Aquascot Ltd, Alness
Aquascot Ltd is a food processing company, specialising in salmon and trout, with 120 staff based in Alness, Easter Ross.
Aquascot became completely smoke free in July 2005 after banning smoking in the canteen which had been the only smoking room in the building for the last decade.
The process began two years earlier after the management consulted all staff on whether they would like the canteen to become smoke free. As the ban was imposed, staff were offered smoking cessation advice to help them quit, including time off for one-to-one counselling with advisers.
The company has a declared policy of trying to be 'A Great Place to Work' for existing staff and new recruits. After taking positive steps to improve the health of staff with advice and encouragement on nutrition, the next logical step was to reduce exposure to second hand smoke and help employees kick the habit.
Aquascot managers made the effort to read up on the reasons why people smoke and why it can be so difficult to stop, to help them understand what people were going through.
Staff are extremely positive about the ban, producing a smoke-free environment and appreciative of all the cessation support they have received.
Aquascot says it now has a healthier workforce and has signed up to a government scheme to take advantage of half price bikes for staff to manage any weight gain that may arise from giving up smoking.
As with any food processing company, there are plenty No Smoking signs in the building and visitors are aware of the signs as they come in.
Dennis Overton, managing director, thinks having a run-up to the ban is the best way for businesses to go smoke free:
"We were lucky that we had a long time to implement the ban as we had decided to go smoke free before the legislation was introduced. Although there isn't as much time now it still makes more sense to ease staff into the ban a few months before March. Take this as a positive opportunity to improve work conditions for your staff.
“Make sure you reach a proper agreement with staff about what cessation support you can offer them and commit to it. The cessation plan needs to be well thought out so that staff will be happy to give it a go. Going smoke free will have a direct and measurable impact on the morale of your staff that can only be a great thing for any business.”