Healthy workplace ecosystems launched in 7 business clusters

Ascendas with the support of the Health Promotion Board will be introducing the Healthy Workplace Ecosystem to seven of its business clusters for a start, beginning this month.

They are Singapore Science Park, International Business Park, Changi Business Park, Aperia, Techlink, Techpoint and Techplace.

This partnership is expected to benefit approximately 35,000 workers. Employees in these clusters can look forward to activities and programmes in the areas of obesity control, chronic disease management and mental well-being such as regular health education sessions or instructor-led exercise sessions.

The plan was announced at the Ascendas Healthy Lifestyle Family Carnival, which marked the grand finale to the month-long Healthy Lifestyle Campaign. Ascendas had collaborated with the Health Promotion Board to offer a series of activities such as mass exercise and health education sessions.

As a business space provider, Ascendas has been actively promoting healthy living initiatives among tenants in its business parks and industrial spaces.

The company has also organised sporting competitions and fitness programmes for its tenants. The encouraging response from the tenants motivated Ascendas to partner HPB to create more comprehensive and sustainable programmes, starting with the Healthy Lifestyle Month and the implementation of healthy workplace ecosystems.

The healthy workplace ecosystem approach allows a wider variety of programmes which small organisations may not be able to organise for its employees. Amenities within the ecosystem, such as food and beverage outlets and open spaces can be tapped on for health promotion purposes.

Apply for a cluster grant

To apply for a cluster grant, the cluster has to comprise 10 or more organisations located in proximity of each other such as in a business park, industrial estate or commercial building, and there should be at least 500 employees in the cluster.

Administered on a reimbursement basis, clusters will be fully reimbursed for the activities conducted

Clusters interested in applying for the grant can contact HPB's Workplace Health and Outreach Division at HPB_Health_At_Work@hpb.gov.sg or 6435 3704/ 3023 for more details.

The application periods for the grant in 2015 are 8 November 2014 to 31 March 2015 (for activities to be implemented from Jun 15 - May 16) and 1 April 2015 to 31 August 2015 (for activities to be implemented from Jan 16 - Dec 16).

Ascendas' participation in Million kg Challenge Season Two

Ascendas is also the first business space provider to participate in the second season of the Million kg Challenge. The Million kg Challenge is HPB's national-wide weight management initiative. Ascendas will work with HPB to organise inter-cluster challenges for seven of its clusters.

The winning cluster will be determined based on the greatest average weight loss among employees with unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI). Ascendas will reward the winning cluster with attractive prizes. The participants of the inter-cluster challenge will also be included as participants of the main Million kg Challenge, allowing them to take part in activities and be eligible for incentives offered under the Challenge.

The employees of Ascendas' tenants can start signing up for the second season of the Million kg Challenge at the Ascendas Healthy Lifestyle Family Carnival. Thereafter, roadshows will be held at all seven clusters to facilitate sign-ups by the employees. HPB programmes such as the Lose to Win will also be brought to these clusters to help participants in their weight management journey.

Ascendas' Healthy Lifestyle Month

Ascendas has been organising its own Healthy Lifestyle Week annually as part of its health promotion efforts within its business clusters. Following past years' successes, Ascendas has extended its campaign to a month-long event this year, in support of Health Promotion Board (HPB)'s National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign.

During the campaign month, mass exercise sessions such as aerobics and runs, health education sessions, as well as inter-company sporting competitions like futsal football, captain's ball, dodgeball and bossaball are organised.

The activities were held on Ascendas premises island-wide, including Science Park, International Business Park, Changi Business Park and Techpoint. In total, approximately 800 employees from the tenants of Ascendas were engaged through these activities.

Mr Manohar Khiatani, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Ascendas Pte Ltd said: "We are delighted to partner with the Health Promotion Board to engage our communities across Singapore through healthy living initiatives. The need for public-private partnerships is coming at a time when Singapore has taken the work-live-play approach very much to heart, and government and corporate organisations coming together to work hand in hand will enable us to achieve better outcomes."