MayWe, an award-winning events company based right here in Belfast, has announced a significant boost to its family leave policies, setting a new standard for employee support in the local industry. This female-led business is reinforcing its commitment to its team's wellbeing and work-life balance with enhanced maternity, paternity (partner), and adoption leave.
Despite being a small business, MayWe has long believed that the existing legal minimums for family leave didn't fully align with its values. From the very beginning, the company has championed the idea that people should feel fully supported through all stages of life, recognising that caring for employees is key to building a sustainable and successful enterprise.
Under the new policies, maternity leave will now feature enhanced pay for 24 weeks before transitioning to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). Paternity (partner) pay sees an even more substantial increase, moving from the statutory two weeks to a generous six weeks of full pay.
Prioritising and looking after its team has always been a core value for MayWe, whose impressive portfolio includes the highly acclaimed revival of Culture Night Belfast. Flexibility and a healthy work-life balance are central to the company's culture. These newly enhanced leave policies are a clear reflection of this ethos, ensuring that parents and family members feel truly valued and supported during some of life's most pivotal moments.
Less than seven years since its formation, MayWe is proud to be in a position to reinvest in both the business itself and its incredible people. This move demonstrates that positive employment practices can indeed go hand-in-hand with commercial growth.
Lois Kennedy, Joint Managing Director of MayWe, shared her thoughts on this milestone: "At MayWe, we believe that supporting people through life’s biggest transitions is one of the most meaningful things a small business can do. Every investment we make has to be thoughtful, deliberate, and sustainable, and that absolutely includes how we support our team through major life moments."
She continued, "Introducing enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave wasn't something we could implement overnight; it required careful planning, financial stability, and a clear belief that looking after our team is central to how we operate. For smaller organisations, these policies can feel like a stretch, but they are also one of the most meaningful ways to signal trust, care, and long-term commitment to the people who make the business possible."
"Now that we're able to offer enhanced parental leave, we're incredibly proud of what it represents. It means our team can grow their families without facing unnecessary financial pressure, and they can return to work feeling valued, supported, and ready to thrive. For us, this isn't just a policy change; it's a significant milestone in our journey as an employer. Investing back into our people strengthens our culture, improves retention, and ultimately makes MayWe a better place to work for everyone," Lois added.
MayWe continues to set a shining example within the events industry, combining award-winning delivery with a people-first approach that champions inclusion, wellbeing, and long-term sustainability for its Belfast team.