Sheffield businesses celebrate record-breaking health and wellbeing initiative

More than five million active minutes were registered by businesses and employees across Sheffield as a record number of firms – more than 140 – formed an unprecedented 605 teams and got to their feet for Move More’s Workplace Challenge, which also featured a record 3,200 participants.

The Workplace Challenge’s most active workplace was B. Braun Medical Ltd, with the firm clocking up 48,598 active minutes across nine participating staff, an average of 180 per individual per day.

Meanwhile, the challenge’s most active sole trader was Page Hall Medical Centre, with its solitary competitor, Dave Lehane, achieving a total of 6,613 active minutes – 213 on average per day.

Move More’s top school was Walkley Primary School, the top surgery was Falkland House Surgery and the challenge’s top mover was Nigel Wildgoose of Sheffield City Council.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was the Workplace Challenge’s most engaged organisation, with 1,347 staff taking part.

Physical activity was recorded by individuals and firms via Move More’s interactive app, downloadable on all smartphones. The app is also linked to a specially designed website, and tracks a person’s steps and active minutes, giving each participant a total at the end of the month and a daily average.

Each winning team, organisation and individual was presented with an award and a prize at a glittering evening at Glide House in Attercliffe, home to wire joinery manufacturer Gripple Ltd, with sponsorship from health and wellbeing provider Westfield Health.

Prizes ranged from a free year gym pass at Places for Leisure, a year’s membership with SIV, the sports, leisure and entertainment venue operator; tickets to the Man Beast Strongman Events Peak District Highland Games 2018; and an invitation from Cycling Sheffield, a seat in the Team Car at a cycling race with Dave Coulson, Director of Tour de Yorkshire organiser, Sportiv.

Dave Capper, interim chief executive of Westfield Health, said: “Westfield Health were delighted to sponsor the Move More Awards.

“For nearly 100 years we have been dedicated as an organisation to help people improve their quality of life. Our society faces a serious challenge as our healthcare system is being over stretched by having to treat disease, which could be prevented by people making better lifestyle changes.

“Move More Month brings to the fore the power of physical activity – the miracle cure in many ways! We look forward to playing a part in helping the people of Sheffield move more and helping to improve quality of life in our home city.”

Rob Copeland, Director of Move More and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, said: “It was fantastic to see so many businesses, teams and individuals recognised for putting their best foot forward and getting as active as possible during Move More Month.

“Move More is all about making physical activity enjoyable and interactive – at the end of the day if it’s not fun, people won’t engage. And it’s safe to say Sheffield enjoyed moving more 2018, with a record number of participants, teams and organisations taking part in the Workplace Challenge.”

For more information visit www.movemoresheffield.com.