More than 150 staff from the hardware business Siegenia took part in the company’s 5.5km run this year, which was described as ‘an international success’. The team comprised staffers from the business’ offices around the world.
“The run forms part of the group’s annual company sport challenge,” said a Siegenia representative. “It took its roots from the local Siegen run for organisations in the [German] region.”
Since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, people have been allowed to take part in the run virtually, so colleagues from anywhere in the world can register to take part, alongside the locals. Participants were sent a number, a Siegenia vest and downloaded an app to track their run and upload their time.
This year, four Siegenia UK staff members took part in the run during the early summer heatwave. Some of those staffers ran the 5.5km together at the War Memorial Park, Coventry.
The UK group joined the 60-strong international contingent taking part online. The UK team members ranged from extremely experienced runners to complete novices, and the international group joined 100 staff who ran in Siegen, Germany.
Each year, the Siegenia team has a sport challenge to encourage staff worldwide to get active. As well as the company run, staff can take on a bike challenge to record cycling as many kilometres as possible over a 14-day period.
The challenges are in addition to health and fitness initiatives that the group runs throughout the year, including in-person and online yoga and stretching classes, a bicycle leasing scheme and annual ‘health weeks’.
“Participation has grown year-on-year, as has the number of initiatives on offer,” said Siegenia’s representative. “Staff are already looking forward to next year’s run, and are hoping to encourage even more colleagues to join them!”
