THE challenges of Covid put the importance of mental and physical wellbeing into sharp focus, and now businesses can showcase how they look after their staff.

The Inspire Awards, which celebrate companies of all shapes and sizes, are bringing back the Wellbeing at Work award.

This award was introduced two years ago to reflect the growing recognition of staff wellbeing as an important responsibility for employers.

It is an opportunity for businesses to showcase their work to look after their staff which, of course, assists with both recruitment and retention.

Employers can enter for free, and the award is sponsored by Festival Place.

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Neil Churchill, director of Festival Place, said: “The Inspire Business Awards are a fantastic platform to celebrate local business excellence and promote the growth of the local economy.

“We are very passionate about supporting mental health and wellbeing at Festival Place, which is why we chose to sponsor the Wellbeing at Work category. To us it is an essential element of how a business should support their colleagues.

“We’ll be on the lookout for a business that reflects our own passionate commitment to mental health and is dedicated to delivering outstanding employee wellbeing.”

Businesses which would like to enter should meet the following criteria:

• Explain the importance of wellness and mental health among staff and customers to your business.

• Explain how health and wellbeing has been embedded into the organisation’s management policies, processes and procedures.

• Provide examples and evidence of initiatives that support wellness at work and mental health.

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The awards have been organised by Destination Basingstoke and are funded entirely from sponsorship including headline sponsorship from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Entry is free to business of any size or type that is based in Basingstoke and Deane, Rushmoor, Hart, or Test Valley local authority areas.

The closing date is October 31 with the awards evening to be held in February 2023.

For more information visit: inspirebusinessawards.co.uk.