The Department for Work and Pensions, alongside the Department of Health and Social Care, has announced a new innovation fund that will support reforms to occupational health services.
Coming as part of a boost economic activity by tackling in-work sickness, the new Small Business Research Initiative will allocate a share of £1.5 million to five projects as they look to develop new ways that occupational health services can be improved. If successful, these projects will then be scaled-up and made available to small businesses to ensure they can help keep their employees in work.
Jo Churchill, Minister for Employment, said:
“Time off work due to sickness costs British business £100 billion every year. The innovative solutions developed through this funding will benefit businesses as we harness AI and technology to support a healthier and more productive workforce.
“Delivering through our Back to Work Plan and Occupational Health Taskforce, we are driving down inactivity and helping people reach their potential both in work and their daily lives.”
Currently, inactivity in the UK is lower than the averages across the G7, EU and the OECD, however a lot of people are currently out of work due to long-term sickness. One of the largest driving forces of this is poor mental health, with conditions such as depression and anxiety playing a key role.
Health and Social Care Minister Helen Whately added:
“Every year many thousands of people take time off work – or leave work altogether – because of ill health. But at the same time, there are millions of people who are working with health conditions, often supported by occupational health services.
“We want more people to be able to benefit from occupational health support, particularly people working in smaller businesses or those who are self-employed. That’s why we’re investing in these innovative approaches to occupational health. This sits alongside our plans for WorkWell which will help people access support to stay in work, and our fit note reforms.
“A healthy economy depends on a healthy workforce. Making sure people can be healthy and stay in work is crucial for individuals, businesses, and our country as a whole.”
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