Employers must motivate staff away from becoming "desk potatoes" to cut the estimated £11bn-a-year UK businesses lose to sick leave, according to the Institute of Leadership and Management.

The ILM will be focussing on staff health at its People @ the Heart of Leadership conference this autumn, which is supported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Gary Ince, Chief Executive of ILM described workers as an organisation's "most precious commodity".

"Not only will staff benefit if their health is given priority but employers will gain from a reduction in time lost due to sickness, which the CBI estimates cost UK industry £11 billion a year at present,” he added.

The BHF plans to run a workshop at the conference on its recently developed "Workplace Health Activity Toolkit' (WHAT), which provides information, practical ideas and materials employers need to increase the activity levels of their staff.

The ILM and BHF will also be encouraging delegates to bring their walking shoes and take part in the “Walk to Paris” which aims to get people to cover the distance from London to Paris over the two days by taking turns on a treadmill.

The conference will feature presentations, workshops and masterclasses, covering subjects such as entrepreneurial thinking, talent management and developing your own leadership brand.

Leadership will be looked at on three levels: how to inspire individuals to make things happen; how organisations can benefit from good leadership; and what new concepts, values and beliefs behind leadership and management practice are emerging.

Further information about the event can be obtained at www.leadership-2004.com.