Arqiva
Arqiva delivers critical connectivity for broadcasters, utilities, and other industries, reaching 98.5% of the UK population through Freeview and delivering some 50 million data points from smart metering networks. To do this, it employs around 1,300 people across office and field-based roles.
Keeping them healthy and happy is a priority. It introduced a wellbeing strategy back in 2013, recruiting a dedicated wellbeing person to run it. Ella West, wellbeing lead at Arqiva, explains: “Our approach is constantly evolving. We’re running a sleep awareness programme now but, whatever we’re doing, we’ll monitor the results and survey employees to help us shape what we offer.”
As employees are based both on and off-site, accessibility is one of West’s key considerations. “We’re always thinking about how we can engage the harder to reach employees,” she says. “We ran a men’s health month campaign last November and, as well as events in our offices, we also went out to our field teams so they also had face-to-face presentations. They loved it.”
At Arqiva, line managers play a key role in promoting wellbeing. As well as sharing information on workplace social platforms, Arqiva also has a line manager expectation programme to ensure they feel supported in all aspects of their role, including having health-related conversations with employees.
It has also rolled out a range of home testing kits focusing on five key areas including PSA testing for prostate cancer; male and female hormones; thyroid and vitamin D. “We’ve provided plenty of information as well as signposting support where the results show it’s needed,” says West. “Several employees have sought medical advice following a test including one who took the male hormone test and ended up seeing his GP for testosterone injections.”
West monitors a variety of metrics to determine how the wellbeing strategy is performing. As an example, she has seen a reduction in the total productive days lost (presenteeism and absenteeism) from 44.2 days in 2022 to 39.7 days in 2023; 10 days fewer than the overall benchmark according to Britain’s Healthiest Workplace 2023. Employee feedback is also positive with inclusion, wellbeing and recognition selected as the organisation’s top strengths in the latest engagement survey.
Arqiva’s wellbeing strategy has also been recognised in Britain’s Healthiest Workplace awards. When the organisation first entered the awards in 2015, it came ninth before working its way up to win the large organisation category in 2023.
