Bupa backs business action on health

Bupa, the leading health and care company, has given its backing to Business Action on Health, the UK-wide initiative from Business in the Community (BITC),

which aims to promote the business benefits of investing in employee health.

Today, Bupa announced that Steve Flanagan, commercial director in its UK Health Insurance business, has joined the Business Action on Health leadership team.

Flanagan will be working alongside Dame Carol Black, National Director of Health and Work and other business leaders to encourage the UK's top companies to put employee health on the boardroom agenda.

The campaign aims to secure the commitment of 75 per cent of the FTSE 100 to report on the health and wellbeing of their employees by 2011.

It will also provide British companies with practical advice on how to manage and measure the impact of workplace health programmes.

Steve Flanagan explained: "At Bupa, we work with 80 per cent of FTSE 100 companies as well as thousands of smaller businesses across the country.

We know that companies are keen to play their part in keeping Britain healthy.

What they need, however, are clear guidelines on how to devise and implement the best health at work services for their workforce and then, crucially, how to measure the impact of these services so they can report on them.

I am looking forward to being a part of the Business Action on Health leadership team as we develop these guidelines and consult with businesses across the country." Louise Aston, director, Business Action on Health at BITC said: "We are delighted that BUPA have joined the campaign leadership team.

One of our key objectives is to embed health and wellbeing at the heart of businesses by making reporting on it commonplace in UK boardrooms.

BUPA's commitment to work with their clients from the FTSE 100 will be a fantastic support in helping us reach our target of 75 per cent by 2011." Bupa is also conducting its own major research project on workplace health.

The recently-launched,18-month study is designed to explore how policy and practice can be improved to help more employers actively support the health and wellbeing of their workforce.

The project aims to provide evidence of the benefits of workplace health services to individuals, companies, and the UK economy and health system.

Back to top