The Wednesday Challenge starts again this week.

Three years after starting as a Tauranga pilot, organisers are keen to see the business programme hit the 100 mark and are asking local businesses to meet the challenge.

Founder and co-director Heidi Hughes said with 62 businesses already in the challenge, the next target was to hit 100.

“Businesses lead by example and that’s exactly what we are challenging them to do this year. By joining the challenge they are encouraging better health and wellbeing in their teams, contributing to a reduction in traffic congestion and encouraging more environmentally friendly habits.”

Already some large businesses in Tauranga run the programme each year, including Mercury, Craigs Investment Partners, Zespri, Beca, Aurecon, Holland Beckett, Tauranga City Council, the University of Waikato and Robotics Plus.

To further entice businesses large and small to sign up, the Wednesday Challenge has a host of rewards and prizes up for grabs.

“Sign up as a new business before March 31 and you’re in to win $1000 cash for your social clubs,” explained Hughes.

“Plus, we’re giving away seven fitness trackers and two morning tea shouts worth $250 in the very first month, with prizes every month after that to keep business teams motivated.”

The Wednesday Challenge encourages participants to choose a different and better mode of travel to work each Wednesday.

Instead of taking a car, participants earn points for biking, running, walking, scootering or carpooling.

“Last year we had Hayley Nelson, general manager at Craigs Investment Partners, try 12 different modes of travel throughout the Wednesday Challenge,” said Hughes.

“Hayley even kayaked around the harbour one day to get to work. It was inspiring to see this level of leading by example in business.”

Staff from Craig’s Investment Partners and Mercury offices nationwide also took up the challenge to leave their cars at home on a Wednesday.

Competing businesses challenge one another, with points accruing each week on the Wednesday Challenge leaderboard.

“We all know the benefits of exercise for our health and wellbeing and there’s research to prove the positive impacts it has on productivity.

“So, we find that participating businesses like that are encouraging and supporting their team’s health and wellbeing whilst also making environmentally friendly choices, and having some find battling it out to get to the top of the business leaderboard.

“Our partnership with Tauranga City Council, to enable Tauranga businesses to participate, is an important part of the challenge. Signing up is a simple process that takes a couple of minutes and is a simple yet tangible way that businesses can participate in a programme to make a positive difference in their teams and in our city.”

To find out more go to www.wednesdaychallenge.co.nz