GIVING BACK
BY SARAH WALKER PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
Gestamp launches new Health and Wellbeing Hub
When Gestamp recently celebrated its 75th anniversary , it was a proud moment in which senior leaders at the firm agreed how integral the business had become to the local community .
For that reason , they were keen to give back to the area where they have developed a successful business – and nowhere is this more apparent than in Gestamp ’ s recently opened Health and Wellbeing centre for staff and their families .
“ We are at the start of our journey offering a strong health and wellbeing service – initially to our own workforce ,” says Paul James , head of the training , research and wellbeing facility at the plant .
“ We ’ ve teamed up with a medical partner called Recovery4Life who take a modern approach to medical support in the workplace – offering high quality healthcare and services to the employer and employees .
“ We ’ ve just opened stage one of our Wellbeing Facility , which has a welcoming new reception , a medical room and occupational health service room .
“ Phase two will include a large wellbeing communal area , which can also be divided for smaller group work , which will help us further improve our health and wellbeing offering to staff .
“ In time we envisage the facility eventually offering services such as yoga and mindfulness classes , acupuncture and physiotherapy , as well as practical training to help with muscular skeletal preventative measures at work and healthy eating ideas during the cost-of-living crisis .”
Gestamp have this facility built away from the main plants , which they hope will help staff feel relaxed and welcoming at all times .
Paul adds : “ Staff have already provided positive feedback on the new facility and the Recovery4life team .
“ We ’ ve had feedback from people using the facility already and they have been really impressed , with the environment but more importantly the physical and mental health initiatives we have offered .”
Paul recognises that this will help Gestamp be seen as an employer of choice in the local area – but says the decision to invest in the workforce in this way was also the right thing to do .
“ Creating this facility is our recognition that workforce ’ s require a modern facility and medical staff to help support them through their working career with Gestamp ,” he says .
“ Now , going forward , we have got a space where we can put some creative , progressive interventions in place .”
The longer term vision for Gestamp is to talk to other businesses on Aycliffe Business Park and wider local area , about their “ dedicated health centre ”, to open it up to other employers ’ workforces and make an even bigger positive impact on the local community .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 17