The Everybody Active Fit to Work breakfast briefing gave us a clear understanding of why an active and healthier workforce equates to a more productive workforce. The overall aim of the event was to encourage local businesses to put this into practice.
Our Experience
It was an early start, arriving at 7:45am, but once we signed into the event we were greeted with drinks, pastries and a selection of fruit. Once in the seating hall, we were invited to do 10-star jumps, which was a change for a Tuesday morning, but a great icebreaker!
With the P.E out of the way, we sat down to listen to Mike Farrar CBE talk about the importance of creating a healthy workplace. His informative presentation revealed the benefits of a healthy work environment, which included fewer absences, a reduction in staff turnover and less workplace accidents.
Nicola Corrigan revealed that 1 in 4 of UK employees reported having a physical health condition, around a third of adults in England, are damaging their health through a lack of physical activity and much more. Nicola also discussed the strategies that businesses could put in place to improve their employee's overall health and wellbeing.
Anna Edgren-Davies, a representative from the NHS, shared how they had improved their employee's overall health. Physical activity, bike user groups and mental wellbeing, were just a few schemes they have put in place.
Finally, Ian Johnnessen, the Co-Founder of yourwellspace, shared his insight into the facts and figures behind an unhealthy workplace. £4,800 can be lost PER WEEK due to sickness absences. He then introduced how technology can be utilised to track health in the workplace.
What did we learn?
We are all in need of a bit of motivation and encouragement! Either to support and help others to improve their health and wellbeing, or to improve our own.
What do we already know?
At Sheards, two thirds of our staff are active members of gyms, clubs or do their own exercise routines… A great start!
What do we need to do?
Improve our communication of the importance of physical and mental wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. Not everyone is as clued up as we now are, and understand how important it is.
Our Goals
One of our key goals is to incorporate what we learnt at the Fit to Work event with our chosen Charity of the Year, The Welcome Centre.
We will be looking into how we can promote and incentive some good habits, such as donating post-festive treats to the centre, volunteering staff hours to their HQ to help out, and we are also taking part in a 10k run on Saturday 22nd September!
Keep your eye out on our blog page to see how we get on with our activities with The Welcome Centre.