Humber businesses explore how healthier workforces can support a stronger economy

Business leaders from across the Humber have explored how workforce health, productivity and economic growth are connected at Future Humber’s latest Industry Insight event.

The sold-out Active Economy event, held at newly opened Court de Padel Hull on Thursday 20 August, brought together businesses and regional partners to discuss how employers can create healthier, more engaged and resilient workforces as the Humber enters a significant period of economic growth.

The conversation comes at a time when businesses across the Humber region is facing growing challenges around recruitment, retention, productivity and participation. Physical inactivity adds another dimension to the challenge, estimated to cost the UK economy £6.6 billion every year, while inactive employees can cost businesses around £1,400 per employee annually through sickness absence, reduced activity and poorer wellbeing.

A panel featuring Cheryl Hogger, Learning, Development and People Manager at Pagabo Group; Lindsay Hudson, Assistant Director of Public Health at North East Lincolnshire Council; and Alan Forsyth, Managing Director of Court de Padel UK, moderated by David Gent, CEO of Active Humber, explored what businesses can practically do to support healthier workplaces.

The discussion highlighted the importance of listening to employees, making small and consistent changes and embedding wellbeing into workplace culture and leadership, rather than treating it as a standalone HR initiative.

The event also showcased Court de Padel’s investment in Hull, with attendees invited onto the courts following the discussion to experience the sport for themselves. Opened in June 2026, Court de Padel is Hull’s first premium indoor padel venue, featuring eight indoor padel courts alongside pickleball, table tennis and social spaces.

Abbie Thompson, Marketing and Events Executive at Future Humber, said: “What really stood out from the conversations was that this isn’t just a health issue, it’s a business and economic one too.

“As Humber continues to attract investment and create new opportunities, we need healthy, engaged and resilient people who are able to take advantage of them. That connects directly to the wider conversations we’re having around productivity, skills, attracting and retaining talent and the future of our workforce.

“It was brilliant to have a sold-out room of businesses willing to engage with that conversation and, importantly, come away with practical ideas they can take back into their own organisations.”

David Gent said: “We often talk about physical activity through the lens of health, but there is an important economic conversation here too. Healthier, more active people can mean more engaged and resilient workforces, and that matters to businesses when they’re thinking about productivity, absence and retaining good people. 

"If Humber is going to make the most of the economic opportunities ahead of it, the health of our workforce has to be part of that conversation.”

The Active Economy forms part of Future Humber’s wider work to bring businesses together around the opportunities and challenges shaping the region’s economy, including health, skills, talent attraction and retention, productivity and economic participation.