Mike Rhodes, Author at Business Health Matters

The Salon at Maxy Farm Leads the Way with Their Own Health Champions!

Posted on February 21, 2022August 19, 2022 by Mike Rhodes

Staff at The Salon at Maxy Farm have become the first health and beauty business in Lancashire to train as ‘Workplace Health Champions’, thanks to the ESF-funded training on offer from Business Health Matters.

8 employees from across the business recently completed a Level 2 qualification to learn more about the key factors for living a healthier life, both inside and outside of the workplace. Staff covered modules on nutrition, physical activity and considerations around mental health in the 1-day course, equipping them with the skills they need to improve their own health and inspire colleagues to do the same.

Salon Manager, Daniella Steenbergen, told us:

“As soon as I heard about the training, I wanted to offer it to our staff so that we could get a better idea of how to look after ourselves physically and mentally, both in and out of work. The courses are the first of their kind in Lancashire so we were really keen to sign up and become the first in our industry to have our very own Workplace Health Champions!”

“The multiple lockdowns over the last 2 years have hit our industry really hard and we had definitely noticed an increase in issues, particularly around mental health. As a result, we felt really passionate about supporting our staff with some tools and knowledge on how to work on these areas. The day with the team from Business Health Matters was really well-structured and informative, with a lot of discussion and team work that helped us understand how we can apply what we were learning to our workplace.”

The training focuses on simple and manageable ways to improve health and wellbeing within work so that staff can feel empowered to take control of their own wellbeing, whilst signposting their colleagues to support that can help them make healthier choices. Businesses can select a Level 2 (1-day) or Level 3 (3-day) option and both routes are free to employed staff working within Lancashire-based businesses.

According to research carried out by Talentlms, 91% of companies say that upskilling opportunities in work have made their staff more productive. 80% of staff also reported that upskilling opportunities boosted their confidence. As a result, businesses benefit from greater performance and resilience during challenging times.

Staff from The Salon at Maxy Farm with Mike Rhodes from Business Health Matters

We asked the staff for their feedback

Eden Walmsley, a Beauty Therapist at the salon, explained:

“The training has already made such a difference to my work. I speak to clients all day every day and they can often talk to me about a range of things. I’ve felt a lot more confident discussing issues around mental health since the training and within the team. We’ve started to make plans to include more physical activity in our weeks including walking, yoga and even Zumba!”

Daniella added:

“I genuinely think that this training should be made compulsory for employers across the county. Offering opportunities like this will not only help people become healthier but also shows employees that you care about them as a whole person, not just as employees. From the feedback we have had from staff following the training, I can already see how excited they are to put their learning in to practice!”

Lancashire-based organisations are invited to take advantage of this free training, which is delivered by a range of local delivery partners across the county.

Find out more

To learn more about the Workplace Health Champion Training on offer from Business Health Matters and check the eligibility criteria, please click below!

Workplace Health Champion Training

Eligibility

The Benefits of Upskilling Your Staff with our Workplace Health Champion Training

Posted on February 2, 2022August 19, 2022 by Mike Rhodes

Businesses thrive when employees are healthy, happy and empowered to make positive changes. But, it can be challenging to know where to start when improving workplace health. We’ve created the following video which explains how your staff can benefit from our FREE training here in Lancashire and become ‘Workplace Health Champions’.

Why should you upskill your staff?

Upskilling your team has a range of benefits for your employees and your business. These include:

Improved knowledge – By undertaking training, your staff increase their knowledge on specific subjects and can share these with colleagues to make positive changes in the workplace

Increased productivity – Upskilling staff boosts their job satisfaction and overall levels of productivity

Soft skill development – Alongside technical skills, it’s important your employees develop their soft skills too. This can include communication, leadership, problem solving and work ethic. With a number of people working remotely, it’s essential that these skills continue to develop in the workplace

Greater staff retention – Investing in opportunities for your employees shows your commitment to their professional development and your appreciation for their hard work. Your staff will feel valued and want to stay with an employer that invests in them

A more motivated and efficient team – when provided with training opportunities, your staff will have a brighter outlook on their future with your company

The benefits of upskilling staff (infographic):
91% of companies say upskilling has made their staff more productive.
80% of employees say that upskilling has boosted their confidence.

So why should you upskill your staff with our Workplace Health Champion training?

Health and wellbeing initiatives are incredibly important to all organisations. Our training provides your team with the tools and support they need to run health and wellbeing initiatives in your workplace.

By having a workplace health champion in your organisation, you will have one or a number of individuals, who are passionate about improving and maintaining the wellbeing of your employees.

They can also help in further identifying the health needs of your team and signpost colleagues to local support. Your champion will become a gateway to better health for your organisation, acting as one of your first steps towards a healthier and happier workplace.

However, the training is just the beginning. After their Level 2 or Level 3 training, your health champions will be welcomed into a growing network of fellow health champions from across Lancashire, where they will continue to receive support and resources to assist them with their activities. This network is continually growing and provides an endless supply of further inspiration and support to your workplace health champions.

Take the first step towards a healthier working environment today, and get in touch with our team today!

Upcoming Course Dates

Courses are NCFE-Accredited and free to Lancashire-based businesses. For more information about eligibility to access this free training offer, click here.

How to Champion Mental Health in the Workplace

Posted on January 17, 2022August 19, 2022 by Mike Rhodes

Business Health Matters and Lancashire Mind are encouraging businesses across the county to champion mental health within the workplace and assess current working practices to make 2022 the ‘Year of Employee Wellbeing’.

With 1 in 6 workers experiencing stress, anxiety or depression, supporting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace has never been so important and good practice doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Embrace open dialogues surrounding mental health in the workplace

Creating a workplace culture where staff of all levels of seniority feel they can speak openly and ask for support is vital, not only in promoting positive health and wellbeing but also for general productivity, staff retention, team connectivity and overall business success.

Great business leaders understand that good mental health and wellbeing within the workplace starts at the top, and this means that management teams and business leaders also need to prioritise their own mental health.

Sharing challenges transparently often helps to connect teams and remind colleagues that we are all human and can only do our best.

How do you connect your team virtually?

Feeling connected in a virtual world can be challenging, especially with diminished levels of human interaction.

Pick up the phone instead of sending emails, take virtual tea breaks with colleagues and put five minutes aside to ask how someone is feeling.

How well do you know your team?

Are you aware of which colleagues need more support?

Do you know which team members live by themselves or reside in busy households and may struggle to find quiet spaces?

Prioritise check-ins, 1-2-1s and team brews, and don’t be afraid to ask someone how they are feeling.

Set healthy boundaries

When the lines between work and home blur, it can be difficult to distinguish positive workplace boundaries.

Do staff send emails out of hours, regularly work at weekends and reply on annual leave?

If so, then you may need to assess your overall wellbeing approach and remind staff that downtime is important.

Management teams should also look out for each other and ensure that they prioritise their own mental health and wellbeing, creating a culture where all staff feel valued, supported and able to share challenges.

Encourage daily activity

Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups, and is a key part of keeping a healthy, productive workforce.

Why not introduce virtual-walk-meetings, or allow flexible working to encourage employees to exercise during their breaks?

Walks in the fresh air or taking time to stretch in between meetings can help boost energy levels and overall wellbeing.

If the past two years have taught us anything it is that we never know what is around the corner and that mental health is no longer the taboo subject it once was.

Championing mental health and wellbeing at work could be our chance to create a happier, more productive and engaged workforce, and surely that is a winning formula for all.

Find the right support for your business today, click here to view the services available.

3 Ways to Improve Workplace Health and Wellbeing in 2022

Posted on January 3, 2022August 19, 2022 by Mike Rhodes

Every business is driven by the people working within it and without healthy, positive and energised team members, productivity drops and businesses begin to slow down.
So we’re sharing some ways for business owners, directors, HR managers and line managers in Lancashire to get 2022 started in the best (and healthiest) way.

Follow the tips and advice below to help improve the health and wellbeing of your employees

But firstly, what is workplace health and wellbeing?

The term refers to the support, management and promotion of both the physical and mental health of all employees in an organisation. Over recent years, there has been a shift in how we work and our attitudes to our own health and wellbeing, which has been heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. Now is the time for businesses in Lancashire to benefit from this and support their employees to achieve better workplace health.

Below are three ways to get started this January!

Survey your staff:

The best way to identify what needs to change is to ask questions. By using suggestion boxes, or simple survey software such as survey monkey, short doodle polls or smart survey, employees can anonymously answer questions on topics such as overall health, working environment, working culture and share their ideas for change.

Why not empower one of your staff to become a workplace health champion and they can lead on collating staff feedback?

Motivate your team:

Group activities, competitions and challenges are great ways to motivate your team and spark more energy in the workplace. By running a physical activity competition, employees will be motivated to compete against each other and win a prize for their efforts. The competitions can be as challenging as you require them to be and could include a lunchtime press-up or squat contest, a team sport activity or a prize draw entry for each time an employee shows they have walked 10,000 steps in a month.

Another way to motivate your team would be to start a conversation about physical and mental health in your workplace with wellbeing workshops, growing their awareness of their own health and showing them that their health is your priority. See what workshops are available here.

Be flexible:

Many workplaces have embraced a more flexible approach to working over the last two years. When possible, promoting an adaptable work pattern such as remote working and flexible hours can alleviate stress levels and allow employees to enjoy a more relaxed feel to the working day.

Introducing wellbeing hours can have a huge impact on staff wellbeing, where employees are encouraged to take some time outdoors, exercise and do things they enjoy once or twice a week.

Workplace health begins with a single step and by implementing one or two of the suggestions above this month, your business will already be on the journey to a healthier and more productive future!

To find out more about how Business Health Matters can help with our free training and our comprehensive screenings developed right here in Lancashire, please click here.