Employer: LifeSearch
We spoke to Liz Lucas, Senior People and Culture Leader at LifeSearch, about their experience with the Money First Aider® training and creating their own Money Moguls team.
LifeSearch is a leading provider in tailored insurance solutions. They currently have 385 employees and 11 Money First Aiders.
What first attracted you to Money First Aider® training?
“We’re always looking for ways to strengthen our wellbeing offering at LifeSearch. About six years ago, we introduced a Mental Health First Aid team, which has been really well used. That’s been hugely positive, but we could see a gap when it came to financial wellbeing.
We already provide an interest-free “life happens” loan for employees, but we wanted to do more. We were looking for support that would be accessible, available in-house, and at no extra cost to our people. Money First Aider® training felt like a perfect fit.”
Why did you choose Money First Aid over other options?
I was researching financial wellbeing options for the workplace, and your training came up. I hadn’t heard of it before because I know you only launched last year. Straight away it struck a chord: it really aligned with the culture at LifeSearch and what we wanted to achieve with our financial wellbeing offering. I shared it with my colleague and manager and we all agreed it was something we wanted to explore further.
As an insurance company, many of our employees are financially literate, but we also recognise that personal money worries can affect anyone — and it’s not always easy to ask for help. Often, people know the steps they should take, but putting them into practice can be difficult. And because of that, there can still be a stigma around admitting you're struggling. This training helps to break down those barriers and encourages open, supportive conversations.
How do Money First Aiders sit alongside your wider wellbeing offering?
Our company values—excellence, honesty, openness, care and tolerance—are really important to us. We work hard to make sure they aren’t just words on a page, and this initiative fits neatly into all of them.
We also have a culture-boosting programme called Moments That Matter, which supports employees during significant life events—like joining the business, having a baby, or buying a house. We’ve identified at least six of these moments where Money First Aid could make a real difference. It helps us keep wellbeing support relevant, practical, and alive across the business.
Why was now the right time to introduce the training?
With the cost of living pressures we’re all facing, there’s never been a more important time. People who might not have needed financial support in the past may now be struggling, so offering help sooner rather than later just made sense.
It also felt like a natural evolution of the work we were already doing in wellbeing: taking things a step further to support employees in a really tangible way.
What issues are you hoping to address?
Our main aim is to break the stigma around financial worries and to get people talking. We’ve introduced posters with QR codes in every office, making it easy for employees to access support from our Money First Aiders without having to ask directly. We’re also encouraging leaders and coaches to signpost employees towards us when money concerns come up in conversations.
We’ll be logging the types of conversations that happen so we can track trends over time, but awareness and accessibility are the immediate priorities.
How did you and your colleagues find the training experience?
The bite-sized format was ideal. It meant people could fit it around their own diaries, dipping in and out when it suited them.
One of the things we valued most was how clearly the course set boundaries. In our line of work, some people might feel confident answering financial questions, but the training reminded us that being a Money First Aider® isn’t about giving advice: it’s about listening, supporting and signposting.
We also really appreciated the practical tools provided. Even in these early stages, our team feels equipped with resources they can share, which gives them confidence to start those important conversations.
And crucially, it isn’t just a one-off course. The ongoing development, regular check-ins and sense of community are fantastic. You don’t just pay your bill and get left to it: you’re part of something bigger.
What impact have you seen so far?
We only launched last month, but the response has been really positive. Every Money First Aider® introduced themselves with a bio so colleagues knew who they were and what they were there for. We even branded ourselves as the Money Moguls — with our own logo! — which helps people recognise and connect with us.
The QR code system has already been used in the first week, which was really encouraging. We know that the more it’s used and the more we talk about it, the more comfortable people will feel accessing support.
How has it been working with the Money First Aid team?
Brilliant. The ongoing support and authenticity really shine through. It’s clear you genuinely want to make a difference, which aligns with our own culture and values.
The community calls are particularly valuable: you feel like you’re part of something bigger, with a network of Money First Aiders across other organisations, to lean on if a tricky situation arises. It means we’re never alone in this.
What advice would you give to other employers considering this training?
I’d say simply: you won’t regret it. The chance to make a difference for someone at a time they really need it is invaluable.
I’d challenge any employer who thinks their people wouldn’t benefit: financial concerns are one of the biggest contributors to poor mental health regardless of income level or seniority in the business. Helping employees with their money worries doesn’t just support individuals, it has a positive impact on the whole business.
The training is money well spent.
If you’re interested in training members of your team to become Money First Aiders, get in touch.
