Newnham College has been shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category in the Cambridge News and Media Business Excellence Awards 2017 for focusing on the health and wellbeing of its employees.
Under the leadership of Dame Carol Black, Principal of Newnham and a Government Health Advisor, the women’s college at the heart of Cambridge University has made the Health and Wellbeing of the 100-plus members of staff a key priority.
A Health and Wellbeing Strategy was created for the first time in 2016, and Newnham now actively supports the development of a work environment that encourages all staff to take a positive interest in their own physical and mental wellbeing.
Before the strategy was created, staff were consulted to ensure their opinions and ideas were reflected in the plan for the College.
The College has introduced:
- Free use of six staff bicycles to encourage people to cycle rather than drive to meetings or into town during the working day
- Access to a staff shower and locker facilities for those people who wish to cycle or exercise before or after work
- Free flu jabs
- Free Health MOTs
- Free access to an on-site nurse
- Free healthy, balanced lunch options including access to free fruit and water coolers
- Weekly on-site Yoga
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Support to people who wish to reduce or stop smoking and we promote the responsible drinking of alcohol
- A staff social fund which finances free events including punting, quiz nights, summer barbecues, a free family Christmas event, an annual staff formal hall (a sit-down meal in our dining hall), and a free Christmas party which retired members of staff are now invited to in perpetuity
- Management and Leadership training which has encompassed practical transactional training for managers to support staff with short and long term health issues. Also transformational leadership training aimed at empowering managers to engage, motive and inspire their staff
- Access to specialist Occupational Health support as required
- A centralised budget for non-essential training that any member of staff can apply to
- An annual ‘Staff Link Day’ for training and team building purposes
Jenny Raine, Bursar of Newnham College, said: “The Health and Wellbeing of our staff is very important to us. We know that happy, healthy and valued employees are productive and we have worked hard to make sure that staff feel that their contribution makes a real difference to the success of the College.
“We are delighted to have our work recognised by the Cambridge News and Media Business Excellence Awards 2017 and to have been named as a finalist in the Pure Employer of the Year category.”
A record number of entries were received this year and the winners will be revealed on Thursday, March 23 at a ceremony at King’s College.
For more information read the Cambridge News coverage of the awards