With nominations now open for the 2026 Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards, we’re continuing our Winners Interview Series, speaking to last year’s champions to uncover what recognition meant to them, and to spotlight the initiatives that earned them the win.
In this edition, Wellity’s James Sharples sits down with Luke Mears, Manager of Online Safety at Sony Interactive Entertainment, winner of the Best Mental Wellbeing Initiative of the Year in 2025.
For Luke, the heart of their programme lies in flexibility and empowerment. Rather than mandating attendance or pushing a one-size-fits-all solution, Sony’s approach is to provide a full suite of tools and resources that colleagues can access on demand. “We provide the tools and say: use what you want, when you want it,” Luke explains. This autonomy helps employees engage in ways that truly suit their individual needs.
Winning the award was more than just a proud moment for the team, it was validation. “Sometimes you feel like you’re wading in the water, unsure if you’re doing the right thing,” Luke says. “To have a panel of peers review our work and say, ‘You’ve done a good job,’ was incredibly validating.”
The recognition has also given Luke new confidence to keep pushing boundaries: “It’s given me more confidence to push the envelope and say, what we’re doing works - let’s keep building on it.”
Key lessons from Sony’s journey?
- No one-size-fits-all: recognise that everyone has unique needs and experiences.
- Empower people: let employees decide how and when they engage.
- Stay accountable: keep iterating, listening to feedback, and adjusting initiatives to ensure they remain relevant.
Looking ahead, Luke stays motivated by reflecting on progress: “I think about how things used to be ten years ago, and how far we’ve come - and then about how much further we could go in the next ten.”
And his advice for those considering entering the awards? Push past self-consciousness:
“Overcome those feelings and put yourself forward. What’s the worst that can happen? If you don’t win, there’s always next year.
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.