National Happiness Awards seeks happiest people and places

Who are the UK’s happiest people and workplaces?

The search has begun to find the happiest people and places in the UK with the launch of this year’s National Happiness Awards.

The ground-breaking scheme aims to identify and reward individuals, businesses and organisations in the UK improving lives with happiness. It recognises excellence in workplace wellbeing and positive mental health initiatives.

Nominations are invited from the business, charity and public sectors for the categories of Happiest Workplace, Happiest Workplace Person and Happiest Team.

The awards are now in their third year and have developed a reputation as the nation’s brightest and boldest award scheme. They have grown in size and influence consistently, attracting several hundred nominees each year. Fomer winners include Virgin Active and Burges Salmon. They are the brainchild of Laughology, a progressive consultancy and learning and development organisation.

Organisations are increasingly recognising the value of creating happy workplaces where employees are supported and developed. Happy employees are healthier, more engaged and more productive and the National Happiness Awards recognise the UK’s most progressive initiatives and leaders, as well as the individuals who go above and beyond to make life happier for their colleagues.

National Happiness Awards founder Stephanie Davies said: “Happiness is a vital element of any people-focused organisation and in many ways, it is more important than financial benefits because it is sustainable, it improves mental health and wellbeing and it promotes long-term growth and development.”

An Investors in People survey earlier this year found that happiness in the workplace had improved over the preceding year, yet there is still a way to go in Britain as businesses continue to struggle to recruit and retain the right people and have seen a steady rise in resignations since 2012.

Each National Happiness Awards category will be judged by an independent panel which includes business experts, HR professionals, education specialists and psychologists. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in November.

The business awards Gold sponsor is Lace Partners and the silver sponsor is Simply Better Events. Venue sponsor The Landing will host the award ceremony at MediaCityUK, Manchester. The event will raise money for Children in Need and the Greater Manchester Mayor's Homelessness Fund.

Ms Davies concludes: “Increasingly organisations are realising how important it is to do things differently and to use happiness and humour in the workplace to make lives better for their people. Happiness makes people healthier, more resilient, more productive and it promotes positive relationships and creativity.”

To submit a nomination, go to http://www.laughology.co.uk/happiness-awards/

For more information contact:
Nick Harding
nick.harding8@gmail.com
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Twitter @nickharding