Fit for Business
The Fit for Business event, organised by Swindon Borough Council's Leisure Services Team, was a chance for employers to learn about the advantages of improving the wellbeing and fitness of their employees. There were lots of activities for guests to try out including a shooting challenge; Wii golf; exercise bikes; Wii bowling; tri-golf challenge; dance mats to name but a few. The Fit for Business marketplace exhibitors offered various initiatives and programmes for employers to take back to the work place.
We all know that regular physical activity can have a positive effect in helping to reduce absence at work by reducing tension levels, stress and fatigue, but did you know that in Britain in 2006, around 175 million working days were lost due to sickness and 25% of the absences were due to stress. For employers there are also associated costs of staff turnover, loss of skill base, downtime, recruitment and re-training.
As 60% of our waking hours are spent at work, employers are uniquely placed to educate, motivate and support their employees in understanding and actively maintaining their well-being and fitness by being more active, more often.
Active@Work Programme
Swindon Borough Council, in partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon Activity and Sports Partnership (WASP), has secured funding from Sport England to extend their Active@Work Programme – a targeted physical activity programme that will instil an activity culture in participating companies, from senior manager level downwards. The funding will cover the cost of a Physical Activity Officer for 3 years who will work with Creating Excellence (a company specialising in this field and part of the British Heart Foundation Wellness at Work Programme) to offer their expertise and support to companies who want to be Fit for Business. We will work with companies who want to improve the health of their employees. There will obviously be a cost to this; the company decides how much they want to put in and this determines what we can offer in return for their investment to help them.
For more information about Active@Work call Darren Gunter on 01793 511033 or email Darren Gunter
Challenge Swindon more active, more often
This event is part of the Challenge Swindon more active, more often brand which has been developed by Swindon Borough Council's Leisure Services Team as part of it's commitment to support the residents of Swindon to be more active more often. It's overall aim is to increase participation and standards in physical activity and sport across Swindon and is responsible for the delivery of a varied and inclusive programme of inspirational events and initiatives partly funded by Sport England and other partners.