Barnsley businesses urged to join Workplace Challenge promoting active travel

The BetterPoints platform, which went live across the borough in June, records everyday journeys – from commuting to a short lunchtime walk – and converts them into digital points. Those points can be spent on vouchers for local high-street shops, redeemed with participating businesses, or donated to charitable causes.

Employers that sign up receive a ready-made toolkit containing a unique referral code and promotional assets, making it easy to encourage staff to fit at least ten minutes of movement into their workday. The scheme is free to join and aims to embed small, health-boosting habits such as walking part of the school run or cycling to work.

The competition is judged on the percentage of employees participating rather than head-count, meaning a boutique firm can compete on equal terms with a large employer. One business from each of Barnsley's six Area Councils will be awarded £250 to donate to a charity of its choice.

Individual app users, including those who join through their workplace, automatically enter regular prize draws once they achieve activity milestones. Rewards include £10 Gift Cards each week, £20 each month and a £50 prize every two months.

Businesses also stand to gain extra incentives when staff sign-up thresholds are met; the first reward triggers once 1% of a company's workforce has joined, with a top prize unlocked when half of employees are signed up.

"Small changes can make a real difference to health and wellbeing," said Councillor David Goddard, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Transport. Ryan Lewis, Programme Manager at BetterPoints, added that the initiative offers employers tangible evidence for wellbeing and corporate-social-responsibility reporting at no cost.

Employers interested in participating should email Ryan Lewis at ryan.lewis@betterpoints.uk. The BetterPoints Barnsley scheme is delivered in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and supports active-travel goals across the borough's six Area Councils.