SIXTEEN employers from around the county have received recognition from the Healthy Ambitions Suffolk campaign for their efforts to improve the wellbeing of their staff.

The ceremony at Trinity Park, held in collaboration with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, saw a newly introduced Special award, reflecting exemplary levels of achievement, presented to Suffolk Constabulary and the Suffolk Housing Association.

Copella Fruit Juices from Boxford, Ipswich Hospital, West Suffolk Hospital, Lowestoft College, the Port of Felixstowe, Customer Services Direct, Ipswich Building Society and Suffolk County Council all received the Gold award while Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, HG Gladwell &Sons from Copdock and Culford School each won Silver.

Another new award, for Small Businesses, went to Virya Technologies Ltd, based in Ipswich, The Pain Relief Clinic in Stowmarket and The Self Centre, Bury St Edmunds.

Sally Hogg, deputy director of public health and company secretary of Healthy Ambitions Suffolk Ltd, said: “We were extremely pleased to be able to publicly congratulate these companies for the work which has taken place to help improve the health and wellbeing of their staff.

“Protecting the health of staff can bring huge benefits to a business, including considerable financial savings, fewer sickness absences and increased productivity.

“And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to have a positive effect – just developing opportunities for employees to become a bit more active on a daily basis, for example, can make an impact. Above all, these small changes can make a big difference and areboth good for health and good for business.”

For details of the help available to businesses in launching their own wellbeing programmes, contact Healthy Ambitions Suffolk business support co-ordinator Claire Parker by emailng claire.parker@healthyambitionssuffolk .