Improving Workplace Health campaign enters second phase

The next phase of a unique partnership that looks to improve productivity by focusing on workplace health and well-being, has successfully entered into its second stage.

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce teamed up with Suffolk County Council’s public health team last year to raise awareness of a range of issues affecting workplace health – and the many resources available to which businesses can signpost their staff.

Research conducted after the campaign showed that most businesses had heard of the Improving Workplace Health initiative and many were either implementing or thinking of implementing many of the recommendations for boosting employees’ wellbeing.

A recent discussion event, chaired by Dr Peter Funnell at Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, brought together a number of businesses of all sizes and from a range of different market sectors to discuss their priorities in this area.

During a very interactive couple of hours, the participants mapped out some key practical issues that businesses, in particular, were keen to more widely implement to improve productivity, but also position the county as a national leader in creating a healthy culture.

The key issues discussed included:

• Removing barriers to encourage more physical activity
• Leadership – creating the culture to support good health and wellbeing
• Promoting better understanding and support for mental health – especially among men but generally supporting conversations to tackle stigma
• Healthy eating / the benefits of making time for a lunch break
• Taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing
• Happiness in the workplace

According to John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce: “Underlying all of these ideas was the concept of resilience. How do we work together to create more resilient employees, managers and organisations? We are jointly hosting a number of workshops with County colleagues that should help shape exactly what success looks like in this context.”

Cllr. James Reeder, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, added: “Following an incredibly productive launch event for the Improving Workplace Health project, I’m looking forward to starting a conversation with Suffolk businesses about what matters most to them when it comes to workplace health and how we can work together to make a positive difference.

“This is a great start to the project, and what we hope will represent a pioneering collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce. We now need to continue with this momentum to support Suffolk businesses to encourage a healthy, happy workplace in the months and years to come.”

The workshops will be held at the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce offices at Felaw Maltings on Wednesdays 6 March, 15 May, 17 July, and 18 September.

For more information and to book, please contact Emma Alderton on emma@suffolkchmaber.co.uk

Suffolk Chamber and Suffolk County Council are also setting up a ‘virtual’ Suffolk workplace health board, comprising of business and other sector representatives to share good practice and thoughts on improving the health and wellbeing of Suffolk employees.

Any companies interested in participating should contact Paul Simon at Suffolk Chamber: paul@suffolkchamber.co.uk

Photo credit:  Suffolk Chamber