14 May 2015

Employers face-up to public health responsibilities towards employees

Employers face-up to public health responsibilities towards employees news article image

Nearly 400 organisations have pledged their support for the Department of Health’s public health “Responsibility Deal” according to the latest figures.

With ill-health of employees costing the UK economy £100bn a year, the Public Health Responsibility Deal aims to tap into the potential for businesses and other influential organisations to make a significant contribution to improving public health by helping to create healthy work environments and advocating healthy lifestyle and work practices.

Organisations signing up to the Responsibility Deal commit to taking action voluntarily to improve public health through their responsibilities as employers, as well as through their commercial actions and their community activities. Organisations can sign up to be either national or local partners.

The voluntary pledge involves businesses and public-sector bodies promising to take action in four areas: alcohol, food, health at work and physical activity.

It’s not just in the workplace however where action needs to be taken. Public Health England’s Everybody active, every day framework states that:
• Physical inactivity is the fourth largest cause of disease and disability in the UK
• 33% of men and 45% of women are not active enough for good health
• Physical inactivity is costing the UK an estimated £7.4 billion a year


How we go about aligning the public health strategy with the sport and recreation sector is a topic that will be discussed at our upcoming Sports Summit.

Dr Justin Varney, National Lead for Adult Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, is one of our speakers and will be giving his thoughts on how we can get the nation and workforce active and healthy.

For more information about the Sports Summit, click here.

Latest News

18 Jul 2025

Alliance showcases recent achievements with launch of Impact Report 2024/25

The Sport and Recreation Alliance has today released its 2024/25 Impact Report, highlighting some of the organisation’s key achievements from the last 12 months.

Read more Arrow Right
10 Jul 2025

New Alliance Protect Where We Play campaign launches to highlight risks to playing fields, pitches and sports facilities from proposed planning reforms

New research shows playing fields and pitches deliver at least £2bn in improved wellbeing every year and help keep almost 4 million people active, including 1 million children.

Read more Arrow Right
4 Jul 2025

Policy and Advocacy Update: NHS 10 Year Plan and more

Below we provide an update on a number of our current policy-related workstreams, from the announcement of the NHS 10 Year Plan, to a number of additional issues - including planning reforms, the EHRC consultation on gender, Select and APPG inquiries into Healthy Ageing, and Access to Nature.

Read more Arrow Right

Become a member

Joining the Sport and Recreation Alliance is pretty simple, but worthwhile!

Register now

Our Partners

Admincontrol logoAir IT logoGateley Legal logoSport:80 logoZellar logo93FT logo