More than 60 major and many small employers are joining forces with 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.
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.
Alex Baldock, CEO, Currys plc
I’m delighted that Currys has joined the Keep Britain Working Vanguard initiative, another big step towards a more inclusive and productive workplace. Currys is a major UK employer and helps many thousands onto and up the career ladder. We see firsthand the essential role of work, not just to give people higher living standards, but for their wellbeing and sense of purpose.
We look forward to partnering with the Government and other Vanguard companies to help keep many more people healthy and in work. We believe that economic inactivity caused by ill-health and disability is best tackled through partnership between employers, employees, and health services, and we applaud Sir Charlie Mayfield and his team for their crucial work to make this happen.”
Emma Taylor, Chief People Officer, Tesco
As the UK’s largest private sector employer, we support jobs and local communities right across the country, and we recognise that good work doesn’t just benefit our economy, it’s vital to our national health.
At Tesco, wellbeing comes first at all stages of working life. Through our expanded Stronger Starts scheme we’re already setting more young people up for the world of work, and we see the vanguard scheme as a crucial step towards healthy and fulfilling working lives for all”.
The Keep Britain Working Review: Final Report (Autumn 2025) is available at www.gov.uk/government/
