Supporting Mental Health Through the Big Brew Tour

Tarmac was recognised for the positive contribution we’ve made to the construction community through our support of mental health initiatives with a Community Impact Award from Band of Builders, a Construction Charity providing practical, financial and wellbeing support for members of the UK construction industry and their families. The award highlighted our involvement in the Big Brew Tour, a nationwide effort to bring honest, accessible mental health conversations to tradespeople across the UK.

About the Big Brew Tour

Delivered in partnership with Band of Builders, the Big Brew Tour visited 30 Travis Perkins builders’ merchant branches across the country, creating welcoming spaces where tradespeople could pause, connect and talk openly about mental health over a cup of tea and a friendly chat.

The tour offered a simple but powerful message: taking a moment to talk can make all the difference.

By bringing these conversations directly to workplaces, the initiative helped shine a light on wellbeing within an industry where long hours, physical demands and isolation can often go unnoticed.

In Their Words – Voices from the Tour

The tour had a significant emotional and practical impact, bringing people together in ways that felt meaningful and long‑overdue.

“Seeing the Big Brew Tour come to fruition and impact so many people has been incredibly rewarding. Across all 30 branches, we saw tradespeople, branch colleagues, and managers come together to talk openly, support one another and break down the stigma surrounding mental health in construction. Hearing personal stories and seeing people connect, often for the first time about difficult topics, really showed the power of community.”
Garry Gregory, Packed Products Director, Tarmac

“Completing the Big Brew Tour alongside Tarmac and Travis Perkins has been a fantastic milestone. Every stop on the tour was filled with honest and heartfelt discussions… what’s been most inspiring is how the events sparked ongoing dialogue within branches themselves. This tour has shown that our industry is ready to talk.”
Gavin Crane, CEO, Band of Builders

Looking Ahead

While the Big Brew Tour has concluded, the conversation isn’t ending. Band of Builders continues to offer mental health support for anyone in the construction community, and we remain committed to working with partners to ensure these conversations continue.

Our partnership with Band of Builders is just one part of our wider focus on mental health and wellbeing, ensuring that everyone in the construction community has someone to talk to, support they can rely on, and a workplace where they feel valued and understood.