Working Late

Strategies to Enhance Productive and Healthy Environments for the Older Workforce

A collaborative research project funded under the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme

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Exciting new commercialisation project launched

August 13th, 2014

We are facing an epidemic of sedentary behaviour. This is a major public health concern, as prolonged sitting is a known risk factor for a wide range of chronic diseases.

Professor Cheryl Haslam, Director of Loughborough University’s Work and Health Research Centre (based in the School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences) is leading a commercialisation project (funded by Loughborough University Enterprise Projects Group) which offers organisations the opportunity to increase the amount of physical activity their employees do, using a tailored approach to promoting physical activity.

Professor Haslam explains: “This approach to behaviour change has been tried and tested as part of several highly acclaimed research projects including the recent Working Late project where the Walking Works Wonders intervention was shown to be effective in reducing BMI and sickness absence, increasing productivity and improving health and quality of working life and offer a return on investment of up to £32 for each pound spent on the intervention.”

Considerable scope now exists to market this effective intervention to small, medium and large organisations in the public and private sector. The enterprise project plans to transfer the Walking Works Wonders intervention and its associated benefits to organisations across the UK.

As part of the launch of this project, in collaboration with the Loughborough University Development Trust a competition is also being launched for Loughborough University students to share their branding ideas for a chance to win cash prizes up to £500 and a paid internship working with the project team to implement their ideas for the visual identity of the Walking Works Wonders intervention and associated materials.

For more details and to enter visit: workinglate.org/wwwcompetition