College in the running for Responsible Business Award
Gower College Swansea has been shortlisted for a Wales Responsible Business Award by Business in the Community (BITC) Cymru.
The College is in the running for the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Wellbeing at Work Award in recognition of its delivery of a ‘menopause in the workplace’ seminar that took place at the Tycoch Campus in November 2018.
The seminar was the first at the College to be live streamed across all sites. Not only did this work to increase accessibility, it also reduced staff’s travel time, mileage expense claims and carbon footprint. These reductions have all helped to support the wider aims of the College’s Green Travel Plan.
“We are really keen to embed health and wellbeing initiatives naturally into the working environment,” says Director of HR, Sarah King. “The idea behind this seminar was to take what could be seen as a rather taboo health topic and transform it into a mainstream event that would benefit as many members of staff as possible.”
The seminar, hosted by award-winning nutritionist and author Nicki Williams, took place at the College’s Tycoch Campus but was live-streamed simultaneously across six other sites which greatly increased participation. A video was also uploaded onto the staff portal so it could be viewed at a date and time that was convenient to staff.
“By working in partnership with our Computer Services department to deliver the live stream, we were able to reach far more members of staff,” adds Sarah. “Around 150 people watched the broadcast and the video was also downloaded 35 times, which was really encouraging as this was the first time we’d ever attempted something like this.”
Gower College Swansea has recently been recognised by Welsh Government for its high standard of health and wellbeing practices by successfully achieving the Gold Corporate Health Standard award. The College has established a wellbeing steering group which drives forward initiatives and arranges cross college events.
The Wales Responsible Business Awards, which take place in Cardiff on 27 June, celebrate and champion the inspiring businesses throughout Wales who make a difference by taking action to build inclusive workplaces and stronger communities and to address environmental challenges.
“These businesses are, in a multitude of ways, making a difference to schools, communities, staff, the economy and the environment throughout Wales,” says Director of BITC Cymru, Matt Appleby. “They are touching many thousands of lives in a positive way. Most importantly, they are offering inspiring examples of responsible business practices which others will choose to follow.”