EP 41 – "Just Man Up" - The Truth About Mental Health In Recruitment & Construction w/Ben Gatt
In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Ben Gatt, Co-Founder of Kanvas Recruitment Group, a specialist in construction and fit-out, and a passionate voice on mental health in the industry. 🏗️🧠 We dive deep into: ✅ Mental health stigma in construction and recruitment ✅ Why therapy, journaling, and daily walks can transform performance ✅ The power of vulnerability and positive habits in business ✅ How to build loyalty and trust through real relationships ✅ Why most mental health initiatives in recruitment are just box-ticking ✅ Client respect, candidate loyalty, and building a specialist brand ✅ Social media as a tool for BD (and how Ben uses Instagram to source roles!) ✅ Drinking culture, burnout, and how to build a healthier recruitment life ✅ Raising kids with emotional intelligence and breaking generational cycles ✅ What it really takes to stay in the game long term This episode isn’t about hacks. It’s about humanity — and what happens when we actually support each other, instead of pretending we’re fine. ⏲ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – Meet Ben Gatt: 13 years in construction & recruitment 04:00 – Mental health in construction: what Ben’s seen firsthand 08:00 – Therapy, journaling, and what really helps 13:00 – Creating mental health routines that actually work 17:00 – Why lunchtime beers kill your afternoon (and your career) 22:00 – Raising kids with emotional intelligence 27:00 – The difference between US & UK recruiter respect 34:00 – Learning from losses and getting kicked in the face (literally) 40:00 – Building real relationships through meetings 45:00 – Why Ben uses Instagram to win clients 51:00 – Personal branding, social selling, and DM wins 55:00 – Clients who respect you will meet you 1:00:00 – Training yourself for setbacks and mental resilience 1:05:00 – Why Ben’s business is built on balance, not burnout 1:09:00 – Final thoughts: how to get 1% better 🔗 Connect with Ben Gatt on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-gatt-fit-out/ 🔗 Connect with Charles Kyriakou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskyriakou1/ 📰 Subscribe to the newsletter – https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7244346543967731712/?displayConfirmation=true 🎙️ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46LjJfw0Y4IVJwnigCdxJX 🎧 Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-better-recruitment-podcast/id1775201502 📲 Follow Charles on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles.kyriakou?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Subscribe for no-fluff, high-impact recruitment advice that actually works. 💼🔥
