Nicki pulls on her business head and chats Corporate Membership and why nurturing a culture of healthy working lives matters to employers and employees.

It’s not often I pull on my businesswoman head for writing the Live Active Leisure blog but this week we’re all about Corporate Memberships and so before we get to the fun, I’m going to lay out some pretty dire stats for all you bosses to mull over!

Did you know that the average UK absence rate in 2011 was 4.2 days equating to a loss of almost 2% of working time? Multiply that by the number of employees in your company and you can see why looking after the health and wellbeing of your workforce is very much in your interests.

In our fast-paced modern lives it is often difficult for people to fit exercise and healthy living into an already jam-packed schedule.  Kid’s ballet lessons, family trips to the park, late meetings, conference calls, cleaning the bathroom, putting up shelves, washing the dog… it becomes never ending!  No wonder we’re often frazzled and strung out!

As employers, understanding the importance of supporting staff and helping them to lead a healthy, more active lifestyle could reap substantial rewards.  Increased productivity, higher levels of concentration and fewer days off will all have a positive impact right there on your bottom line as well as nurturing an culture of care and wellbeing.

By encouraging staff to be active you are assisting them in improving their physical and mental well-being. Regular exercise helps to prevent diseases, improves stamina, strengthens and tones, enhances flexibility, reduces stress, controls weight and improves quality of life. 

So, what can you do to encourage this? Live Active Leisure’s Top Five Tips

1. Encourage proper breaks and lunch away from the desk.  If people feel they have time to hit the gym for half an hour or pick up a lunchtime class they will use it.  A culture of ‘working through’ doesn’t help anyone.
   
   
2. Join up to the Cycle to Work Scheme and assist your employees in paying for a new bike making savings of up to 25% when they do. See www.cyclescheme.co.uk for full details.
   
   
3. Look into a Corporate Membership for your local gym which will offer your employees discounts and extras as part of their employment benefits package.  See below for full details!
   
   
4. Arrange walking meetings, where small teams take to the fresh air for a walk while they plan and discuss.  Use your phone to take verbal notes and you’re all set!
   
   
5. Make an after work date at Body Pump, Circuits or Yoga instead of the pub and go for a destressing workout together.

Live Active Leisure are themselves accredited as a Heathy Working Lives employer. That’s why they have created a Corporate Membership package that allows local companies to sign up and pass on reduced LAL membership rates to your team.   At my company, The Red String Agency, we signed up three years ago and although the amount saved per person is nominal I feel it speaks volume about me as an employer. It says ‘I care about your health.  If your 5pm class matters to you, it matters to me.”  It fits perfectly with who we are and how much we value our small team.

It’s also so much more exciting than any other benefit I could buy for the same price.  Spin Class or a scale and polish…? I know which one I’m loving more! Because this is our culture, we encourage one another to stay healthy. Megan and I will hit the circuits class after an afternoon of VAT return paperwork and the stresses of “How can you have lost your phone bill? It never leaves the office!” (her speaking to me…) dissolve away to nothing as we become unified in our hatred of burpees.

For a one off joining fee your employees can start to benefit from exclusive offers including a monthly membership fee of only £27.00. This provides unlimited access to all LAL venues and activities include gym, swimming and fitness classes.  Members will also receive discounts on Personal Training sessions and will be in a position to access the unique LAL Rewards local business discount scheme.

If you’d like to improve wellbeing within your workforce through the Live Active Leisure Corporate Membership scheme then please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the LAL Membership Administrator on 01738 454617.

If you're an employee and would like your employer to sign up, then why not share this article in an email to your boss?