About the Award

Award Criteria

There are 6 levels to the Award – Foundation, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Continuing Excellence and Maintaining Excellence, with appropriate criteria at each stage to build into an Award Portfolio. Organisations are given up to a year per level, but there is flexibility for those who need it.

Evidence indicates that it takes a period of time to effectively establish the infrastructure that will engage employees in adopting behaviours / lifestyle changes.

This is why ALL employers are required to begin at Bronze and progress systematically upwards through the levels (It is not mandatory to complete the Foundation level before signing up to complete Bronze level - see below). Every employer/ organisation who signs-up to participate in the Award scheme is supported by a dedicated Health Improvement Specialist.

Foundation - a discrete “pre-Bronze” level for any organisations who are new to workplace health and wellbeing or have limited capacity and feel they would benefit from a lighter-touch introduction. It is not mandatory to undertake this before signing up to Bronze.

Bronze - The Bronze level lays a firm foundation to build a healthier workplace.

Silver - The Silver level of the Award builds upon the basics of the Bronze level and rewards organisations that take a more holistic view of the workplace.

Gold - This level builds upon the Silver level and requires companies to look outside their own organisation and promote health within the wider community.

Continuing Excellence - This recognises the importance of organisations sustaining the progress they have made during their participation in the Award and encourages them to use their experience to support others.

Maintaining Excellence - Achieved by employers who have been engaged with the Award for long enough to have achieved a pass at all levels via the completion of a criteria document, portfolio and full workplace assessment.

Ambassador Status - Organisations are eligible for Ambassador Status on achievement of Maintaining Excellence and with the recommendation of their designated Workplace Health Improvement Specialist. This is then passed through to the BHAWA Verification Panel for endorsement.

We wanted to be able to share wellbeing initiatives we were proud of but at the same time receive feedback on anything that was missing or could be enhanced.

Love being part of the Award process - gives structure to our wellbeing plans for the year and showcases the amazing work our people do to support each other and our teams.

- EDF Energy, Sunderland

"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 loved the fact that the award has a local focus about wellbeing in the North-East. The framework it provides is exceptional.

The support and network are invaluable. You don't feel like you're starting from scratch, there's always someone with an idea of what they've tried.

The portal is great. It has a huge number of resources and it's easy to use and access. It's helped us with campaigns where we've less experience, and they're now part of our annual calendar".

- Karbon Homes, Newcastle, Maintaining Excellence Level achieved 2024

To continue to embed Health and Wellbeing in our workforce and to promote and support them to lead healthy lifestyles at work and also at home with their families.

The award gives us structure to assist us in our Health & Wellbeing meetings, giving us the resources and knowledge to lead different campaigns and events to help support our workplace. The award supports our Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

- The Banks Group Ltd, Durham

"We knew the award would give our business some structure, accountability and credibility to our health and wellbeing strategy.

The award itself helps us stay focused and the data we receive from our annual survey is invaluable in helping to shape campaigns that really matter to our workforce".

- Robson Laidler Accountants Limited, Newcastle and County Durham, Maintaining Excellence Level achieved 2024

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