Port Sunlight Unilever staff take part in health and fitness programme at work

Mar 17 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

STAFF at Unilever in Port Sunlight have been making health and fitness part of their working day.

Founder William Hesketh Lever built the village for his workers in 1888, now Unilever has launched a workplace health scheme – Fit Business – to help 399 workers lose weight and improve their wellbeing.

The pilot programme included health checks and advice and displaying nutritional information in employee restaurants.

It achieved a 26% reduction in the weight of Port Sunlight workers, who were overweight or obese.

The scheme, which was also trialled at the Leatherhead factory, will now be rolled out to all 7,500 employees across Unilever’s 17 UK and Ireland sites.

Employee Les Jackson said: “It helped me make small, easy changes to my lifestyle.

“I learned to understand nutrition information when making choices about food. Once I’d looked at my diet, I felt confident to join the on-site gym.”

Alan Walters, Vice President of HR, Unilever UK & Ireland, said: “Most people spend a large proportion of their lives at work.

“Through taking some simple measures, major employers have a real opportunity to help employees live healthy lives.”