Agents Take Part in Canoe Challenge

Agents in Sunderland have joined the ‘Active Workplace Go Canoe Challenge’.

Workers at EDF Energy, Doxford International Business Park, have risen to the challenge laid down by Tyne and Wear Sport and British Canoeing for local businesses to encourage employees to get more active.

Special indoor canoe machines were set up in the company’s reception area for an introductory session, and for two weeks workers will try to paddle as many miles as possible in the on-site gym. The leading company at the end of the contest will win a teambuilding water sports prize awarded by the organisers.

The participating businesses will also be offered the opportunity to get out on the water and take part in six weeks of canoe coaching through a local canoeing provider. The coaching courses will be subsidised by Tyne and Wear Sport as part of its Active Workplace Go Canoe Challenge.

: Mark Watson (L) and Andrew Collins (R) of EDF Energy Doxford International Business Park race against each other under instruction from Rachel Hudspith of British Canoeing

Two agents race against each other under instruction from Rachel Hudspith of British Canoeing

“The Active Workplace Go Canoe Challenge is a great way to encourage health in the workplace and provide workers with some friendly competition and the chance to win a great water sports prize,” said Rachel Brooks, HR business partner. “We always encourage healthy choices for our staff, so this challenge seemed a fun opportunity for us to carry on the health message and take part in something a bit different.”

In a bid to support the health and well-being of its 1,600 employees, the call centre has enjoyed completing many health-related milestones.

The office was also awarded the NHS Better Health at Work Award – Continuing Excellence level last year, which encourages businesses to spread health advice and support within the company and to the wider community. This is the fourth consecutive year that they have been awarded the NHS Better Health at Work Award.

The partnership between Tyne and Wear Sport and British Canoeing comes as part of their campaign to encourage the people of the North East to take part in water sports.

“It is great to team up with a company that supports health and fitness in the workplace as that is our key message in this campaign,” said Rachel Hudspith, Canoeing Development Officer at British Canoeing. “We are fortunate in the North East to have some great stretches of rivers, lakes and sea on our doorstep. We want to promote canoeing as an enjoyable way of maintaining or improving health and fitness, and we hope by giving people the opportunity to try it out we can encourage them to take it up as a healthy activity.”