Greene King has launched a campaign to encourage its 16,000 strong workforce in England and Wales to quit smoking ahead of this summer’s smoking ban.

Managing director David Elliott said: “In addition to working closely with the NHS Get Unhooked scheme, we’re pledging £5 to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation for each employee who gives up smoking by 31 March and is still smoke free by the start of the smoking ban in July.”

The Fresher Way of Thinking – Commit to Quit campaign aims to help staff stop smoking by providing advice on how to give up.

NHS posters and leaflets detailing the NHS Smoking Helpline will be displayed throughout the company’s chain of pubs, brewery, HQ and distribution centres.

An online register has also been set up so that staff can ‘commit to quit’ and ensure that the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation benefits.

Greene King operates more than 2,300 pubs in England and Wales, employing 16,000 people.