Health and well-being in the work place

Photo: Kerry and David Hargreaves Photograph

Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace speakers: Malcolm Rae, Gary Loftus, Phil Jones, Fiona Brigg, Danny Sculthorpe and Paul Dixon

Business leaders and managers from across Greater Manchester gathered at a special business event on Health and Well-being in the Workplace at Hopwood Hall College’s Middleton Campus on Tuesday (19 October).

Guests were joined by inspirational business leader and speaker Phil Jones MBE who is the MD of Brother UK. He spoke about the benefits of a healthy and engaged workforce, and its impact on productivity and results. Brother UK (www.Brother.co.uk) is a Platinum Investors in People (IIP) work place and was recently crowned the best of the best at the IIP national awards.

Mr Jones said: "It's vital to get out of the office regularly and hear new perspectives, particularly with so much uncertainty around us. So much is happening in the whole area of health and well-being that it's essential to bring your understanding up to date as a leader.

"Being an Investors in People Platinum employer we're fully committed on the people journey and it was great to have a platform to share some of our practices and thinking with other businesses, large and small, in the Rochdale area."

Speakers also included Malcom Rae, a former nurse director in mental health and forensic psychiatry at the Department of Health, and ex-rugby league star Danny Sculthorpe, both speaking on behalf of the charity, State of Mind. They spoke about the importance of mental fitness and building resilience. Both spoke about the pressures of work, employment good practice, clinical depression and methods of improving wellbeing.

The event concluded with a colourful workshop on laughter in the work place with Gary Loftus from The Orange Club.

Joanne James, Director, PLP Construction Limited, said: “The speakers at the business breakfast were excellent, very inspiring and they have given me lots of food for thought.”