Banks Group workforce in peak condition
Company’s commitment to staff health and well-being results in ‘Better Health at Work’ Gold Award
THE Banks Group’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its workforce has been recognized with one of the highest achievements in a regional awards scheme – a Gold level in the ‘Better Health At Work’ awards initiative, a partnership programme between all 12 north-east local authorities, the TUC and local NHS providers.
The programme aims to promote health and well-being in workplaces, and to recognize and celebrate the hard work and commitment of local employers making the effort to improve the health of their workplaces and their employees.
The Banks Group are one of 16 regional employers to achieve the Gold Award in 2014, which requires organizations to prove they are not only promoting health among their workers, but to their families, fellow employers and the wider community too.
They are also required to run at least five workplace health campaigns. Banks chose to cover topics including diabetes, hydration, healthy eating, smoking cessation and cancer awareness.
Participating companies must also have at least a three-year health strategy and one-year action plan for health improvement activities in place, and offer employees annual health checks.
The scheme provides tangible benefits for everyone involved, with employees benefiting from access to a wide range of health support services in their local area and companies benefiting from implementing a health framework which allows them to bring together health activities in a structured way.
Four Banks staff members signed up as internal health advocates as part of the Award. The health advocates helped to drive the project within the organization, increasing their personal knowledge of health issues along the way.
Banks reached the initial Bronze standard in 2012 before going on to reach the Silver level at the end of 2013.
Mike Peeke, one of the health advocates at Banks, said: ‘Taking part in this scheme makes sense from everyone’s point of view – our workforce gains greater awareness of health issues and practical help in improving their own and their families’ well-being, and the company gets improved employee morale through the changes that are put in place.
Steven Chater, health improvement specialist at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, added: ‘People spend a great deal of time in the workplace, making it one of the most important places to get advice about healthier lifestyles. Evidence shows that workplace health programmes like ours can help to reduce sickness absence, as well as motivating and helping to retain staff. It’s good for everyone.’
Catherine Fabi, health and safety co-ordinator at the Banks Group, said: ‘Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our business success, so it’s only common sense to take steps like this to improve their health and well-being.’
