One of Wearside’s largest employers is continuing to promote a positive health and wellbeing message among its workforce.
EDF Energy, based at Doxford International Business Park, Sunderland, organised a week long programme of activities as part of European Health and Safety Week to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle among its 1,600 staff.
The centre piece of the week was a specially equipped ‘shed load of tools’ that used cut outs of everyday items to highlight the wide range of services, support and assistance available to support the health and wellbeing of the Doxford workforce, their families and the wider community.
A number of local charities and organisations also took up the opportunity to set up information points and speak directly to staff. Those present included Sunderland Mind, Sunderland Carers, Alzheimer’s Society, Citizens Advice Bureau, and others.
Rachel Brooks, EDF Energy HR Business Partner based at Doxford Park, heads the health and wellbeing programme for EDF Energy operations across the country.
Rachel said: “We recognise how important it is to have a healthy and happy workforce. This was a fun and interactive way to engage with our staff to get across some serious messages about health, safety and wellbeing.
“The tools in the shed enabled us to promote the wide range of support we offer to staff from flu jabs, discounted gym memberships to an Employee Assistance Programme to name but a few. The involvement of a number of outside partners helped to highlight the specialist support available in the local community.”
Earlier this year EDF Energy was awarded a prestigious NHS Better Health at Work Gold Award for its work in looking after its employees and helping to spread the health and wellbeing message among the wider local community.
The ‘shed load of tools’ information week was part of an ongoing programme of initiatives hosted by the company that also includes special fit clubs and the availability of special electronic health check kiosks for staff to monitor their own health.