One of the world’s biggest summits dedicated to prioritising workplace health and wellbeing, the People First Summit, returns to Edinburgh in November for its second annual event.

Delivered in partnership by Change Mental Health and global workplace wellbeing experts Wellbeing at Work, the People First Summit brings together local, national and global businesses and organisations to spotlight how they can create thriving cultures and workplaces.

Sponsored by hosted by leading professional services firm AAB and hosted by NatWest Group at their Gogarburn headquarters in Edinburgh on Monday 23^rd November 2026, the People First Summit provides a useful day for employers to learn, connect and engage, with leadership roundtable discussions, presentations and keynotes.

Attending the Summit gives organisations benefits in being able to make valuable new connections with peers, gain valuable new insights into the most effective wellbeing strategies and understand how to harness emerging technology.

Workshops, speakers and panellists will involve organisations locally and from across the world, including NHS Scotland, Aegon, SSEN, Robertson Group, Royal Mail, Scottish Government, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, The University of Edinburgh and more – as well as Change Mental Health and Wellbeing at Work, plus main sponsor AAB and hosts Natwest Group.

Sessions will include leadership panels, workshop discussions of peer-to-peer learning and keynotes, with topics exploring how to foster a healthy and productive workforce, enabling AI within workplaces and what it means for wellbeing, and prioritising the work-life balance.

Despite a fully packed agenda, time is carved out to focus on the importance of interactive sessions, peer learning and networking to share knowledge of cultivating thriving workplace cultures.

Key takeaways from the event will look to create links of a healthy workforce while enhancing organisational health, looking to support organisations in having their team effective, high-performing and enjoying their work.

Jonny Cobbold, Director of Development at Change Mental Health, said:

“We’re delighted to be running the People First Summit again with Wellbeing at Work, alongside hosts Natwest and the main sponsor AAB. We know that work can be a real power for good in people’s lives, but only when employers get their culture and practices right. When they do, the human and business impact go hand in hand.

“Having a commercial powerhouse like AAB in our corner shows that workplace wellbeing is far more than a soft ‘nice to have’; they’re a serious organisation who show that it is possible to care just as much about their people as their financial bottom line.

“We’re chuffed that they’ve decided to throw their clout behind making Scotland an incredible place to work, and we look forward to many other businesses doing the same in November.

Louise McCosh, Partner & UK Employment, Pay & People Lead at AAB, said:

“We’re proud to partner with Change Mental Health and support the People First Summit as headline sponsor. Mental health and wellbeing have become critical priorities for employers, not only because they influence organisational performance, but because creating positive, supportive workplaces is the right thing to do for people.

“The Summit provides an important platform for leaders to share experiences, challenge thinking and explore practical ways to build healthier workplace cultures. Through our work with businesses, charities and public sector organisations, we see the growing importance of taking a people-first approach to leadership, change and workforce strategy.

“We’re excited to contribute to the conversation, are looking forward to delivering the keynote and dedicated workshops, and support an event that brings together organisations committed to making workplaces healthier, more inclusive and better equipped for the future.”

Michael Macinnes, Wellbeing Manager at NatWest Group, said:

“NatWest Group is honoured to be hosting the 2026 People First Summit in Edinburgh.

“As an organisation, we recognise the important role that Change Mental Health plays in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and supporting communities across the country. We’ve seen their work firsthand, which gave us a valuable insight into their impact and it inspired us to become more involved in supporting their mission.

“We are delighted to welcome attendees to Gogarburn and look forward to the conversations, shared experiences and connections that will emerge throughout the Summit.”

Research from Deloitte shows that for every £1 spent on mental health, employers see an average return of £4.70 through reduced absence, turnover and improved productivity. During a time when 93% of Scots have experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the last year – as noted in the 2026 Burnout Report by Mental Health UK (a sister charity of Change Mental Health) – it has never been a more vital time for organisations to focus on the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Wellbeing at Work have put themselves on the map in delivering highly successful leadership summits around the world over the last 10 years, with many highly influential events from Canada to Australia and countries in between.

Chris Cummings, CEO of Wellbeing at Work, who will deliver an introductory speech on the day, said:

“We are delighted to bring a focused Wellbeing at Work event to the beautiful city of Edinburgh again this November. I’m particularly excited to be partnering and working with the excellent team at Change Mental Health once more, who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the event. It really will be a day not to miss!”