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9th October 2012

Ash Wales: October Member of the Month

Businesses for a Smoke Free Wales

Helping staff to quit smoking not only benefits their health, and their families’ health, but can help Welsh business make savings and add to their bottom line at a time of wafer thin margins.

Smoking is highest amongst the 25 to 34 year old age group; often the rising stars of tomorrow and our future business leaders.

Impact upon you as a business leader? Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Wales and it would be a great injustice if the very people who are striving for success are struck down early by smoking related illness or, when disposing of their business cannot enjoy the retirement they have justly earned.

Impact on your business? With an average cigarette break of six minutes, you don’t need a calculator to know the aggregate loss of productivity to your business. Similarly, has any of the sick leave taken by your employees been attributable to smoking? With our help, you can truly evaluate the impact of tobacco use on your business.

ASH Wales is leading the Businesses for a Smokefree Wales initiative working closely with the business sector and providing advice, tools and support for Welsh business in a way that suits them..

Within the relationship with each business we provide

  • A unique tailored assessment of the cost of smoking to their business.
  • A personalised business illustration of how much they can save based on their actual staff numbers who quit smoking.
  • A review of their existing smoking policy
  • Our own in house smoking cessation service or links to services in your area
  • Joint production of case studies for your own PR and CSR
  • Access to brief intervention training for key members of your staff.

During 2012, five well known and successful businesses in Wales were sought to spearhead the Businesses for a Smoke Free Wales initiative. Acting as lead ambassadors, other businesses followed these initial exemplar companies and helped to encourage others to see the real financial benefit for their business. There has been no problem in attracting the initial five and much work has already taken place across the length and breadth of Wales.

During 2013 our attention will be on working with smaller organisations, with up to fifty staff, as we know there is a call for our support and services. We will provide the training, advice and be a source of information across Wales. Whether it be the business principal wanting to quit or someone in their workforce, access for everyone and support for all from Ash Wales.

If you and your organisation want to be one of the 2013 partners, please do not hesitate to contact john@ashwales.org.uk.   www.ashwales.org.uk

Ash Wales is registered charity No. 1120834 and as such relies heavily on support and funds from the Welsh community. Whilst our BSFW initiative is free we welcome donations and support that others may benefit in the future.