The event brought together cross-sector partners to share innovative regional approaches and foster collaboration. Nick Warrington, Head of Secretariat at the Joint Work & Health Directorate, opened the discussions by outlining the national context for initiatives like Keep Britain Working. He highlighted the significant economic and social impact of workforce dropout, estimating that a 22-year-old leaving employment early incurs a lifetime cost of approximately £1 million.
“"Better workplaces, better health provision, and better intelligence are critical as we develop a workplace system built on shared responsibility. The key is co-defining best practice with employers, ensuring our approaches are outcome-focused, and making sure support works effectively for SMEs."
National teams are working with 220 employers to establish workplace health best practices and piloting SME initiatives, including health resilience hubs costing around £50 per employee annually. Delegates reviewed case studies, such as South Yorkshire ICB's focus on early intervention for musculoskeletal and mental health conditions to address a 25.5% higher economic inactivity rate. Discussions also covered the disparity in fit note perceptions between patients and healthcare professionals, indicating a need for structural reform. Conor Jackson of NHS Alliance presented on integrating work, health, and skills into local neighbourhood models for community-based support.
Afternoon workshop sessions saw delegates map out local priorities, including enhanced employer engagement, fit note reform, and education for workforce retention. Nicola Harris, WorkWell Learning & Change Manager at NHS Central East ICB, found the event valuable for collaborating with colleagues and developing practical action plans. "Attending the network event was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from right across health, employment, and local government," she stated. "Hearing such inspiring regional case studies and working together on practical action plans gave us a great space to look beyond traditional boundaries."
“"It was a really constructive day, and by sharing what works, we can build practical, joined-up pathways across the East of England that enable people to stay in work and thrive."
The day concluded with a panel reflection and Q&A session featuring national and regional leads, including Nick Warrington, Christine Joy (Chief People Officer, South Yorkshire ICB), Conor Jackson (Work and Health Lead, NHS Alliance), Andrew Pryde (Head of WorkWell, Accelerators, & Fit Note Policy, Joint Work & Health Directorate), and Nicola Harris. A shared commitment to ongoing regional cooperation was established to ensure work and health initiatives remain accessible, outcome-focused, and tailored to communities across the East of England.
