Many employers in our network will already be familiar with the Keep Britain Working Review, chaired by former John Lewis chair Sir Charlie Mayfield. But an update shared on Tuesday’s Today programme on BBC Radio 4 revealed two important developments that significantly raise the stakes.
First, engagement with the review’s recommendations is accelerating fast. Second, the timeline for action has shortened dramatically – from a three-year horizon to just one year to deliver meaningful change.
Together, these signal a growing sense of urgency around how employers, local leaders and government respond to the challenge of how to keep Britain working rather than signing more and more employees off sick.
You can listen to the full Radio 4 segment here.
Sarah Jackson, Chief Medical Officer, EDF is interviewed 55 minutes into the programme. Fast forward to 1hour 50 minutes to hear Sam Phillips, Head of Health and Wellbeing, Transport for London (TfL) and Sir Charlie Mayfield’s interview.
Vanguard momentum is accelerating
One of the clearest signals from the interview was the pace at which support for the review is growing.
Since the report was published, the number of Vanguard employers working with Sir Charlie and his team has doubled. The same is true of Mayoral Authorities, with regional leaders increasingly engaged in shaping and testing solutions.
Sir Charlie described the level of appetite from employers, providers and mayors as “extraordinary”, noting that interest continues to grow as the scale of the challenge becomes clearer.
For employers watching from the sidelines, this matters.
The timeline has shortened – from three years to one
Perhaps the most significant update mentioned in interview was the shift in timeframe.
When the review was launched, the ambition was to make progress over three years. Sir Charlie now believes that approach is too slow. Instead, the team is working to “break the back” of what needs to change within a year.
This change reflects both the urgency of the issue and the growing confidence that practical progress is possible.
Five intensive employer “sprints” are about to begin with the Vanguards. These sprints will focus on the practical mechanics employers need clarity on: what to do, how to do it well, and what support is required to make change stick.
Why urgency matters: the cost of delay
A central theme of the interview was how quickly short-term sickness absence can turn into long-term worklessness.
Sir Charlie was clear: once someone is signed off work for a month, then two, then six, the likelihood of them ever returning drops sharply. After a year, the odds are dramatically lower.
This is why the review’s focus is firmly on keeping people in work. Delay doesn’t just affect individuals; it has long-term implications for productivity, skills shortages and welfare systems.
Employers are already acting – but barriers remain
Examples from EDF and Transport for London showed that many employers are already stepping in earlier, including funding private treatment to reduce long NHS waiting times where roles are safety-critical.
However, both organisations highlighted structural barriers that still discourage action – particularly benefit-in-kind tax rules, which can leave employees with unaffordable tax bills if employers pay for private healthcare.
These issues are now firmly on the agenda as part of the review’s next phase, reinforcing the need for government, employers and providers to move together.
What this update signals for employers
For organisations already engaged with Keep Britain Working, this Radio 4 update sends a clear message:
- Momentum is building fast
- Employers and regions are moving from discussion to action
- The window for shaping how this lands is now, not in three years’ time
The review is shifting from diagnosis to delivery, with an accelerated timetable and growing participation. For employers, the question is no longer whether they have a role to play in keeping people healthy and working – but how quickly they need to prepare to act.
Throughout 2026, at www.makeadifference.media, we’ll be keeping our network up to date on the momentum behind the Keep Britain Working review, sharing insights as the work of the Vanguards emerges across our features, webinars, podcasts, reports and Leaders’ Club meetings. Make sure you’re subscribed to our free newsletter so you don’t miss any updates.
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