Carmarthenshire County Council has another trophy in its cabinet following its successful bid for a Platinum Corporate Health Standard Award.
The Corporate Health Standard, run by the Welsh Assembly Government, is the quality-mark for workplace health promotion in Wales.
It is presented in bronze, silver, gold and platinum categories to public and private sector-organisations implementing practices to promote the health and well-being of their employees and the local community.
Organisations are re-assessed every three years – Carmarthenshire won a bronze award in 2003 and skipped silver to clinch gold in 2006.
To achieve the platinum award, the council had to demonstrate business excellence and sustainable development as an integral part of business practice and culture.
Elin Cullen, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Head of Business and Specialist Services, said: “The assessors were impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm of all the people they met during the assessment visit, and they were particularly impressed by our integrated approach to sustainability across the authority.
“The platinum award was awarded to recognise our exemplar approach, not only to our staff but to our local communities.”
A case study had to be presented to assessors with evidence across six areas, including transport, community engagement, procurement, employment and skills, facilities management and capital build.
The Local Sustainable Food Strategy, launched in 2004, demonstrated all of these.
It changed the way food and catering services were designed to build sustainable food chains, reduce environmental impacts, and produce healthier school meals using as much local produce as possible.
It meant Carmarthenshire led the way by making the link between sustainable health and food – something which no other Welsh authority or private sector catering provider had recognised at that time.
It also came before the national drive to improve school meals, which was later led by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
Whilst the catalyst for the project was improving the quality and nutritional content of school meals, it soon impacted on all the authority’s catering services – staff catering, special function and social care catering included.
Small and medium businesses in the county also benefitted, helping to improve the economy of Carmarthenshire.
Carmarthenshire County Council chief executive Mark James said: “This is yet another excellent achievement for the county, and proves that we are a council that strives to improve and achieve more and more each year.
“This Platinum award confirms that Carmarthenshire County Council is regarded amongst the best in Wales.”
