Integrating work and play for the record

LOCAL recruitment company Integrated Workforce is planning to break at least one record this year in the 2001 City to Surf fun run by entering a corporate team of more than 1,000 staff.

The company’s 800 entrants last year won it the award for the biggest corporate team, and it hopes to break the 1,000 mark this time to secure the award in the Activ Foundation Event.

The gruelling 12km run from the centre of Perth out to the coast is an opportunity for field staff to work together and further the fitness ethos of the company.

“A lot of people who work here are fit or come from sporting backgrounds. It also fits in with our community commitment,” Integrated Workforce senior account manager Peter Spark said.

“Instead of just giving something away, we also try to encourage people to be fit. “Sport is very much a part of our staff’s lives outside the workplace. So by taking part in this event on such a large scale, we’re not only supporting what our employees are doing, but we’re also getting to work on our team building and planning skills at the same time,”

The Integrated Workforce staff is predominantly made up of industrial tradesmen and labourers, with about one third of the staff working in secretarial or professional areas.

“In WA we place about 1,000 people every week and we have an active database of about 4,500 people who are continually looking for work. They’re the people who we invite to the fun run,” Mr Spark said.

Integrated Workforce has 25 offices nationally with a branch in every capital city. The success of the Perth City to Surf fun run has inspired staff at other offices to get involved in similar events in their cities.

“It’s a very good team building exercise and it helps them (the staff) feel like they’re part of an organisation, rather than a labourer,” Mr Spark said. “A lot of field staff make up our competitors on the day and we have a fair few out of offices and clients.”

In addition to substantial participation in the event itself, Integrated Workforce is providing significant support behind the scenes by sponsoring 20 of the Activ Foundation members taking part in the run.

In 2001, funds raised will be donated to Pelican House, a respite facility for children with intellectual disabilities.