Tameside wellbeing business shortlisted for national Northern Power Women award

A Tameside-based mental health organisation that was crowned Overall Business of the Year at the Tameside Business Awards has now been recognised on a national stage.

Your Well-being Company has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Micro Organisation category at the prestigious Northern Power Women Awards, selected from more than 1,800 businesses across the UK.

For founder Sarah Crossley, the recognition feels particularly special.

“As a small business rooted in Tameside, working closely with local schools, colleges, community groups and organisations, this means so much,” she said. “It highlights not just the work we do around wellbeing and mental health, but the strength of small, purpose-led businesses coming out of our area.”

The awards ceremony will take place in March at Manchester Central. Sarah will attend with her business mentor and is looking forward to making the most of the experience.

“You find out on the night, so whatever happens it’ll be a brilliant evening,” she said. “There’s also a mentoring programme attached to the awards, which I’m really excited about. It’s about being matched with someone ahead of you or at a similar level in business. Opportunities like that are invaluable.”

The Northern Power Women Awards primarily celebrate female-led businesses, while also recognising male allies who support gender equality. Sarah’s team is currently entirely female, something she says happened organically.

“It’s happened accidentally, but it feels right for us,” she added. “We’re all passionate about what we do and about supporting each other.”

Founded in Tameside, Your Well-being Company originally focused on mental health support for children in primary schools and nurseries. Since then, it has expanded into secondary schools, corporate settings and charitable organisations.

The organisation delivers structured wellbeing programmes in schools, including a six-week course funded by the NHS to support children who are on waiting lists for specialist CAMHS services.

“The waiting lists are huge,” Sarah explained. “Children need interim support. Our programme gives them the language to understand their feelings and tools to manage them. If every child in the UK had access to this kind of early intervention, imagine the difference it would make long term.”

Sarah believes prevention and early education are key to reducing the number of adults struggling later in life.

“Mental health has always been there. We need to normalise talking about it and give children the skills early on.”

The company’s growth has also seen it branch into corporate wellbeing, delivering talks and training sessions for major organisations including Domino’s UK, as well as developing an online Employee Assistance Programme for the National Heritage Foundation, which will reach thousands of staff.

In a major milestone, the business has recently sold its first international franchise in Australia. A former client, now based overseas, approached Sarah about bringing the children’s programme to families there.

“I’d never even considered international franchising,” Sarah said. “But it was the perfect match. Now we’re building the blueprint so it can be delivered properly and safely abroad.”

Despite the rapid growth, Sarah says one of the biggest challenges has been confidence.

“Every level of business feels like you’re breaking into something new,” she said. “Networking, putting yourself forward, believing you belong in certain rooms - that’s been a journey. But each time you take that step, it opens another door.”

For Sarah, the mission remains clear.

“Overall, it’s about making sure people feel okay within themselves,” she said. “And if they don’t, giving them practical tools to help.”

As the Northern Power Women Awards approach, she remains grounded but hopeful.

“Whatever happens on the night, being shortlisted from over 1,800 businesses is incredible,” she said. “It shows that small organisations from places like Tameside can make a national impact.”

Winners will be announced in March.