An adventurous programme of activities aimed at promoting a healthy living message and encouraging staff to become more active has helped HIE Shetland and Careers Scotland to jointly win a top award in a national scheme.
 
Employees at the two organisations have in recent months been given the opportunity to take part in such diverse and exciting pursuits as extreme canoeing, clay pigeon shooting and hill walks as well as enjoying more leisurely activities like back massages.

The initiative has proved so successful that the two groups last week jointly picked up a gold award in the Scotland's Health at Work Scheme (SHAW). The award was presented to Jem Arthur by Aileen Simpson of Healthy Working Lives at a ceremony in the Lerwick Hotel last Wednesday.

The Health at Work Scheme was set up in 1996 by a partnership of agencies including the Scottish Executive and the NHS to encourage companies to promote healthy lifestyles among their staff and as a result reduce sickness absence.

HIE Shetland and Careers Scotland decided to work towards the awards not just to promote good health but also to help the two organisations integrate. HIE Shetland's satellite office in Unst also became involved in the scheme. The first step was to set up a health promotion working group and provide staff with opportunities to raise health issues.

Executive officer Jem Arthur, who is a member of the health promotion group, said: "Our ultimate long term goal was simply to ensure that HIE Shetland and Careers Scotland have a happy and healthy workforce. We aimed to decrease stress, increase morale and reduce staff turnover."

The two groups achieved bronze award status in October 2005 and went on to receive the silver award in May last year. As part of the scheme, healthy food has been made available at meetings, staff have been given the opportunity to visit the HIE network's occupational health manager for health checks and a policy has been launched to promote physical activity. Information has also been provided on smoking, stress, alcohol and drug misuse and other issues.

In order to satisfy the criteria for the gold award, a three-year health strategy has been drawn up along with a one-year action plan. Activities which staff are set to enjoy in coming months include trampolining, abseiling, guided walks, a session on a local climbing wall and a herbal tea tasting.