Vitality has seen record sign-ups to its annual Champions programme recruitment, with 750 new employees joining this year to bring the total to 2,139 across more than 1,200 businesses, supporting over 190,000 employees.
The programme allows employees to volunteer as wellbeing representatives, helping to coordinate health-related activities and encourage engagement among colleagues. Participants gain access to an online platform with resources, expert advice, and opportunities to share ideas.
Available resources include how-to guides, toolkits, company workshops, and access to wellbeing professionals. The programme is designed to align with each organisation’s specific needs.
According to Vitality, companies with a champion in place saw 15 per cent more active new starters compared to those without. Some research from the company also indicates that physically inactive employees report 28 per cent more lost productivity time than those who exercise regularly.
Vitality programme managing director Nick Read says: “The number of employees we had signing up this year demonstrates just how important health and wellbeing is to businesses and their people. For strategies to be effective, you need buy-in across all levels, not just from the top or bottom, and the Champions programme we offer gives employees greater control and insight into what Vitality can do for their colleagues.”
Vitality Champion Erika Sutherland, from Canadian High Commission says: “Being a Vitality Champion has been rewarding in so many ways. One moment that stands out was helping a long-time colleague who had never used the app before—we sat down together, set up their profile, and walked through the benefits. A week later, they’d already started earning points and told me they felt more motivated to take walks during their lunch break to get to Platinum status for the 20 per cent Expedia discount for their next holiday. It was a great reminder that sometimes-small nudges can lead to lasting changes.
“On a personal level, being a Champion has kept me more accountable in my own wellbeing journey. Following ACL reconstruction surgery, Vitality helped me throughout the whole process and helped me ease back into fitness through walking and reformer Pilates. Having access to health tracking tools and rewards has made staying active feel less like a chore and more like something to look forward to. It’s also helped me in my additional wellbeing support roles at work, knowing I can encourage others while improving my own health too.”
