DS Smith puts health at the heart of the company in Redditch

The Redditch site of DS Smith has been awarded a silver Healthy Heart Mark by national charity Heart Research UK for encouraging healthy lifestyle habits among its employees.

By choosing to take on the healthy heart checks that Heart Research UK provides, the packaging supply cycle specialist provides employees with the opportunity to have their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, BMI and waist measurements checked and ask questions about their lifestyle habits.

The Healthy Heart Mark award is an accreditation that shows how an organisation values its workforce by making positive contributions towards employee health and wellbeing.

DS Smith puts health at the heart of the company

DS Smith puts health at the heart of the company

The business is supporting healthy lifestyle habits, offering healthy heart checks at UK packaging sites

Find out more about Healthy Hearts

Following this round of healthy heart checks the company improved on their bronze mark awarded previously by introducing further initiatives at the site. Lunchtime walking clubs, monthly five-a-side football games, providing BRC approved water bottles to keep workers hydrated and free fruit are just some of the wellness activities implemented at the site.

Chris Dove, Managing Director at DS Smith’s Redditch site said: “New additions like providing free fruit twice a week and our lunchtime walking clubs have been welcomed by all and it’s been great seeing employees encourage one another to lead healthier lives. The healthy heart program has kick-started a company-wide culture change, inspiring everyone to stop and think about their health.”

Brian Wark, HR Director at DS Smith’s UK Packaging Division said: “Health and safety is extremely important in the packaging and manufacturing industries, but often most of the focus is on safety and not on health.

“We have a duty of care to our employees and we are committed to supporting initiatives that lead to a healthy and happy workforce. In fact, this campaign originated from one of our sites and when it proved to be very popular we secured support from the senior team to roll out the programme at all of our locations.”

DS Smith offers the Heart Research UK healthy heart checks at its 31 sites – from Livingston to Launceston - with many receiving Bronze and Silver Healthy Heart Marks over the year. This latest award will support DS Smith’s aim to achieve aHealthy Heart Mark (HHM) employer award later this year.

Barbara Dinsdale, Lifestyle Manager at Heart Research UK said: “DS Smith in Redditch are fully embracing the Healthy Heart Mark employer award programme by actively encouraging and supporting staff to live healthier lifestyles both in work and beyond.  

“Their monthly, 5-a-side football tournament has really taken off and has become a significant part of the company calendar, serving to build team spirit, fitness and peer support.  The regular 30 minute lunchtime walks ensure that there’s something for everyone and are also very well attended

“Their Healthy eating promotions involving sharing of healthy recipes, highlighting how much sugar is in soft drinks and putting healthier options in vending machines are all proving to be a huge success. The Healthy Heart Mark programme is having a real impact on heart health and wellbeing across the whole Redditch site.”

Heart Research UK funds pioneering medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

To find out more about Heart Research UK and healthy heart initiatives in the workplace visit: http://heartresearch.org.uk/