The University of Essex was highly commended in the recent Business in the Community’s 2012 Awards for Excellence in the Staying Healthy at Work category, for our commitment to encouraging staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The judges were particularly impressed with the 500 NHS Health Checks offered in 2011 to members of staff aged over 40, and free sight checks for 1,000 with the added benefit of reduced price spectacles. The judges also recognised how the University has helped to increase the numbers of students and staff who cycle – from 10.9 per cent in 2009 to 14.6 per cent in 2011 – alongside the aims of its Health and Wellbeing strategy.

Business in the Community is one of the Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President.