Keep Britain Working review to explore how to support people with long-term illnesses or disabilities back into work

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a new ‘Keep Britain Working’ review to explore how to urgently support people with long-term illnesses or disabilities back into work and to stay in work.

Former Chairman of John Lewis Partnership, Sir Charlie Mayfield, will lead the Keep Britain Working review to investigate the factors behind spiralling levels of inactivity and how government and businesses can work together to turn this around.

The review will be the first of its kind. Following the launch of the Get Britain Working White Paper, it will be one part of the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth in partnership with businesses, drive up prosperity, and raise living standards across the UK.

With over a third of working-age people reporting a long-term health condition and around a quarter classed as disabled, the latter group being three times more likely to be not in work or looking for work, the scale of the challenge is stark, the DWP states.

The review will move at pace, concluding in the Autumn, with Sir Charlie Mayfield meeting businesses and health and disability organisations across the country to identify the scale, trends, obstacles, and opportunities for companies when recruiting and retaining ill and disabled people.

This phase will conclude in spring, with a report based on the findings from his conversations with company bosses, employees who have been supported to stay in work, and organisations who help those out of work to inform wider engagement. Recommendations to the government are expected later this year.

This will be part of the government’s plan to boost employment by breaking down barriers to opportunity and improving people’s living standards through work and life-changing support, building on the latest data showing real earnings have increased by 2.5 percent on the year.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, who was also Chair of the British Retail Consortium and Chair of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, said: “Losing people from the workforce because of ill-health or disability is bad for many of the individuals, for the businesses employing them, and for the wider economy.

“It’s a growing problem for us all and it’s one that’s more likely to be resolved by business and government working together.

“I’m looking forward to engaging closely with businesses, government departments and the many organisations committed to improving our performance here.”

The review, which will identify measures to help ill and disabled people get into work and stay in work, comes ahead of significant reforms to health and disability benefits expected in the spring.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP, added: “Millions of people have been left without support to get into work and on at work, and completely held back from reaching their potential for far too long, and the record-high cost of long-term sickness benefits is evidence of that fact.

“That’s why I am pleased to have Sir Charlie leading this review, bringing a wealth of experience and helping us to get people into work, and most importantly keep them in work, so we can boost living standards and get our economy growing.

This business engagement is part of the government’s Get Britain Working White Paper, which is currently progressing the biggest employment reforms in a generation so the UK can reach an ambitious 80 percent employment rate.

As part of the plan, Jobcentres are to change their focus from monitoring and managing benefit claims to skills and careers, mental health support will be expanded to reduce waiting lists in areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity, and mayors will be empowered to join up local work, health and skills support to tackle the root causes of inactivity in their areas.

Business and Trade Secretary, Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, commented: “It isn’t right that too many businesses are missing out on the people they need, while those who want to work can’t because of long-term sickness.

“Solving this problem is one of the greatest challenges facing the labour market, with years of poor support blocking those with great talent from helping drive our economy forward.

“The government is on the side of working people and is unashamedly pro-business. That’s why this review will be critical in getting businesses the people they need to unlock their full potential.”