Press Release: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber improving business health

A major project to help improve the health of workers across Coventry will be launched later this month.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, NHS Coventry, Coventry City Council and Jobcentre Plus are mounting the initiative to improve the health of the local workforce and reduce the level of sick leave taken by staff.

A launch event is being held on September 21st when employers will have a unique opportunity to try out a full range of health services currently available and be introduced to local health suppliers.

Dianne Williams, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said this is an exciting new approach to help improve the overall health of the city and give employers the opportunity to shape policy.

She said: “It is widely recognised that there is a great deal of work to do to improve the over health of our city.

“Key agencies are working together across all areas to make that happen, and we will be engaging with employers in all sectors.

“To improve the health of working people across Coventry it is vital that we hear from employers so they can let us know what issues they have, what they offer staff in terms of medical support and what they think would help the situation.

“This is a three-year project and the event on the 21st is really the starting point and will allow us to develop an action plan.

“There are potential wins all round with staff healthier, companies benefit from increased attendance and business efficiency and there is less strain on the health service.

“This is certainly not a Coventry problem - more than 185 million working days are lost to the UK economy every year due to ill health, at a cost of £17.3 billion.

“That is costly enough for the national economy at the best of times, but even more so during the downturn.”
 
The event is taking place at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Binley on September 21. It will be launched at 12.30 and businesses will be able to drop in up to 5pm.

For more information call the Chamber on 024 7665 4321.

Media enquiries:
Lee Corden
Advent Communications
2 Edison Building
Electric Wharf
Sandy Lane
Coventry CV1 4JA
Tel: 024 7663 3636
http://www.advent-communications.co.uk