A Whole Systems Approach

Our industry recognises the important role we play in supporting healthier lifestyles. As part of this, our members have a proud history of working with partner organisations to support communities, as well as delivering extensive workplace health initiatives.

We believe there is a real opportunity to build on existing workplace and community programmes, to broaden their reach and to improve health outcomes by working in partnership with others through a Whole Systems Approach.

A Whole Systems Approach sets out how stakeholders can effectively work together towards mutually beneficial goals linked to complex problems like public health. With food and drink manufacturing sites across every region and nation of the UK, this provides an opportunity to engage with local councils and public health organisations to ensure action is locally relevant, sustainable and effective.

Please find below some further information about our member workplace health initiatives and the work we are doing to build the evidence around how we can work together to deliver a Whole Systems Approach to improving health outcomes.  We will be commissioning an overarching evaluation of the pilots in around 12 months’ time to understand the outcomes and learnings.

Whole Systems Approch Pilots

Several of our member companies are working in partnership with Leeds Beckett University and MoreLife to co-design the development and delivery of local programmes in an area surrounding a factory site.

The aim of the pilots is to:

• Support the health of the workforce and local community, ensuring this is locally relevant, sustainable and effective
• Collaborate with local stakeholders to support and extend the health programmes being delivered
• Contribute to the evidence base to demonstrate how a Whole Systems Approach can be established to improve public health

In 2023, pilots started with Westmill, Premier Foods, and Mondelez. Further pilots are due to kick start in 2024 with pladis, Jordon’s Dorset Ryvita, Haribo, Tate and Lyle Sugars and KP Snacks.