Multinational wines and spirits giant Distell International, which owns UK Scotch whisky company Burn Stewart Distillers, has introduced its first wellbeing programme for 5,000+ employees.

Called ‘DistWell’, the initiative comprises a range of activities nominated by the organisation’s DistWell Champions Group.

The group meets monthly and encourages staff from across the business to suggest ideas for wellbeing initiatives. It also aims to take one topic per month from the NHS’s National Campaign Calendar – a compendium of national campaigns and awareness days that organisations can use to help them plan their health and wellbeing strategies and activities for the year.

Distell International HR business partner, Louisa Benaouicha, said: “DistWell was formed with the goal of creating a sense of community and togetherness during these tough times as well as being a solid support initiative."

She added: “DistWell also injects some much-needed fun into staff’s lives through employee challenges.”

Launch events already taken place have included its #DistellDanceChallenge, which asked staff to post their best ‘flossing’ video, devised by Distell International’s head of global travel retail marketing, Rachel Hawes.

Its December challenge, created for Alcohol Awareness Month, also saw staff create their best ‘mocktails’.

Benaouicha said: “On the back of a year that has brought so much uncertainty and worry to people across the globe, we’re happy to be working on a project that can positively impact our employees’ wellbeing.”