Employers join forces with government to tackle ill-health and keep Britain working

Employers join forces with government to tackle ill-health and keep Britain working

More than 60 major and many small employers are joining forces with the government to tackle the rising tide of 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.

Published today, 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

In response, 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 household names such as British Airways, Google, Sainsbury’s, Holland and Barrett alongside Mayoral Combined Authorities 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 the government will work towards developing into a voluntary certified standard by 2029. 

It builds on the work the government is doing to give businesses the skilled workforce they need by investing 1 billion annually in disability employment support by the end of the decade – giving people the skills and opportunities to move out of poverty and into good, secure jobs as part of the Plan for Change. 

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.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

“I want to thank Sir Charlie Mayfield for his excellent work. His message is crystal clear: keeping people healthy and in work is the right thing to do and is essential for economic growth. 

“Business is our partner in building a productive workforce – because when businesses retain talent and reduce workplace ill-health, everyone wins. 

“That’s why we’re acting now to launch employer-led Vanguards as part of the Plan for Change, driving economic growth and opportunity across the country.”

This front-footed response bolsters the government’s plan to get Britain working again and ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive by modernising jobcentres, locally driven support, and delivering a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“Many more people could remain in work if they receive the right support—and that’s exactly what today’s action is about.

“That’s why ‘Keep Britain Working’ is bringing together the expertise of leading UK businesses to help prevent ill health at work wherever possible, and to support those affected stay in work.

“We believe that when people are treated with dignity and care, businesses flourish. Through our Plan to Make Work Pay, we’re committed to raising standards so that everyone can share in the benefits of a stronger economy and enjoy a better quality of life.”

John Foster, Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer at the CBI, said:

“Businesses recognise the urgent need to deliver a positive step-change in how government and firms work together to support people experiencing health-related barriers to work. Today’s report represents a significant milestone in that journey and will be welcomed across the business community.  

“With the cost of employing people already a barrier to creating jobs, it’s right that the focus is on how to help firms make the most of their considerable investment in health and wellbeing through better data about what works.  

“Despite being a final report, the task of tackling health-related inactivity is just beginning, and we look forward to working with government and industry over the coming years to translate the report’s principles into action.” 

The Government has also committed to embedding workplace health as a cross-government priority. Today’s announcement directly supports the Government’s mission to deliver economic growth and get Britain working again. By helping people stay healthy and in work, the reforms will:

This comes alongside the Government’s Pathways to Work employment support package, which represents a major shift from welfare to work, skills and opportunities. This investment will provide intensive support to help sick or disabled people unlock the benefits of work. 

Additional Information:

• The Keep Britain Working Review: Final Report (Autumn 2025) is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-britain-working-review-final-report
• The Review was commissioned jointly by the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and for Business and Trade.
• The ten-month review engaged hundreds of organisations, with evidence from employers, disabled people, clinicians, and international comparators.
• Vanguard employers will be asked to embrace the healthy working lifecycle framework, providing workplace health support, and work with the Workplace Health Intelligence Unit.
• The list of employers which have expressed interest in becoming Vanguard employers includes: 

Employers 

Regional Mayors and Councils 

• Further details on the Vanguard Taskforce membership and governance will be announced in due course.