Airbus reveals plans for new staff wellbeing centre including gym and cafe

One of the largest employers in Wales has unveiled plans to create a new state-of-the-art wellbeing facility for its staff with a gym, cafe and meeting rooms. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

More than 6,000 people working at Airbus in Broughton could benefit if plans for an occupational health centre located on the main gateway into the plant get the go ahead. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The wingmaking firm said the proposed facility off Chester Road would measure more than 1,184 square metres and replace an outdated staff building located to the east of the site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It would also incorporate some services currently provided at the company’s social club. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In plans put forward to Flintshire Council, architects acting on behalf of Airbus said the aim was to improve the health and wellbeing of its workers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They said: “Producing over 1,500 wings per year, the facility employs in excess of 6,000 people, primarily in manufacturing, but also in engineering and support functions such as procurement and finance. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The occupational health remit at Airbus includes sickness absence, management referrals and health surveillance for the entire workforce, and is fundamental to activities within Airbus’s operations. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Key to its operations is the welfare and well-being of its workforce and central to this is its current occupational health Centre located in poor buildings ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The client vision is to promote health and well-being to all employees by combining the operations of the current occupational health facility with the gym and activity aspects of the current on-site social club to create a new state-of-the-art facility which all members of staff will benefit from. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The café area will be highly visible from the main site entrance road and offer a welcoming aspect and active frontage and the occupational health element has been purposely located here also where it can be discreetly access by employees for consultations.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They added the facility would only be used by Airbus employees, meaning no extra traffic would be generated. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Comments are currently being invited on the proposals via the council’s website. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The local authority is aiming to make a decision on the plans towards the end of this month. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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