HELPING staff to keep in trim can help your bottom line, organisers of a workplace health drive said as they paid tribute to businesses which had made efforts to keep their employees fit.

The Healthy Ambitions Suffolk 2012 Better Health - Better Business Awards took place at Trinity Park conference centre on Friday.

Birds Eye Limited, Waveney District Council, Babergh District Council & Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council scooped gold awards.

The Havebury Housing Partnership struck silver, and first time entrant Larking Gowen secured a bronze.

Virya Technologies Ltd was awarded the Small Business prize for the second time running.

Richard Powell, chief executive of Healthy Ambitions, said: “We are delighted with the high standard of entries to the awards. It shows the message really is getting out that a healthy team of employees is inseparable from a thriving business.”

Keynote speakers included Dr Dan Poulter, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health, Bob Laventure from the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, and Clifford Emmerson, from Harley Street.