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Meet the boss helping his staff get fit

CTT Group’s company health day placed wellbeing on top of the agenda. Chief executive Mark Kempster explains the benefits to Andrew Doherty of keeping his workforce fit

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CTT-Group-Health-Day.jpg

A healthy body is a healthy mind, so the saying goes. CTT Group has taken this onboard; promoting employee wellbeing through an on-site gym, weekly personal trainer visits and now a company health day.

 

The idea for CTT’s health day, which took place on April 8, stemmed from chief executive Mark Kempster’s passion for staying fit. “I like to take care of myself. I get the benefits, values and virtues of doing that.”

 

Although 10 of his workforce numbering more than 50 are already committed to using the on-site gym, Kempster believes more needs to be done. “Exercise is not only good for people’s minds but also their postures; people sit in chairs all day, I want to get them up and doing something,” he said.

 

CTT comprises leisure brands Packyourbags Travel, Medway Leisure Travel and Pettitts Travel, as well as a corporate business travel division. Kempster started the company in 1998 as Country Trails Travel in Tunbridge Wells and has turned it into a multi-million pound travel company, with a second office in Maidstone, and homeworkers too.

 

The on-site exercise facilities in the Tunbridge Wells base made it an easy decision to hold the event there. Employees were encouraged to take at least one hour out of their day to use them. “What I said to everybody was, we are going to run exercise classes every hour. You can do as many or as little as you want just as long as you do one,” explains Kempster.

 

The health day classes were supervised by the same personal trainer who already conducts the weekly Friday gym sessions. The classes included aerobics, cycling, stretching, circuits, weights and boxercise. Basic health checks were also organised, with staff tested for blood pressure and body fat between classes. Of all the sessions Kempster revealed the high intensity body weight exercises were the most popular. “We had about 14 people in one go doing one minute of push-ups followed by one minute of sit-ups then one minute of pull-ups. It was quite something!”

 

Sensible diet

A healthy lunch of fish, salad, fruit and granola was provided and there was an abundance of fresh smoothies to drink all day. Kempster is determined to tackle the office culture of eating junk food head on. “When it’s someone’s birthday it’s all about bringing in cakes and sausage rolls. But we tell them to leave that stuff at home.” There was very little opposition to the scheme, with the majority of staff being in favour of it. “I had many emails thanking me for organising it and asking when the next one will be. It created a happier and livelier environment,” Kempster said.

 

He now plans on bringing the health day to the company’s offices in Maidstone. “With it only costing £300 to put on, including the personal trainer for the full day, I would be happy to do it again.” Even without a gym, he is positive it will work. “There is a park nearby; weather permitting we can go there. Instead of using a treadmill, staff can run in the fresh air.”

 

Buoyed by the positive feedback Kempster rated the health day as a success, and he urged other companies to do the same. “I feel a sense of responsibility for the people who work for me. I want to do my bit to help them in any way I can. Others should follow suit. This scheme introduced colleagues to the gym who normally wouldn’t go, and showed them it wasn’t as daunting as they thought.”

 

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