More workplaces are offering staff the opportunity to try beekeeping to enhance their wellbeing, a Guardian report published on 8 February suggests. Should HR get on board with this trend?
A growing number of UK employers have turned to offering beekeeping as a purposeful mental wellbeing initiative, to reduce stress and help workers reconnect with nature, The Guardian reported. Providers reported that business was buzzing.
Jo Kansagra, head of people at rewards provider Virgin Incentives and Virgin Experience Days, told HR magazine: “The motivation behind slightly quirky and idealistic workplace schemes, such as beekeeping, is simple: people are not motivated by money alone.
“Offices where a feeling of belonging, community, and memorable moments are fostered, are more productive and welcoming places to spend time.”
Speaking to HR magazine, Emma Buckley, CEO and founder of Buckley’s Bees, which partners with organisations to provide beekeeping services, explained that employers are under increasing pressure to address workplace stress in a more proactive and preventative way.
“Traditional wellbeing offerings, such as gym memberships or webinars, often lack experiential depth. Beekeeping is immersive, hands-on and emotionally engaging. It connects employees to nature, to each other and to a shared purpose, which is particularly valuable in increasingly digital and remote work environments,” said Buckley.
Some organisations choose to have a beehive installed and maintained at their office site, while others sponsor hives at UK apiaries, requiring employees to slow down and focus on being present, while interacting with the bees.
For employers, the benefits include reducing stress and burnout risk, improving employee wellbeing and morale, enhancing engagement and retention and providing environmental benefits, Buckley highlighted.
Additionally, it can help differentiate an employer’s brand, she added, as progressive, sustainability-linked wellbeing programmes can help attract purpose-driven employees and younger talent.
Chris Payne, company director of recruitment company Green Folk Recruitment, has partnered with Buckley’s Bees, organising for staff to visit the hives and experience the process of beekeeping and honey production. He told HR magazine: “We all need a higher purpose than just working for money. As a planet before profit business, this is our culture. Buckley’s Bees are a critical part of that.
“My team have said that the day at the hive was one of the best days they have ever had, connecting with nature and making a difference really changes perspective.”
Schemes such as beekeeping focus on experiences rather than products, which can also help strengthen team bonding, Kansagra added.
However, there are of course practical considerations for HR to remember when introducing beehives, she highlighted, such as the need for outdoor space ,and accessibility from the main office. “Careful management of the hives is also essential, lest the bees become a nuisance which could lead to their removal.”
Gauging employee interest is also crucial, Kansagra said: “If you find, for example, that all of your employees are in fact afraid of bees, then it will be best to look at other group activities to provide them with, such as a pottery class, cooking workshop, or escape room challenge.
“Incentives should not be prescriptive or ‘forced fun’, as this will lead to low engagement.”
Kansagra concluded: “The current trend of office beekeeping makes clear one thing: that fun at work matters. In 2026, employees are looking at roles from a more holistic viewpoint. Offering a well-rounded, supportive, and community-oriented workplace is key to delivering strong results and good retention.”
Source – https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news/is-beekeeping-the-latest-employee-wellbeing-trend