Bruntwood gives wellbeing boost to customers in the New Year

Bruntwood is pledging to help customers keep their healthy New Year’s resolutions by launching a series of wellness at work initiatives to help enhance professional development and personal wellbeing.

From LES MILLS™ virtual fitness classes to mindfulness and yoga sessions, Bruntwood buildings across Manchester are signing up to the programme to help boost staff morale and motivation.  

Investing in employees’ wellbeing is good for business. It significantly reduces absenteeism and increases productivity. And with 46% of people admitting they turn up to the office feeling too tired to work, it is essential businesses get wellbeing on their radar for 2019.

Bruntwood’s initiatives are supporting them to do just that. The programme builds on its existing active and vibrant community activity across the portfolio, which ranges from art workshops and holistic therapy pop ups to running clubs and social events.

Resident gym at Bruntwood’s Riverside complex, FORM, offers customers a range of personalised programmes, as well as 1-2-1 and group personal training, and an outdoor astroturf training area.

For the first time, FORM will expand its offering in 2019 across other Bruntwood buildings, such as Neo and the newly refurbished Union in Manchester city centre. The team, led by personal trainers Libby Smith and Ben Wood are on a mission to empower the people of Manchester to lead happier and healthier lifestyles. They will be conducting pop-up studio classes within four training areas ‘Sweat, Lift, Move and Breathe’ - featuring everything from cardio, to wellbeing classes for the Bruntwood community.

At Trafford House, located on Chester Road in Old Trafford, Bruntwood continues its full exercise and wellbeing programme for customers to support them in increasing fitness and physical activity levels.

The pioneering initiative has seen the property company form a unique partnership with international fitness brand, LES MILLS™, to offer a variety of 30 – 55-minute virtual classes like BODYCOMBAT™ (martial arts style cardio class), BODYPUMP™ (strength and conditioning) and BODYBALANCE™ (mind-body program). Les Mills’ mission is to create a fitter planet by helping people fall in love with fitness and research shows this virtual programming is a great way to get started into exercise while building the confidence for live classes.

For 2019, Bruntwood has also secured a deal with Altius Healthcare, which is headed up by former England Rugby and Sale Sharks physiotherapist Doug Jones, to provide its Sit Strong corporate wellness programme to customers.

Altius will deliver a programme of physiotherapy services, strengthening and conditioning classes, and wellbeing therapies to firms located across the Bruntwood community.

The initiative will launch in three of Bruntwood’s  buildings – Trafford House, Booths Park in Knutsford, and Neo in Manchester city centre, with further buildings to follow.

Toby Sproll, director of retail, amenity and community from Bruntwood, said: “Happy, healthy people are the biggest asset to any business and at Bruntwood our focus has always been creating places where companies can succeed and thrive. The way in which people work is rapidly evolving and work environments need to reflect this. Modern businesses need flexible workspaces and wellbeing facilities within easy reach. They need spaces which have people at their heart.

“It’s clear from our customer steering groups that wellbeing at work is no longer a ‘nice to have’, but a ‘must have’. Everyone wants to feel their company is looking after them, and by providing such a wide range of options for our customers we can help all businesses, whatever their size, offer these services to employees. Whether its fitness facilities, art classes, yoga or mindfulness training there are plenty of wellbeing options to get employees engaged.

“And our customers don’t have to be in that building to benefit from the classes and fitness amenities on offer. As part of the Bruntwood community you can come in and enjoy facilities at any of our other buildings too!”

Bruntwood buildings feature a range of additional amenities all centred on boosting health, wellbeing & community, including dedicated wellbeing studios, lounge and community spaces, open-air roof terraces, shower facilities, changing rooms and secure bike racks.