pause. Not because the work slowed down, but because we recognise that sustainable performance depends on giving our people the space to reset, reflect, and recharge.

Our Health and Wellbeing Day was designed with that in mind, creating moments to step away from the pace of delivery and focus on building personal resilience, both mentally and physically.

We began the morning just across from the office at Seasons with a Vinyasa Flow Yoga session. It was a simple but powerful way to start the day, stepping out of routine and setting a more intentional tone. It was great to see a mix of abilities, from those completely new to yoga to more experienced participants, with everyone given the opportunity to challenge themselves away from the desk.

At lunchtime, colleagues joined a global session with Health Shield, grounding wellbeing in something practical by helping people better understand how to access and benefit from the healthcare support available to them. At First Derivative, we’re fortunate to offer an extensive support portal for our teams globally. Health Shield enables employees to easily access and claim back everyday healthcare costs while supporting their overall wellbeing.

The afternoon brought a more reflective close, with a breathwork and mindfulness workshop led by Judith Greene in our Newry office. The session saw a fantastic turnout and introduced practical techniques that can be used to regulate emotions and manage pressure in the pace of modern working life, with benefits that extend well beyond the workplace.

What stood out most was how immediately applicable these techniques were. Simple, evidence-based approaches that colleagues can bring into their daily routines to improve focus, manage stress, and create moments of calm.

Most encouraging of all was the level of engagement, the openness, curiosity, and genuine willingness to invest in personal wellbeing. That, more than anything, is what builds a resilient organisation.

As a People Partner, I see initiatives like this as more than standalone events. They are part of a broader commitment to creating an environment where people feel supported to perform at their best, both professionally and personally.

Because ultimately, wellbeing at work is not a nice to have. It is a business imperative.

Thank you to everyone who took part and made the day such a success. We look forward to continuing this momentum and to the next one!

Thanks
Anita