Member Article

BCO to launch ‘Wellness Matters’ research in Midlands

The British Council for Offices is set to launch a major new report on workplace wellbeing to a Midlands audience at an event hosted by one of its authors.

The highly-anticipated report - Wellness Matters: health and wellbeing in offices and what to do about it - will be unveiled at a seminar at CBRE in Temple Row, Birmingham, on Tuesday, October 9th.

Author James Pack, founder of Sentinel RPI, will present key findings from the report to an audience of BCO members and representatives from the commercial property sector. One of the largest pieces of research ever undertaken by the industry, ‘Wellness matters’ took a year to complete.

Rob Groves, of property developer Argent and chairman of the BCO Midlands and East Anglia committee, said: “The work achieved in this study represents a significant step forward in the industry’s understanding of health and wellbeing and provides a definitive guide on how to tackle the issue.

“The team has provided real academic rigour and engineering know-how, along with enthusiasm for the subject matter and its impact. We are delighted with the initial peer review and government response. As one of the BCO’s most significant studies, we look forward to officially launching the study to a Midlands audience.”

First launched at the BCO’s annual conference in Berlin this summer, the study claims that businesses willing to invest in health and wellbeing are reaping the rewards of increased productivity, lower costs from illness and enhanced reputation. The research also delivers a practical and professional guide to creating a healthy environment across the different stages of a building’s life cycle, from design, construction and leasing to occupation and asset management.

Whilst the data does not suggest a workplace wellness crisis, it does suggest that opportunities to improve health and wellbeing are being missed.

Elaine Rossall, chairman of the BCO research committee, said: “The health and wellness agenda is, rightly, growing in importance and prominence. ‘Wellness Matters’ responds to this and provides practical advice to BCO members on the issues surrounding health and wellbeing in offices and what they can do about it.”

Established in 1990, the BCO is Britain’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector. Its members are organisations involved in creating, acquiring or occupying office space, including architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions and public agencies.

The report was led by a consortium of Sentinel RPI, Elementa Consulting, Perkins +Will and Will+Partner’s, backed by medical and academic input from Royal Brompton, Imperial College and Queen Mary University. Evidence was reviewed from the USA, Europe and globally.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by paul king .