In a world where the pace of life continues to accelerate, and managing conflicts between work and personal life can be difficult, nurturing our physical and mental wellbeing has never been more important.
In addition, the nature of work and travel in the construction industry means individuals can often spend time away from home, making it harder to incorporate healthy choices into their lifestyles. This is why we have developed our Healthy Hearts and Minds campaign, part of our Protecting People commitment. We want to integrate health and wellbeing into our daily activities and create a healthier working environment for everyone.
Last year, more than 800 colleagues from across our business took advantage of a lifestyle assessment. We have used the outputs from these sessions and listened to feedback from our colleagues to shape a campaign that supports us in making healthier choices. Everyone is encouraged to get involved, share their experiences, and build a supportive community focused on health and wellbeing.
Carole Bardell-Wise, SHEQ and people director at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, says: “Healthy Hearts and Minds is grounded in the belief that physical health and mental wellbeing are linked. It's not just about encouraging our teams to hit the gym; it's about establishing a working environment where healthy choices are accessible, supported, and celebrated.
“We have planned various themes that aim to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing through simple daily activities. Whether our colleagues want to take on a physical challenge to improve their fitness, develop better habits around sleep, nutrition and movement or improve their general health, there’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved.”
Each month, we explore a different topic to support colleagues in achieving their health goals. There are opportunities to learn about heart health and the effects diet, smoking, and alcohol can have on our bodies. We’re also encouraging colleagues to move together and participate in individual and team fitness challenges. We're dedicated to fostering a sense of shared learning and community. One way we're doing this is by showcasing inspiring stories from our colleagues about their hobbies and fitness journeys.
Furthermore, we‘re working with local health and wellbeing organisations to offer learning and support. By offering these opportunities throughout the campaign, we hope our colleagues will develop a deeper sense of ownership and understanding about their general health, which will help us build a culture where wellness is a shared priority.