Blackburn businesses champion employee wellbeing

Two Blackburn businesses are leading the way in supporting their teams’ wellbeing and helping them to improve their overall physical and mental health for years to come.

Family-owned Cummins Mellor and Personnel Checks, of Cathedral Quarter in Blackburn, have built on the success of last year’s wellbeing programme by committing to full annual health checks for every employee, delivered by the Lancashire-based ‘Business Health Matters’ programme. This follows the Workplace Health Champion training that was delivered in 2022 and a host of wellbeing initiatives that the businesses trialled across the last 12 months.

Run by brother and sister team Jack and Katie Mellor, the two organisations, have embraced annual health checks for team members.

Katie, Managing Director at Cummins Mellor, explains: “For us, our companies are only as successful and healthy as the people within them and so we’re delighted to be pushing our health and wellbeing support further than ever before. Our Wellbeing team are doing a phenomenal job in innovating and championing the importance of good physical and mental health, so it is mine and Jack’s job to make sure they have all the time, tools and support they need to keep doing this great work.

“Having had health checks ourselves the first time around, we wanted to bring Business Health Matters back in annually as we personally felt really comfortable during the checks and found them very useful. By offering them to staff every year, we’re confident the checks will give a welcoming and confidential space for our team members to set health and wellbeing goals that are appropriate to themselves as individuals.”

The organisations completed their second round of health checks last month and will be scheduling in round three for 2024.

Louise Simper, who joined the organisation’s Health and Wellbeing team after completing Business Health Matter’s Workplace Health Champion training in January 2023 adds: “I love the fact that I am helping my colleagues by being part of the Health and Wellbeing team. I had my health check with Jodie from Rossendale Leisure Trust and as a result, I have been able to set specific targets for my check next year. From this, and thanks to the training I had in health, wellbeing and safeguarding, I feel like I’m able to practice what I preach in motivating those around me too, so that we all make positive changes to our physical and mental health.”

Meanwhile Sales Manager, Hayley Kelly, who has been with Personnel Checks for 7 months, reflects: “I’ve always had a passion for fitness so as soon as I started at the organisation, I volunteered to join the health and wellbeing team. It’s clear to see that our work has a really positive impact and raises awareness on ways to improve overall health and fitness. I think this is because there is a strong commitment from Katie and Jack, and each of us in the team, to genuinely help colleagues to feel better, as well as a culture where we welcome feedback from our colleagues on what they like and don’t like. Based on this feedback, we are meeting again in January to make a 12-month plan covering training, events and opportunities… We can’t wait!”

Cummins Mellor, a specialist recruitment agency established in 1990 and Personnel Checks, the UK’s top-ranked government approved DBS umbrella body, join the growing number of Lancashire businesses committing to their teams’ health by offering services delivered by Business Health Matters. These include health checks, training, workshops (including Lancashire Mind’s Mental Health programme) and an Employee Assistance Programme.

Businesses interested in finding out more are encouraged to visit www.businesshealthmatters.org.uk/ or email businesshealthmatters@activelancashire.org.uk.

East Lancashire manufacturer makes commitment to improve employee health

Accrington-based manufacturer The Cardboard Box Company has pledged to tackle the health of its employees by offering ongoing health MOTs and wellbeing training, thanks to a local programme delivered by Business Health Matters.

Taken up by over 100 of the organisation’s employees in its first roll out, the company will now offer comprehensive physical and mental health checks to all staff, as well as regular opportunities to upskill with the programme’s Level 2 and Level 3 Workplace Health Champion Training. By combining the services, employees will be armed with the tools and information to make daily improvements to their overall wellbeing.

Managing Director at The Cardboard Box Company Daniel Johnston explained: “Our employees are the most important part of our business and I am really pleased we could bring this level of support to our team of over 140 people. When we heard about the Business Health Matters programme, it felt like a great fit for where we are as an organisation and to complement the existing mandatory health support we offer. I am delighted to see over 100 employees engage with the programme already, whether that is through the Level 2 training, or having a 1-2-1 health check to identify where they can make those small changes that really do add up!”

The programme is delivered locally by a range of well-respected partners as it works to improve health and wellbeing in Lancashire-based SMEs. Funded by the European Social Fund and Innovate UK, the not-for-profit initiative offers a range of services to support businesses of all sizes to create healthier and happier teams across the county.

Hyndburn Leisure’s Head of Health and Wellbeing Linda Horsfield added: “We know that by improving the health and wellbeing of employees, businesses are more productive and successful. Here in Hyndburn, we have a lot of work to do in improving the health of our residents, so it was a pleasure to introduce the programme to The Cardboard Box Company. We are looking forward to working with them to deliver this ongoing service and seeing how much of a difference we can make together.”

Fully-funded training is available to SMEs across Lancashire until December 2023, with health checks available at just £60 per employee. To find out more about Business Health Matters and the support on offer to businesses, click here: https://www.businesshealthmatters.org.uk/

Fylde Rugby Community Foundation Lead The Way in Championing Employee Health

Employees at one of the country’s leading rugby community foundations have committed their support to the health and wellbeing of employees by being the first rugby-based organisation in Lancashire to have their own ‘workplace health champions’.

Across February, five members of the team completed the level 3 European Union funded course with Business Health Matters. Delivered locally by Fylde Council, the course empowers employees in Lancashire-based businesses with the skills and knowledge to improve workplace wellbeing including topics on nutrition and mental health, and ways to increase physical activity levels during the working day.

Speaking about the training, Fylde Rugby Community Foundation Manager Phill Mills explained: “As a team that is constantly out and about working across the Fylde coast, we wanted to find ways to bring colleagues together whilst also looking after themselves and improving their own health and wellbeing. The training was delivered in a way that worked for us at the club and has given us tangible ways to embed more healthy practices into our own working days. As we bring the team close together and increase the opportunities for collaborative working in the ways we have planned, we know this will result in increased productivity and success for the organisation.”

Sarah Salthouse, the lead for Business Health Matters at Fylde Council added: “It’s fantastic to get the foundation on board here in Fylde, adding to our growing number of Workplace Health Champions across the area. The team at The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation are working across the district to get more people active and playing rugby across all ages but they also recognise that their own health and wellbeing is just as important so they can continue to do a great job across their many programmes.”

“Developing self-care is a really important message within the training and is it great to hear that Phill will empower his colleagues in his role, as well as using what he has learnt to improving his own wellbeing. This outcome of the training is crucial for sustaining the longer-term positive behaviour change we need to see from workplaces across the county.”

European Social Fund support for both the Level 2 and Level 3 training ends in December 2023 and business are encouraged to reserve their place by registering at www.businesshealthmatters.org.uk or calling 01772 299838.