With nominations open for the 2026 Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards, we’re continuing our Winners Interview Series — spotlighting past winners to discover what the recognition has meant to them, and the initiatives that earned them acclaim.
In this edition, Wellity’s James Sharples sat down with Sian Briddon, Senior Manager for Colleague Experience at Nationwide, who was named Mental Wellbeing Advocate of the Year 2025.
Sian’s dedication to wellbeing is clear. Alongside her role leading the colleague experience team, she co-chairs Nationwide’s Mental Health Network Minds Matter — now with over 1,300 active members and supports a mental health first aid community of more than 225 colleagues. Under her leadership, specialist groups have emerged to tackle key issues such as bereavement, domestic abuse, and addiction awareness, ensuring colleagues feel supported in diverse and personal ways.
Her impact extends beyond the workplace. As founder of the charity Comfort U Bags, Sian provides filled backpacks to children entering foster care for the first time reflecting her deep commitment to wellbeing both inside and outside of work.
On winning, Sian admits she was “blown away”. Though her name was on the award, she sees it as recognition for everyone involved: “It was a joint award - I couldn’t have done it without the amazing people who’ve worked so hard on these initiatives.”
The accolade has also boosted her confidence. Battling imposter syndrome, Sian says external recognition pushed her to go for new opportunities. Most recently, she was appointed as a Non-Executive Director for Mental Health First Aid England, a role she credits to the encouragement that came with winning.
Her advice to others considering entering the awards? “Don’t see it as an ego thing. It’s about shining a light on workplace wellbeing and mental health. By nominating, you’re not just recognising individuals or teams — you’re showing why this work matters.”
You can watch the full interview below:
Feeling inspired? Nominate a colleague, team, or organisation today for the 2026 Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards.
Nominations close 26th September 2025.