Creating a Healthy Workforce: Benefits and Solutions

Location: Putteridge Bury Conference Centre

Time: 18.00 - 18.30 registration and coffee

Cost: £10 (including VAT) and includes wine, finger buffet and networking

Speaker: John Brewer

In recent years, the Government has prioritised strategies aimed at increasing levels of physical activity and exercise amongst the general population, since there is known to be a link between exercise and major life-threatening conditions such as obesity, cardio-vascular disease and diabetes.

However, whilst programmes and schemes to increase activity levels are often successful in the short term, the long-term adherence to exercise regimes amongst the general population is poor, with many people returning to more sedentary lifestyles within 6 months of a programme starting. Research has shown that one of the main reasons for this is a lack of time, particularly in a society where work, travel, family pressures and climate, mean that the time for exercise is limited.

For most people, the majority of their 'daylight' time is spent at work, yet in the traditional workplace and working week there is little opportunity for people to exercise. However, research evidence from the United States, and the UK, suggests that when companies provide schemes or incentives for staff to exercise whilst at work, (thus helping to overcome the 'block' of lack of time), the financial investment in their implementation is exceeded by returns which include lower absenteeism, better staff retention and morale, and improved productivity. There is a wide range of schemes and initiatives that small, medium and large companies could introduce for their workforce, which will improve the health and well-being of staff, and these are known to have genuine positive benefits for both the employer and employee. Indeed, in some professions, there is evidence to suggest that the employer has a 'duty of care' to implement such schemes due to the physical nature of the employees' role.

This talk will identify the risks of inactivity, the benefits to the employer of a healthier workforce, (both financial and 'in-kind'), and discuss some schemes which could be introduced to provide opportunities for staff to improve their health and well-being.

John Brewer

John Brewer is acknowledged as one of the leading sports scientists in the country. In his career to date he has already achieved a string of high-profile appointments including -

• Head of Sports Science for the Football Association (traveled as part of the support staff to the 1990 World Cup with the England football team)
• 18 years as joint director of the Lilleshall Sports Injury and Human Performance Centre at Lilleshall National Sports Centre delivering sports science support to a range of national governing bodies, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, the England Hockey Association and British Gymnastics
• Director of Sports Science for Glaxo SmithKline 2004-2009, focusing on sports science research and education for the Lucozade Sport brand, and was closely involved in the development of the 'Informed Sport' programme for drug-free sport nutrition
• 2007 - Appointed by Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, as Chair of Sport England's London Regional Sports Board
• 2009 - Appointed to the National Olympics Committee 2012
• 2009 - Appointed by Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister of Sport, as board member of the new independent body, United Kingdom Anti-Doping

John also has a very high profile in the media and popular press, regularly appearing on television and radio programmes such as Radio 5 Live, and writing for publications such as Times Online.

Agenda

18.00 - 18.30: Registration and coffee
18.30 - 18.35: Welcome and introduction
18.35 - 18.45: Anne Gadsden - National training awards
18.45 - 19.30: John Brewer
19.30 - 19.45: Q and A
19.45 - Networking, wine and buffet

Contact

For further information about this event e-mail info@theknowledgenetwork.co.uk or ring 0800 328 5334

To book and pay for your place by debit/credit card or by cheque, follow the instructions on the right hand column under 'KN Bookings'