Active Partnerships Support Workplace Movement

Supporting business to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of staff through physical activity  

We recognise that the last 10 months have been a hugely challenging time for businesses across the country with changing working arrangements, employees juggling numerous commitments and many organisations facing operational changes.

Throughout this time employee wellbeing has heightened in importance, from both a moral responsibility as well as a business bottom line perspective and the value of being active, and the role it can play in improving employee physical and mental wellbeing, has been highlighted.

Active workplaces are healthier, happier and more productive, with less stress, lower absence and better performance. Our insight suggests, however despite knowing the importance and benefits for individual health and organisational performance achieved through physical activity, employees are finding it hard under the current restrictions to remain active and businesses are now looking for practical support and solutions for employee wellbeing.

Workplace Movement is here to help and has been designed to support businesses encourage staff to move more and reduce sedentary working, creating a culture that improves the health and reduces stress of employees and provide business benefits.

There is a clear gap in workplace wellbeing support, which focuses on physical activity, and Workplace Movement addresses this by providing online training for staff focused on improving physical activity and mental wellbeing, equipping employees with practical tips and advice, as well as online health and wellbeing resources focused on physical activity, including a benchmark tool, staff survey, resource library and activity tracking challenge. Workplace Movement is included in the Sport England working toolkit and supports business to embed an active culture in their organisations.

Some quotes from people who have attended some of the recent training sessions that are part of Workplace Movement reinforce the value of the support provided;

“Worth taking the time out of your day to pause and think about these wellbeing tips – especially recommended over Covid and the gloomy winter months for mental and physical wellbeing!” Rebecca Osmaston, PwC.

“Thank you for a great session, it was exactly what I hoped it would be! We have made some changes already and I am keen to ingrain these good behaviours into our organisation. Thanks again and keep up the good work!” – Barbal Ltd

Additional local support is provided by the nationwide charitable network of Active Partnerships and Workplace Movement.

The 42 Active Partnerships work closely with Sport England, using sport and physical activity to engage communities and transform lives.  Active Partnerships’ previous workplace service, Workplace Challenge, helped over 64,000 users see the benefits of active working.

Lee Mason, CEO of Active Partnerships, said:

“We’re delighted to offer Workplace Movement and hope our service will really help workplaces all over the country get more active and see the considerable benefits this brings for workers and their employers, particularly in these challenging times”

• 16.9m people do less than the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. [Active Lives Survey, Sport England, 2020]
• The annual cost to UK business of lack of physical activity is £6.6billion. [The economics of exercise, Measuring the business benefit of being physically fit, A report for AXA PPP healthcare, 2019]
• Physically inactive individuals lose up to four and a half working days per year through absence and presenteeism, almost a whole working week, compared to active individuals. [The Economic Benefits of a More Physically Active Population, Rand Europe, 2019]
• Mental ill-health, stress and musculoskeletal problems are the three leading causes of long-term absence from the workplace and make up two of the top three causes of short-term absence. [CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work survey, 2019] All three conditions are associated with a lack of physical activity. Being more physically active can help to lower risks and alleviate symptoms.

More information about Workplace Movement.