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Welcome to the Better Health At Work Award portal

 

Better Health at Work Award Employer Guide

Employer Guide

The Better Health at Work Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria in addressing health issues within the workplace.  The award scheme is FREE, flexible and open to all employers in participating local authority areas, regardless of size, location or type of business.

Many organisations already promote healthy lifestyles and consider the health of their employees.  This Award will recognise the achievements of these organisations and help them move forward in a structured and supported way.


For those organisations who have not considered promoting health at work, taking part in this award will help you reap the rewards of encouraging a healthy workforce.

 

Click to download the Employer guide on the left to find out more.

The Business Case

Promoting a healthy workplace has considerable benefits for employers and can lead to decreased absenteeism, increased productivity and improved performance.

The business case

Award Criteria

There are 6 levels  – Foundation, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Continuing Excellence and Maintaining Excellence, with appropriate criteria at each stage to build into an Award Portfolio.

Award criteria

Case Studies

Read about our success stories, covering a wide variety of organisations across the north east.

Case studies

Organisations are given up to a year per level, but there is flexibility for those who need it. Every employer/organisation who signs-up to participate in the Award scheme is supported by a dedicated Workplace Health Improvement Specialist.


Taking part in the Award does not affect the participant’s obligation to comply with the law, including health and safety and employment law.  It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure they are legally compliant in these matters and, therefore, the awarding body cannot be held accountable for any shortfalls in legislative compliance as a result of participation in the scheme.

"We know how important it is to feel good, physically, mentally, and emotionally, both at work and at home. The aim is to have a culture where wellbeing isn’t just encouraged, it’s part of how we work.

Through the award, we are building that culture.

The insights, support, and guidance we have received from the BHAWA team has been invaluable. They have helped shape a range of campaigns that have benefited our workforce and the establishment and from which we are seeing the positive impact already".

- HMP Frankland, County Durham, Silver Level achieved 2024

We chose to participate in the award programme as it is providing us with a structured and planned schedule of events and initiatives that supports our overarching health and wellbeing strategy and objectives. It is a key strand to use providing a holistic approach to our employees’ health and wellbeing.

The award programme has provided us with key benefits including pointers in data gathering, event planning and networking opportunities. The monthly health advocate meetings are invaluable in providing information on what local support is available to enable us to build up our calendar of events and provide relevant and engaging content to our employees on a variety of health topics.

We are excited to be part of this programme and look forward to progressing through the differing levels to provide real benefit to our workforce. This will ensure we continue to put health at the heart of Hitachi.

- Hitachi Construction Machinery Ltd, Bronze

"The Award allows us to address a wide range of health topics, from mental health and stress to physical activity and nutrition and provides a structure to ensure each topic includes several initiatives each year.

These campaigns and initiatives help raise awareness and promote healthier lifestyle choices among University employees. 

BHAWA has provided a solid foundation for our Health and Wellbeing Action Plan and underpins our organisational Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Pursuing the award (Maintaining Excellence) ensures that the Health and Wellbeing of our staff remains a top priority as we share information and resources and deliver meaningful campaigns."

 

- Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Maintaining Excellence Level achieved 2024

We wanted to help and support our employees by giving them access to tools, resources and information to improve their health – physically and mentally, both in the workplace and in their personal lives.

We have really enjoyed participating in the award over the years. It allows the team of Health Advocates to show our creative side and brings people across both sites together, fostering a sense of community within the organisation. It also shows our employees that we care for their wellbeing by focusing on the topics that matter to them most.  

- Seqens Custom Specialties , Middlesbrough

We started the award in 2020 as we were keen to help improve the wellbeing of our employees, particularly post covid. One of our values is putting people first, and we felt like this was a step in the right direction to achieve this.

We now have a team of 10 passionate health advocates to help improve the wellbeing in the office. It’s a great feeling when the office looks forward to the health campaigns and want to be involved. It feels as though the work we’re doing is benefiting our employees.

- Tritility Business Energy Consultants, Sunderland

We participated to provide a further structure, focus and sustainable framework to our wellbeing programme.

The Award offers full support in terms of co-ordinator and resource information including best practice ideas and structured targets to aim for  – it feels like we’re working together rather than in a silo!

- Northern Housing Consortium Limited, Sunderland
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