With absenteeism costing UK organisations an estimated £29 billion annually, it is easy to see how promoting a healthy and active workforce can be advantageous to businesses.

Part of the BHGE 10K Running Festival, organised by registered charity Sport Aberdeen, the Corporate Team Challenge is open to all sectors of business and industry, from small local enterprises to large global businesses.

Each team participating in the BHGE 10K Corporate Team Challenge receives fitness and health checks for all team members, five free guest passes for use across Sport Aberdeen facilities, free training plans, monthly newsletters and free attendance at running support drop in sessions and seminars for runners of all levels and abilities.

Keith Gerrard, Sport Aberdeen’s Director for Healthy and Active Communities, said:

“The BHGE 10K Corporate Team Challenge aims to encourage employees to come together using sport as a vehicle. Not only promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, it is also a great way to engage employees from across an organisations in a fun and social way, as non runner can sponsor, support or volunteer alongside their colleagues

“Improved physical fitness and wellbeing of employees has been proven to reduce stress levels absenteeism, accidents and injuries around the workplace, while improving workplace morale, employee concentration and motivation levels.

“Many of the companies involved also see enormous CSR benefits from taking part, as they build sustainable connections with local community groups and charities through their participation and enjoy the reputational benefits through good news stories and visible association with a positive initiative.”

The Corporate Team Challenge can also aid companies working towards a Healthy Working Lives accreditation, while keeping employees engaged, health and happy.

Commenting on Seatronics involvement in the BHGE 10K Corporate Team Challenge, Group Marketing Lead, Lauren Forgie, said:

“Seatronics are thrilled to have 12 employees taking part in the BHGE 10K 2019! As a company we achieved our Gold Healthy Working Lives award last year and remain dedicated to offering our employees opportunities to achieve personal health and fitness goals with encouragement from the team.

“The BHGE 10K is a great local event and with the added benefit of health checks for all participants, we thought it would be great to get involved.”

Commenting on RGU’s involvement, Dr Bryan McCann, a lecturer in RGU’s School of Health Sciences, said:

“The university’s decision to take part in the BHGE 10K Corporate Team Challenge reflects our commitment as a Healthy University that promotes and enhances the health, wellbeing and resilience of our entire community of staff and students.

“We have a number of activities running across campus aimed at encouraging people to be more active – including a running, jogging and walking club my School launched in January – and felt like adding the goal of the BHGE 10K, with its associated benefits, would be a natural way of motivating staff.”

This year, there are eight teams competing against each other for the coveted title of BHGE 10K Running Festival Corporate Team Challenge Winners 2019.