Celebrating Better Health at Work

Employers across Sunderland have been commended for their commitment to prioritising health in the workplace.

The Better Health at Work awards recognises employers' work to improve employee health and wellbeing, through actively providing advice, information, and support to colleagues.

The award scheme is free and open to all employers in Sunderland regardless of size, location, or type of business.

It aims to support organisations who want to take the first step towards encouraging a healthy workforce and recognises the achievements of those that are already promoting healthy lifestyles and considering the health of their employees.

The awards usually take place every year, but this year's event celebrated the businesses who received awards over the previous two years, as the events were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Sunderland business owner Katie Bulmer-Cooke hosted the awards ceremony at the Stadium of Light and handed out awards to 27 organisations across the city.

The awards are split into five levels. These are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Continuing Excellence and the top level, Maintaining Excellence.

The winners for this year are:

Bronze Award

Castle View Academy
END.
Ocado
Tritility
Nissan
RML Group
DWP Visiting
Stagecoach Sunderland
Together for Children

Silver Award

Adient
Asset55
Springboard
Oxclose Community Nursery
Hillarys Blinds
Barbara Priestman Academy

Gold Award

Sunderland CCG
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Sunderland Cluster Jobcentre Plus

Maintaining Excellence

Gentoo
Grundfos
EDF Energy
Education Partnership North East
DWP Wearview House

Dawn Scott, Office Manager from Asset55, said: "Achieving the Better Health at Work Silver Award wasn't without its challenges last year due to the pandemic. As all staff worked from home, it was vital that we supported their physical and mental wellbeing. Staff engaged in various health promotions, with mental health at the forefront, participating in online quizzes and completing questionnaires as evidence for the award. We also saw a reduction in staff sickness during that period and more positive results from the annual Health Needs Assessments.

"I would like to thank the Sunderland Workplace Health Team in supporting Asset55 to achieve the Silver award as we progress onto Gold."

From 2020 Barclays received a Gold award, while Kasai and Sunderland University were awarded Continuing Excellence and Sunderland City Council won a Maintaining Excellence award.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Healthy City, Councillor Kelly Chequer, said: "It has been brilliant to see such a high number and such a wide variety of businesses and organisations awarded for their commitment to health and wellbeing, and I'm delighted to see the city council take home a Maintaining Excellence award.

"Prioritising employee health and wellbeing helps organisations to have a happier and more productive workforce, benefiting both employees and employers alike, I would encourage more Sunderland businesses to get involved and find out how they can boost employee wellbeing."