Presenters of the awards GAA Legend, Oisin McConville and former broadcaster Wendy Austin along with Chair of Inspire Finola O’Kane and Director of Professional Services, John Conaghan.
Inspire Workplaces hosted a dazzling awards ceremony last night to celebrate the importance of building positivity, resilience and mental wellbeing at work.
The event was organised to recognise the efforts made by many organisations that go the extra mile to safeguard and nurture the mental health and wellbeing of employees.
The awards ceremony, which is in its second year, took place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel and was hosted by legendary broadcaster Wendy Austin and special guest, GAA legend Oisin McConville.
The Northern Ireland Civil Service was awarded with a special recognition award for its long-standing and ground-breaking commitment to employee wellbeing.
John Conaghan, Director of Professional Services at Inspire said:
“We are thrilled to host these awards and acknowledge the organisations that are going above and beyond the call of duty to promote staff strength and wellbeing at work.
“The awards are a celebration of those workplaces across NI who invest in the wellbeing of their staff. Nominees came from all sectors across the region. They showcase those special places to work, where it really is okay not to be okay and where wellbeing is the top of the agenda.
“We are especially pleased to award the Lifetime Achievement Award to the Northern Ireland Civil Service. NICS have been working in partnership with Inspire Workplaces for over 13 years and have shown an unwavering and, indeed increasing, commitment to the mental wellbeing of their staff team.
“With such a diverse workforce it is both important and impressive to see a strong commitment to employee wellbeing clearly and publically demonstrated from the very top of the Civil Service and it was our genuine pleasure to present them with this award.”
Speaking at the awards, Oisin McConville, who became a mental health champion following his gambling addiction said:
“As a person who suffered with addiction, I can’t stress enough the need for people to have somewhere to go where they can discuss their issues and feel like they have a safe place to get help. The Workplace Wellbeing Awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise those organisations who understand that it isn’t just a job, and that they must look out for the wellbeing of staff in order to get the best out of them professionally.
“When I was in the midst of my addiction, I didn’t feel like I could speak to anyone, and having that support system in my place of work may have meant I got the help I needed faster. It is fantastic that this is changing and workplaces are supporting their employees in their emotional wellbeing.”
The winners for each category were:
Excellence in Public Sector Workplace Wellbeing:
North West Regional College
Excellence in Large Private Sector Workplace Wellbeing:
Lagan Group
Excellence in Small Private Sector Workplace Wellbeing:
C3 Fitness
Excellence in Voluntary, Community or Social Enterprise Workplace Wellbeing:
USEL
Excellence in Local Government Workplace Wellbeing:
Police Service of Northern Ireland – Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team
Outstanding Employee Led Initiative
Queen’s University Belfast
Workplace Wellbeing Innovation Award
Joint Winners – Police Service of Northern Ireland and Northern Health and Social Care Trust Equality Unit
Promoting a Positive Wellbeing Culture
Police Federation for Northern Ireland
Outstanding Leadership:
Peter McBride
Lifetime Achievement Award
Northern Ireland Civil Service