As the UK fitness sector grows, exercise is becoming more community focused. Workplaces can capitalise on this trend of social fitness, which can have significant benefits both for employee wellbeing and overall organisational performance. 

Research consistently shows that physical activity improves mental clarity, reduces stress and boosts productivity—all things that can directly impact employee wellbeing. Time spent during the work week prioritising physical wellbeing even has a correlation with increased productivity.

“An active space doesn’t necessarily mean a ‘fitness space’. It’s a flexible space away from the standard workspace that can be utilised to take a break from work or encourage physical fitness. So, all you need is as little as a 3m x 3m space away from employee workspace that can host group classes, incorporate physical activity and support mental wellbeing,” says Jon Booker, physical wellbeing expert and the Director of Active Spaces at Westfield Health.

By providing employees with access to fitness resources and dedicated areas for stretching or brief movement breaks, businesses can create a more dynamic and engaged workforce. Active spaces also encourage social interaction outside of traditional work settings, fostering stronger collaboration, better communication and a sense of community among employees.

There doesn’t need to be an expectation to run a marathon or go to fitness classes every week, it could mean sitting in a neutral room away from your desk, stretching or even a place to collaborate with colleagues.

How is an Active Space different to an office gym?

“An active Space isn’t necessarily the same as a normal office gym. It’s created to encourage movement of any kind, or even just as a place to unwind away from your desk,” says Jon.

“They give businesses the opportunity to be versatile with ways to encourage more movement. You don’t need to have a state-of-the-art gym installed to promote physical wellbeing at work. The space can be used for anything from a place to recharge away from the workplace environment to intense fitness workouts,” he adds.

Here are some ideas of how to utilise an active space:

• Core workouts: You could include a fully equipped fitness centre for cardio and strength training.
• Group exercise: Include a spin studio or a room for group classes such as yoga or HIT workouts.
• Musculoskeletal health: Support flexibility, correct posture and muscle strengthening exercises. This can make a huge difference for the rehabilitation stage of MSK injuries.
• Relaxation: Use the space to reset and encourage a mental health break
• Movement: Re-energise and improve focus.
• Collaboration: Spaces to support creative thinking.
• Outdoor Active Spaces: To encourage movement away from the office.

The annual Workplace Wellbeing Survey found that 38% of people took at least one day off for poor mental health in 2023, with 58% of people taking at least one day off for poor physical health. While studies show that moving more improves mental health, it can be difficult to find the first steps. Even stretching at your desk is a good start. Gradual changes are the ones that form new lifestyle habits. This is a great way to encourage employees to make healthy choices.

Incorporating fitness into the workplace sends a clear message that employers value their workers’ health. A healthy workforce in the long run can help reduce absenteeism while increasing engagement and overall productivity.