East Midlands Joins National Effort to Help People Stay Healthy and in Work

The East Midlands Combined County Authority is teaming up with the Government to help more people stay healthy and keep their jobs. This new partnership is part of a national plan called the Keep Britain Working Review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield.

Why This Matters

Right now, many people in the UK are leaving work because of health problems. The review shows:

• One in five working-age adults are not working due to health issues;
• Ill-health costs the UK economy 7% of its total income;
• Only 53% of disabled people in the UK are employed;
• Businesses lose £85 billion a year due to sickness and staff turnover.

In the East Midlands alone, there are more than 295,000 inactive disabled people. This shows how important it is to take action.

National effort – what is being done

The Government is launching Vanguards – groups of employers who will test new ways to support health at work. The East Midlands Combined County Authority will be one of these Vanguards, along with big companies like Google, British Airways, and Sainsbury’s.

These employers will try out new ideas to:

• Prevent sickness;
• Help people return to work faster;
• Increase job opportunities for disabled people.

The goal is to create a healthier working environment and reduce the number of people leaving work due to illness.

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 we are embracing – because most people are better off in work and we will be a region where more people live that reality.”