Small business stress pushed to breaking point as Purbeck backs mental health support for SME owners

London, April 2026 – As Stress Awareness Month  shines a spotlight on mental wellbeing this April, Purbeck Insurance Services a specialist provider of Personal Guarantee Insurance to SME owners and directors has partnered with Andy’s Man Club, a UK-wide men’s suicide prevention charity that provides free peer-to-peer support groups and online sessions. Andy’s Man Club is committed to ending the stigma surrounding men’s mental health through the power of conversation, under its message: #ITSOKAYTOTALK. Purbeck will donate £5 from every Personal Guarantee Insurance policy sold to support the charity’s work.

In previous research from Purbeck Insurance Services, 1 in 4 small business owners said their mental health had deteriorated due to the strain of managing their business finances  – with pressures intensifying when businesses face cashflow challenges, debt obligations and the risk of personal guarantees being called in.

Purbeck works closely with business owners who have taken personal guarantee insurance, during periods of financial difficulty.  Policyholders are offered free mentoring support, access to insolvency practitioners, creditor negotiation and restructuring guidance designed to help businesses recover and reduce the stress associated with potential insolvency. This proactive approach is already delivering tangible outcomes, with 75% of businesses supported through financial distress successfully avoiding failure.

Richard Wheeler of Workplace Branding Limited said: “Contacting the Purbeck Support Team early was the best decision I made. They immediately assigned a knowledgeable adviser and guided me through the process. When I needed to make a claim, they introduced a debt negotiator who reduced what I owed and removed the stress of dealing with the lender. Purbeck handled everything professionally and quickly – their support, both financial and emotional, was invaluable.”

Todd Davison, Managing Director of Purbeck Insurance Services, said: “Running a small business can be incredibly rewarding, but when financial pressures start to build, the stress can quickly become overwhelming. For many directors, it’s not just the business at stake – it’s their personal finances, their homes and their families.

“That’s why early support is so important. By stepping in before a situation reaches crisis point, we can help business owners regain clarity, explore their options and in many cases avoid the worst-case outcome altogether.

“Partnering with Andy’s Man Club is a natural extension of this. We see first-hand the emotional strain that financial distress can place on business owners, and it’s vital that people feel able to talk about it and access support. If we can play a role in reducing that burden – both practically and emotionally – then we’re making a real difference.”

Practical tips: managing stress as a business owner

Drawing on its experience supporting SME directors, Purbeck highlights several practical steps to help manage pressure:

• Seek support early – engaging with advisers or specialists at the first signs of difficulty can prevent issues escalating
• Understand your financial position – clear, up-to-date financial insight helps reduce uncertainty and supports better     decision-making
• Break challenges into manageable steps – focusing on immediate priorities can make complex situations feel more       controllable
• Talk openly – whether with peers, advisers or support groups, sharing concerns can ease the emotional burden
• Avoid isolation – connecting with others who understand the pressures of running a business can provide both perspective  and reassurance