Coastline Housing has scooped a gold award for its commitment to investing in healthy workplace initiatives.

An all-encompassing approach to healthy living has slashed more than 400 days a year off sick leave, boosted morale and helped us scoop gold in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Healthy Workplace Awards.

Coastline has implemented a raft of initiatives to help its employees get the most out of life, and has reaped the rewards of being a proactive employer.

From fresh fruit and veg deliveries, bringing in healthy alternatives to the birthday cake run, and implementing flu jabs for staff, the organisation has worked with employees to make a healthy lifestyle more accessible.

Robert Nettleton, chief executive, said: 'Everybody knows we’re meant to live healthier lifestyles, but some people struggle to fit this in around their jobs.  We wanted to change this.

“The initiative is two-pronged: we want to be respected as a good employer, but similarly our employees want to be involved because it benefits them.  It has certainly paid off for us as an employer – the average absenteeism has been slashed by nearly 25%, and with more than 200 employees, that’s in excess of 400 days in all.

 'The team has been very responsive.  We now have a football team, launched a pedometer challenge to get people moving during the course of their working day, and have Coastline staff training for the London Marathon next year.'

Coastline Housing Group has already been singled out by NHS Cornwall for first place in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Healthy Workplace Awards.