East Midlands Combined County Authority is to join forces with the Government to tackle rising ill-health that is pushing people out of work and holding back growth.
The joint effort, developed in response to Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, will drive action to prevent ill-health, support people to stay in work, and help employers build healthier, more resilient workplaces.
The landmark Review sets out the stark reality facing the UK: one in five working-age adults are now out of the labour force – 800,000 more than in 2019 due to health reasons; the cost of ill-health that prevents work equals 7% of GDP – nearly 70% of all income-tax receipts; UK employment among disabled people stands at 53%, below leading OECD nations; employers lose £85 billion a year from sickness, turnover, and lost productivity.
The Government will partner with employers to reshape how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace with the launch of employer-led Vanguards.
The Vanguards – including East Midlands Combined Authority, alongside household names such as British Airways, Google, Sainsbury’s, Holland and Barrett, and SMEs – are early adopters who will develop and refine workplace health approaches over the next three years to build the evidence base for what works.
They’re committing to embracing the report’s healthy working lifecycle – which aims to reduce sickness absence, improve return-to-work rates, and increase disability employment rates – which Government will work towards developing into a voluntary certified standard by 2029.
Sir Charlie Mayfield, author of the Keep Britain Working Review, said: “Britain is sliding into an avoidable crisis. Ill-health has become one of the biggest brakes on growth and opportunity. But this is not inevitable.
“Employers are uniquely placed to make a difference, preventing health issues where possible, supporting people when they arise, and helping them return to work. If we keep Britain working, everyone wins – people, employers, and the state.
“That’s why the action the Government is taking forward from my Review is so important. I’m looking forward to working with them and with employers, large and small, to keep people in work, unlock potential and build a healthier, more prosperous Britain.”
To help drive this work forward Sir Charlie Mayfield will co-lead a Vanguard Taskforce with Ministers, bringing together employers, disabled people, workers’ representatives, and health experts.
The Taskforce will work with Vanguards to develop the interventions and build the evidence for what works. This will inform wider reform by identifying what approaches could become part of the future employment landscape and drive adoption.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “The East Midlands is a region of potential: potential which will only be unlocked if everyone plays their part. This is the bedrock of inclusive growth: that everyone’s contribution to our society and economy is valued and respected.
“The Get East Midlands Working Plan is our commitment to the people of the region that if they step up, we will work across public services to support them in whatever way they need. It’s why we are working so closely with our partners in health, skills, employment support, and in the benefits system: life can be complicated, but support shouldn’t have to be.
“The Government has set us a challenging target to achieve, but it is one that we are embracing – because most people are better off in work and we will be a region where more people live that reality.”
