Central Bedfordshire Council, in partnership with Bedford Borough and Milton Keynes City Council has launched a new set of health and wellbeing standards for local workplaces.

The Healthy Workplace Standards are intended to help employers, even the smallest of firms who don’t have the resources for a dedicated post or team, support the health and wellbeing of their workforce.

Any local workplace can sign up the new scheme which invites employers to consider how their organisation is performing across several key measures – from health and safety to inclusive employment.

Councillor Tracey Stock, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Communities said, “People are facing lots of pressures in their daily lives so it is vital workplaces recognise the importance of how even small changes can improve the health and wellbeing of a workplace.

I encourage any Central Bedfordshire based business to access the free resources available to them.

People spend a significant proportion of their lives at work. Prioritising workplace health and wellbeing makes good business sense, especially for recruitment and retention."

Cranfield based business, Crave Interactive, who specialise in cloud-based digital solutions and software for the hospitality industry have signed up to the Healthy Workplace standards scheme.

Katy Kirk, Human Resource Manager at Crave Interactive, said: “At Crave Interactive Ltd, the Health and Wellbeing of our employees is one of the top priorities when it comes to our people agenda. 

“When we were introduced to the Healthy Workplace Standards, we were excited to sign up to the programme and take our journey with health and wellbeing to the next level. We are already doing lots of positive things and it will be great to formalise this as a recognised standard. 

The Public Health Business Team has really supported us to coordinate our efforts and focus on the next steps for us as a business. We are regularly in contact, and have received a suite of resources, including best practices, toolkits and webinars which have been invaluable to myself and the wider workforce.”

Over 30 workplaces across the three areas have already signed up the Healthy Workplace Standards.

More information on the Healthy Workplace Standards is available on MK City Council website.

Public Health is a shared service between MK City Council, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Council. MK City Council are responsible for business public health. Central Bedfordshire based businesses can contact the regional public health team via email Public.Health@Milton-keynes.gov.uk

Delegates are (L-R); Katy Kirk, Cllr Tracey Stock, Sarah James, Garth McKenzie.