Twelve South Tyneside employers have been recognised for their commitment to employee health and wellbeing through the Better Health at Work Award programme, celebrating organisations that are creating healthier, happier and more productive workplaces.
Awards were presented at a special celebration event held earlier this month at South Shields Town Hall, recognising employers that have gone above and beyond to support staff wellbeing through initiatives focused on mental health, physical activity, healthy eating, menopause awareness, financial wellbeing, neurodiversity, sustainability and suicide prevention.
The Better Health at Work Award is England’s largest workplace health and wellbeing programme. Free, flexible and open to organisations of all sizes, it helps employers build a sustainable culture of wellbeing through a structured framework that supports healthier lifestyles, improved employee engagement and stronger organisational performance.
Presenting the awards, the Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Stan Wildhirt, said:
“These awards recognise employers that understand the importance of investing in their people. Healthier workplaces benefit employees, improve productivity, strengthen organisations and contribute to a healthier borough.
“The commitment shown by businesses and organisations across South Tyneside demonstrates that workplace wellbeing is not just good for employees, it’s good for business.”
Throughout the year, participating employers delivered campaigns and activities addressing some of the biggest health and wellbeing challenges facing today’s workforce, including mental health, work-life balance, physical activity, cancer awareness, financial wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
Award winners
Bronze Award
Barbour, recognised for its exceptional portfolio of wellbeing initiatives and commitment to creating a sustainable culture of health and wellbeing.
Silver Award
Age Concern South Tyneside
Northern Rights
Both organisations were acknowledged for successful campaigns including Mental Health and Stress Awareness and Work-Life Balance initiatives.
Gold Award
Cell Pack Solutions
Sora Services
Both employers achieved Gold status after delivering highly successful employee-led wellbeing campaigns with strong support from senior leadership teams.
Continuing Excellence Award
Hitachi Construction Machinery UK
The company achieved Continuing Excellence status after implementing a range of improvements that have helped embed a strong health and wellbeing culture across the business.
Maintaining Excellence Award
Ford Aerospace Ltd
Groundwork South and North Tyneside
Jarrow School
Legal Aid Agency
Ford Aerospace, a Better Health at Work Ambassador organisation, has been involved in the programme since 2009 and continues to place employee wellbeing at the heart of its business strategy.
Groundwork South and North Tyneside not only maintains high standards of workplace wellbeing but also actively supports other organisations by sharing resources, mentoring participants and promoting best practice across the programme.
Jarrow School and the Legal Aid Agency continue to champion workplace health and wellbeing as Ambassador organisations, demonstrating a sustained commitment to supporting the wellbeing of their staff.
Special award winners
New Ambassador Status
Legal Aid Agency
The Legal Aid Agency achieved Ambassador Status after demonstrating an outstanding commitment to staff wellbeing. Judges praised its ability to maintain employee engagement through creative campaigns and digital wellbeing initiatives despite significant disruption following a major cyber attack.
South Tyneside Health Advocate of the Year
Lauren Hugo, Café Manager, Sea Change
Lauren was recognised for her passion and dedication to supporting staff wellbeing. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure colleagues feel happy, healthy and supported, playing a key role in developing a positive culture of health and wellbeing within the organisation.
Special Recognition Award
Andrea Collins, Northern Rights
Andrea received special recognition for her exceptional leadership and commitment in successfully leading Northern Rights’ journey to achieving the Silver Award. Her efforts have driven workplace improvements and significantly increased staff engagement with wellbeing initiatives.
South Tyneside Council is encouraging more local employers to join the Better Health at Work Award programme and benefit from the free support and guidance available.
For more information, visit: Healthy workplaces – Invest South Tyneside Or contact Patrick McKeown at: Patrick.McKeown@southtyneside.gov.uk
