Sports trust Freedom Leisure is to launch a corporate wellness scheme called Freedom Work-Out, designed to encourage workforces throughout Sussex, where the trust operates 14 leisure centres, to incorporate regular exercise and better nutrition into their lives.

The organisation will send its Freedom Leisure ‘SWAT’ team into places of work to offer free heath checks and exercise advice to staff – as well as offering five free consecutive days’ use of its gyms, swimming pools and classes to all participants in the scheme.

Special corporate Premier membership rates will also be made available.

“Some 40 million working days are lost to employers annually to ill health and injury,” said Jeff Hart, Freedom Leisure’s managing director.

“Companies need to be aware that by supporting, encouraging and providing their staff with an ‘avenue to fitness’ they too will reap the benefit with increased productivity, turnover, morale and reduced absenteeism.”

Surprisingly, the SWAT team will also be giving out free bars of chocolate. Hart said that the complimentary confectionary was designed to strike home the message that you can enjoy ‘naughty’ food as part of a balanced diet and so long as you include an equivalent amount of exercise in your daily routine. Details: 0845 803 5515 or www.freedom-leisure.co.uk