Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514967
4 NEWS 25.01.2024 MALTA Enterprise and Kings College have come together in a significant collaboration aimed at enhancing the startup ecosystem, with a collaboration dedicated to founders' mental health and wellbeing. e agreement, formal- ly signed during the Start Up Festival 2023, underscores Malta's commitment to fostering a holistic approach to start- up development, acknowledging the importance of founders' mental health and overall well-being. Malta Enterprise alongside Kings Col- lege and Founders Taboo, an initiative backed by a study done by Ute Stephan, are on a mission to increase Awareness, Access, and Affordability of support for founders' mental health. is research has been essential for disrupting the startup ecosystem's view on mental health in founders. "ere is broad evidence that you can be a better entrepreneur — be more productive, creative, and ultimately your businesses will perform better — if you look after your wellbeing." Ex- plained Ute Stephan. CEO of Malta Enterprise Kurt Farru- gia explained that "e success of the business is important, but we prioritise the wellbeing of the person behind the entrepreneur above all else. is is the cornerstone of the startup environment we want to nurture. e collaboration with Kings College and Founders Ta- boo emphasises mental health of en- trepreneurs, creating a culture in which founders can thrive on both a personal and professional level." Stephan's research suggests that while stress is hard for entrepreneurs to avoid, it does not need to cause ill health or af- fect their performance. Getting more than seven hours' sleep and a balanced diet are key. e more difficult part is identifying when you are starting to burn out. As part of their endeavour, Founders Taboo are creating the world's largest online course and community on this vital topic, seeking to empower found- ers to maintain mental health and be- come more balanced and effective lead- ers within the startup landscape. Malta Enterprise recognizes the criti- cal role that mental well-being plays in entrepreneurial success. is partner- ship is a testament to the agency's ded- ication to creating an ecosystem where founders can thrive, personally and pro- fessionally. e collaboration between Malta En- terprise and Founders Taboo signifies a forward-looking approach, ensuring that the startup ecosystem remains vi- brant and supportive, addressing the unique challenges faced by founders. is partnership heralds a new chap- ter in the startup landscape, with both entities committed to providing found- ers with the tools and resources to flourish and lead healthier, more bal- anced lives. As a result, Malta is poised to become an even more attractive des- tination for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups. Malta Enterprise and Kings College sign pioneering agreement at Start Up Festival LIDL Malta reaffirms commitment to employee excellence, retaining 'top employer' status LIDL Malta, the leading supermarket chain on the Maltese islands, has secured its position as Top Employer for the 6th consecutive year, reaffirming its com- mitment to fostering a thriving and en- gaged workforce. With a team of over 480 members, the Company strives to place its people at the forefront of all its oper- ations, creating a workspace where they can thrive and contribute to the compa- ny's ongoing success. Lidl Malta's HR strategy emphasizes corporate welfare, continuous training, and the development of innovative servic- es. e company actively seeks employee feedback through the "Employees' Sur- vey," demonstrating a commitment to lis- tening to and responding to the needs of its team. is proactive approach has led to the implementation of initiatives such as hybrid working on a permanent basis for employees at Lidl Head Office, further reinforcing Lidl's dedication to providing a modern and flexible work environment. In addition to these initiatives, Lidl Malta offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, a discount scheme, and various other perks, further demonstrating the company's commit- ment to employee well-being and satis- faction. e independent Top Employers Insti- tute certifies the world's best employers every year. With its sixth consecutive Top Employer award, Lidl Malta stands out as the first, and most recognised Top Employer in the country. In addition, Lidl was awarded the Top Employer Europe seal again, and, for the first time ever, was recognised as a Top Employer in all 31 countries in which it operates. "is recognition marks a significant milestone as we prioritize providing our employees with an empowering work en- vironment that fosters equal opportuni- ties, teamwork and mutual listening." said Marc Psaila Soler, Lidl Malta's Human Re- sources Manager. "is award makes us proud to be part of a community of com- panies committed to developing virtuous personnel management policies and en- courages us to continue in this direction." e prize is presented after a thorough examination and a meticulous assessment by the Top Employers Institute, an inter- national certification body for HR excel- lence. Companies that are certified as Top Employers are committed to putting their employees at the centre of their business activities and offering them an outstand- ing working environment. e Top Em- ployers Institute examines companies based on their information in the provid- ed HR Best Practices questionnaire. is includes six overarching HR dimensions and 20 HR areas, such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Well-being, and Diversity & In- clusion. About Lidl Lidl Malta Ltd. started operating in April 2008 with three stores and has since expanded its network to 10 outlets, with its head office in Burmarrad. Lidl Malta Ltd. is part of the Schwarz Group, a multinational group of compa- nies, operating in the retail industry. e group was founded in Germany in the 1970s. After 20 years of operation inside the domestic market, the group started its expansion activities across Europe. Currently, the group, which has its head office in Neckarsulm, near Stuttgart, is present in 31 countries in the world with more than 12<200 stores and more than 376,000 employees. For the sixth consecutive year, the company receives prestigious award for outstanding employee orientation assigned by the Top Employers Institute