workplace health champion Archives - Business Health Matters

Business Health Matters Reaches New Milestone for Lancashire Businesses

Posted on June 15, 2022August 19, 2022 by Rachel Abbotts

We are proud to announce that we have now trained over 100 employees from Lancashire-based businesses as part of our Workplace Health Champion programme.

Tanya, a workplace health champion tutor from our partners in South Ribble Borough Council, presents Level 2 certificates to newly qualified champions from local businesses.

Part of Active Lancashire, the strategic lead for sport and physical activity in Lancashire, and funded by the European Social Fund, Business Health Matters has developed this training programme in response to the rising challenges and concerns over employee health and wellbeing, increased levels of work-related stress, greater numbers of absence due to poor health and the prominent mental health concerns within organisations of all industries.

“The Workplace Health Champion Level 2 Training was extremely useful as a Manager,”
Donna Marshall, Deputy CEO & Partnership Manager at Selnet.

“The learning and group discussion brought about lots of ideas on how we can make our workplace a happier and healthier one. I’m looking forward to putting in place some new schemes with support of our other Health Champions.”
Donna Marshall, Deputy CEO & Partnership Manager at Selnet.

The newly trained workplace health champions, now equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge, can use their unique understanding of their own organisation to identify what their team needs. Whether it is forming a lunchtime walking group or putting individuals through their mental health first aid, the champions have the ability to address the specific challenges their business faces when it comes to wellbeing in the workplace.

Danielle Steenbergen, Salon Manager at the Salon at Maxy Farm, was one of the first businesses to take advantage of the training.

“I think the impact of the programme on businesses in Lancashire could be huge. 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.”
Danielle Steenbergen, Salon Manager at the Salon at Maxy Farm.

As the community of workplace health champions grows, the more we will see organisations waking up to the new pandemic of poor wellbeing and looking for opportunities to support their staff and boost the health of their workforce. With this emerging network of individuals advocating better health and sharing their experiences, organisations can begin to tap into what is affecting their workers and draw from the successes of others to shape the future of Lancashire’s wellbeing.

To find out more about the workplace health champions training, contact the Business Health Matters team on 01772 299838.

For further contact information, click here.

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

Posted on February 21, 2022August 19, 2022 by Rachel Abbotts

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 Rachel Abbotts

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.