Premier Foods, one of the UK’s largest food producers, has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to employee health and wellbeing. 

The Carlton-based company received the Gold Award for Workplace Wellbeing, the highest level of achievement in the Be Well @ Work programme. The award acknowledges the company's efforts to promote and support the physical and mental health of its staff through a range of initiatives, such as flexible working policies, menopause sessions, mental health first aiders, and a dedicated wellbeing space. 

Anna Hartley, Executive Director Public Health & Communities at Barnsley Council, presented the award to the company and praised their passion and innovation. She said: “Premier Foods has shown how much they care about their staff's wellbeing and how they have adapted to the challenges of the pandemic. They have introduced some excellent initiatives, such as providing Vitamin D supplements to night shift workers, offering a family fun day, and creating a 'Zen Den' for relaxation. They have also trained their staff to become Wellbeing Champions and Mental Health First Aiders, which is a great way to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues." 

Caroline Lovell, HR Manager at Premier Foods, said: “We are extremely proud to have received the Gold award for our Carlton site. The award represents a significant step change in focus around colleague health and wellbeing. It has been great to use the Be Well @ Work standard as a guide to support our plans.  

Our journey doesn’t stop here, we have some exciting plans in the pipeline. We want to thank the Workplace Health Officers for their continued support in achieving this recognition and look forward to creating strong working relationships moving forward.” 

The Be Well @ Work programme is a free service offered by Barnsley Council to help employers improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce. The programme provides advice, guidance, and resources on topics such as mental health, healthy eating, physical activity, smoking cessation, and alcohol awareness. Employers can also apply for a bronze, silver, or gold award to demonstrate their commitment to workplace wellbeing. 

For more information about the Be Well @ Work programme, visit barnsley.gov.uk/BeWellAtWork