University in line for workplace health award
The University of Sussex has been shortlisted for an Award for Healthiest Workplace at the Sussex Business Awards 2014.
The winning MPS team tried archery and a number of other new activities during the Commit to Get Fit challenge in 2014.
2014 marks the 26th anniversary of the competition, which celebrates business excellence across the county; the University last won an award in 2008.
“With extensive evaluation of entries and a rigorous vetting system, coupled with phone, face-to-face and panel interviews, it is the one that everyone wants to win,” say the organisers.
The list of finalists was published on Tuesday (28 October) in the Argus newspaper and also at the website for the Sussex Business Awards.
The other two workplaces up for the Award for Healthiest Workplace are Chichester College and Stelfox, a Brighton-based recruitment agency.
The University’s entry was submitted by the campus sport service, Sussexsport.
Terry Cooper from Sussexsport says: “Our on-going, established activities – together with some new actions that have been put in place - all contribute to the overall improvement to the health and well-being of staff at Sussex.
“The addition of the regular mindfulness sessions in the Meeting House by Rev Chris McDermott have also been well received.”
Karen Creffield, Director of Sussexsport, says: “We are pleased to be shortlisted for this award; it reflects the continued focus we have placed on improving the staff experience through fitness, sport and well-being.
“We feel the shortlisting reflects the continued growth of the Commit to Get Fit programme, which encourages members of staff to get active and included two new challenges last year.”
As part of the ‘Commit to Go Far’ challenge in January, teams of staff completed a challenge to walk, run, cycle and swim 698 miles in 10 days– equivalent to travelling from Brighton to Edinburgh.
And in November 2013, Sussexsport organised its first ‘Fundraising Friday’ cycle challenge, inviting departments and units to cycle 45 miles on an exercise bike to raise funds for the Rockinghorse Appeal, a Brighton-based charity that supports sick children.
Sussexsport will be repeating the event this year on 21 November, asking teams to take part in the equivalent of a pier-to-pier challenge from Eastbourne to Brighton.
The following month, on 10 December, 500 of the county’s leading business people will gather to see the 2014 Sussex Business Awards presented at the Grand Hotel in Brighton - and the University of Sussex will be hoping to win one of the 16 trophies up for grabs.
If you would like to be on the mailing list for information about staff-only sport and activities, E Sam Fuller on s.n.fuller@sussex.ac.uk