Every working day in the UK and Ireland, two construction workers take their own lives. Many more are struggling behind the scenes with the pressures they face, whether that’s financial, physical or often mental. In fact, stress, anxiety and depression account for 1 in 5 of all reported work-related illnesses.
Paul Luff, Chairman of TTA, is eager to face up to this problem: “After several hard-hitting conversations at various industry events earlier in the year, I believed that we as an association needed to be proactive and look for ways to offer guidance and support to our members. It was at one of these events where I spoke with Steve Wagstaff and I got to hear his inspirational story. He was also very keen to pursue the cause, agreeing to become TTA’s mental health ambassador, and after a few conversations with different charities and TTA’s General Purposes & Marketing Committee I suggested supporting the Lighthouse Charity to TTA Board. I’m happy to say they unanimously gave the green light and fully supported the proposal.
“While continuing to provide support to Children Today, who we have supported for 20 years, TTA will start to use fundraising opportunities like our Golf Days to support the Lighthouse Charity’s efforts to tackle the mental health crisis and financial struggles in the construction industry. The next Golf Day on 2nd October will be the first TTA event backing this important cause.”
Lighthouse Charity provides a number of free, confidential resources to seek support: a 24/7 helpline covering all aspects of wellbeing; a live web chat; a self-support app; a text HARDHAT service providing immediate one-to-one support; and Lighthouse Beacons, volunteer support groups around the UK and Ireland. For every £1 of charitable spend, the charity delivers £10.06 in social value.
The charity also provides urgent financial support – including for emergency food shops, household energy bills, household goods, counselling sessions and suicide awareness courses. In addition, Lighthouse’s Wellbeing Academy includes a number of free courses on health and wellbeing topics suited to diverse learning styles.
Stephen Wagstaff, Managing Director of Pro-Tilers UK Wall & Floor Ltd, will be running the London Marathon on April 27th 2025 for the Lighthouse Charity, alongside Amazing Grace Spaces, another cause close to his heart that provides support for residents at risk of homelessness, operating locally in the Blackpool region.
After a difficult 14 years of heroin abuse, homelessness and antisocial behaviour, in his late twenties Stephen managed to redirect his quick thinking and risk-taking into positive skills that benefit his work and life. Starting in landscaping, Stephen helped in the tiling of a SPAR shop and developed a new passion for tiling that he turned into a fresh start, describing over 25 years in recovery as a “second life”.
Now, Stephen runs a highly successful tiling contractor company with a list of accomplishments to his name. Pro-Tilers UK Wall & Floor Ltd is a well-established family-run business, based in North West England and working throughout the UK, specialising in large format tiles. The contractors have been awarded Best Domestic Project at the prestigious TTA Awards for the last three consecutive years, as well as achieved Excellence in Tile Contracting in 2020, 2021 and 2024. Stephen also personally won Tile Fixer of the Year in 2019.
More than these titles, Stephen is grateful for the team and family surrounding him. He is a firm believer that talking isn’t something to be ashamed of, making space for his workers to openly discuss their problems or mistakes without judgement. Stephen is well respected in return, earning the nickname “Wag” by his colleagues. Stephen’s family helps to keep him well-balanced, including four children – Aimee, Bradley, Aaron and Harvey – as well as two cocker spaniels, Bella and Lola, and his wife Andrea, whom Stephen gratefully describes as his “rock”.
Stephen’s support for TTA and Lighthouse Charity continues to give back to the community. His hard-working spirit and enduring optimism despite his hardships is a reminder to value life and its opportunities, which organisations such as Lighthouse work tirelessly to improve.
Find out more about TTA’s charity support and events at www.tiles.org.uk.
