About the Award

For too long, the North East has had a reputation for being of being an ‘unhealthy’ place to live and work; unfortunately borne out by our fairly shocking life expectancy rate and high long-term sickness and disability figures.

To help combat this, a partnership project unique to the North East was created and the Better Health at Work Award was established to take health and wellbeing into the workplace.

This partnership has now been taken forward by the Northern TUC, with the support and endorsement from Public Health England.

Workplace Health is an important and integral part of the regional public health strategy and is even more relevant in these challenging times, when companies need to use every tool available to ensure their productivity and competitiveness.

With more than 400 regional employers participating in the scheme so far, as well as the very favourable findings of at least two independent evaluations, both the need for and effectiveness of the Award for all concerned is clear.

Individuals benefit from increased access to health information and interventions where they wouldn't normally - in more than one instance, workplace activity generated by the Award has potentially saved lives - identifying dangerously high cholesterol levels and early stage cancers.

At the same time, employers benefit from improved morale, dramatically lower levels of absenteeism and increased productivity. There are few more apparent win-win situations.

You can download and view the Better Health at Work Award Employer Guide below, to read more on the award process, the structure of the award and find out about the role of health advocates.

Employer Guide

"Better Health at Work Award has truly transformed our workplace culture. It has inspired us to prioritise employee wellbeing; boosting morale, productivity, and engagement. The support and guidance provided is invaluable. We’re proud to champion health and wellbeing thanks to this outstanding initiative.

A highly recommended program for any forward-thinking company.

We value the recognition and support the award offers. The guidance from Grace and Craig is second to none. We've also built valuable contacts through the award, which has brought real benefits to the company and strengthened our focus on employee wellbeing".

- Walker FIltration, Sunderland, Bronze Level achieved 2024

"The programme encourages organisations to look at prioritising the physical and mental health of employees.

Using the Better Health at Work programme, structure and guidance, the organisation has introduced a number of ways to improve individuals’ physical and mental health; whilst encouraging employees to take responsibility themselves".

- Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, Newcastle, Silver Level achieved 2024

"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

At the plant, we really wanted to support our Employees Health and Wellbeing as we transitioned back to normal business, following the Global Pandemic. This award provided us with the structure we needed to develop and launch the Health and Wellbeing plant wide strategy.

Not only does the award provide us with a criteria and structure to follow, it also allows us to focus on topics which we may not have considered previously. In addition, it provides us a network with other local businesses to allow us to benchmark and share best practices.

- Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Sunderland

"Participating in the Award has provided access to support and resources that have shaped the delivery of our health and wellbeing programme, and established a structure in which health leads are recognized and rewarded through the Health Advocate role.

The Award has enabled us to plan meaningful delivery, aligned with local and national campaigns, whilst evaluating the impact on the workforce.

The visibility of the Award has established a level of expectancy in the delivery of campaigns which has maintained momentum and inspired innovation".

- Senstronics Ltd, County Durham, Silver 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