At Wienerberger UK, a leading building materials manufacturer, workplace wellbeing goes beyond traditional health and safety. In 2022, they partnered with Work Ready, a specialist nutrition programme, to bring practical, engaging nutrition support directly to their workforce. Over three years and 16 sites, Work Ready dietitian Alison Clark delivered interactive food demonstrations, evidence-based nutrition advice, and healthy snack alternatives to 1,500 factory workers, many of whom had never engaged with workplace nutrition before.
Watch the full case study video and see the impact for yourself.
The challenge
Good nutrition plays a crucial role in energy levels, concentration, and overall wellbeing, all essential for a physically demanding job. However, Wienerberger UK faced a challenge common in many industries:
- A hard-to-reach workforce – primarily male, shift-based, and often sceptical about nutrition interventions.
- Limited time – long shifts and demanding roles leave little room for traditional wellbeing initiatives.
- Deeply ingrained eating habits – reliance on convenience foods and limited awareness of healthy, cost-effective alternatives.
The Work Ready approach: making nutrition practical & engaging
To overcome these barriers, Work Ready embedded nutrition education into Wienerberger’s mandatory Health & Safety Days, ensuring all employees had the opportunity to participate.
- Live food demonstrations – Every 20 minutes, Alison Clark showcased quick, nutritious meals and homemade snacks that were healthier and more cost-effective than store-bought options.
- Practical takeaways – Staff received easy-to-digest nutritional information on healthy eating, fibre, and sugar, making it simple to apply what they learned.
- Healthy snack goodie bags – A hands-on approach to encouraging better choices beyond the workplace.
The impact: a healthier, more informed workforce
While initial scepticism was expected, the live food demos and tasting opportunities became the turning point. Food was the hook that encouraged conversation and engagement, helping workers see nutrition as relevant to their daily lives.
The success of this initiative led to long-term change:
- Increased engagement – Mandatory attendance helped, but the real shift happened when workers saw how easy, tasty, and affordable healthy choices could be.
- Ongoing commitment – Wienerberger UK has now requested a "Fundamentals of Healthy Eating" resource for 2024, ensuring nutrition remains part of their wellbeing strategy.
Why dietitians belong in workplace wellbeing
Work Ready dietitians don’t just talk about nutrition, they make it practical, engaging, and relevant to the workforce. This case study highlights why businesses across the UK should invest in nutrition-focused workplace wellbeing.
Are you a dietitian? Discover how Work Ready training can help you bring real change to workplaces.
Are you an employer? Find out how Work Ready can support your workforce’s health and productivity. Learn more about Work Ready and how to get started today
