The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) has been awarded a gold Better Health at Work Award in recognition of its ongoing work to promote better health in the workplace and support the wellbeing of its employees.

The Better Health at Work Award recognises the achievements of employers in addressing health issues within the workplace and supports businesses to improve health and wellbeing at work with the help of a dedicated Health Improvement Specialist.

The Awards were established in 2009 in response to life expectancy rates and high long-term sickness and disability figures in the North East. By creating a healthier working environment, employers can help decrease absenteeism, increase productivity, and improve performance.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive at the North East LEP, said: “We started working towards our first North East Better Health at Work Award in 2018 and achieved the bronze level just a few months before the coronavirus pandemic.

“We recognised how important it was to create a healthy and a happy working environment for all our staff, and for employees to feel supported in making changes that improve their wellbeing at work.

“Participating in the Awards allowed us to introduce new initiatives and working practices that were making a real difference to people’s mental and physical health.”

Trained Health Advocates – volunteer members of staff who have an interest in health and wellbeing – at the North East LEP worked with the Awards’ Health Improvement Specialist to create an action plan aimed at improving employees’ health and wellbeing.

Activity ranged from encouraging staff to use the stairs instead of taking the lift, to arranging free cholesterol and blood pressure check-ups at work.

The arrival of the coronavirus pandemic meant the North East LEP’s plans had to be adapted to support employees working from home.

Ray Browning, Senior Programme Manager and Better Health at Work Advocate at the North East LEP, said: “Like a lot of businesses, we went from working in an office one day to working from home the next. The plans we had in place for continuing our Better Health at Work journey had to be adapted and a lot of the activity was communicated online or via newsletter and our intranet.”

Activity included a daily step challenge, virtual team walking activities, encouraging standing during meetings, productivity and motivation training, and volunteering at Gosforth Nature Reserve and Newcastle West End Foodbank.

After achieving both the bronze and silver awards, the North East LEP has now been awarded the gold Better Health at Work Award in recognition of its work to promote better health in both the LEP and the wider community during COVID-19.

Susanne Nichol, North East Better Health at Work Award programme coordinator from the Northern TUC, said: “The North East LEP has managed to retain its focus and resource on staff health and wellbeing despite the challenges of Covid and the ensuing changes to work and home life.

“There has been a significant and impressive shift of communications and support mechanisms to new, tailored digital platforms that are fit for purpose and part of the organisational infrastructure. Good comms are fundamental when staff are in the office, but imperative when working from home and supporting a disparate workforce to be a team.

“As an Assessor, it was fantastic to hear that staff whole-heartedly felt their health and wellbeing had been considered, addressed, and made a corporate priority over the last year. There was great praise around the amount of support and flexibility staff are given and that it really feels like a team, with the positive culture coming from the top, and a palpable ‘people first’ ethos delivered via policy, procedure and practice. That’s exactly what Better Health at Work Award is about, so the LEP’s gold award is hard-earned and well-deserved.”

Helen Golightly OBE, added: “We’re very proud to have achieved the gold award, especially during such a difficult time for everyone and I’d like to thank each and every member of staff for helping create an environment where better health at work is championed, and for spreading that message outside of our organisation.

“The past two years has reinforced how important is it for all of us to look after our health and wellbeing, and that includes while at work.

“By creating healthier working environments, we can boost staff morale, improve the efficiency and productivity of our businesses, and create a stronger and more sustainable North East economy.”

The Better Health at Work Award scheme is free to enter and open to all employers in the North East and Cumbria, regardless of size, location or type of business. For more information about the Better Health at Work Award, visit www.betterhealthatworkaward.org.uk.