In this special edition of our Leaders Podcast, Suzy Bashford is joined by Sir Charlie Mayfield, former chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and co-chair of Keep Britain Working.
Here at Make a Difference Media, we’ve been following Sir Charlie’s work and that of the Vanguard employers with interest and enthusiasm as momentum builds.
Whether or not you’ve read the latest update, Keep Britain Working: a national growth opportunity, this podcast is well worth a listen. It’s the first time I’ve heard Sir Charlie elaborate on the thinking behind some of the proposals – ideas that sound promising but need a little more explanation to capture the attention of a wider audience.
Sir Charlie discusses the growing number of people becoming economically inactive and the significant impact this is having on UK productivity and the economy, as well as on individuals’ lives and wellbeing.
He explores why returning to work can be so difficult after someone leaves for health reasons, arguing that the UK lacks the systems, incentives and data needed to support health in work. Too often, responsibility falls to individuals and the NHS. He also makes the case for “rehumanising” workplaces through better relationships, earlier intervention and more consistent contact between employers and employees.
The conversation also explores progress among more than 200 Vanguard employers and mayoral authorities, and the proposed workplace health system built around shared responsibility, plans to help people stay in or return to work, access to case managers and rapid treatment, and better use of data. Sir Charlie discusses a confidential prototype app designed to help generate the intelligence needed to support this approach.
Ultimately, he sees Keep Britain Working as a major opportunity to boost growth and productivity. “Growth hiding in plain site”, with benefits for SMEs and young people as well as larger employers. He also considers how AI could play a supportive role.
You can listen to the episode here, on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Time stamp of conversation:
00:00 Welcome to Make a Difference Leaders
00:44 Meet Charlie Mayfield
02:14 Why Workplaces Fail Health
04:15 Vanguard Employers Explained
04:44 SMEs and Human Work
07:00 Sharing Lessons Beyond Vanguards
09:13 Health as Growth Engine
12:33 Fear and Stigma Barriers
15:23 Early Intervention for Mental Health
19:26 Workplace Health System Blueprint
21:05 Stay In Touch Days
21:22 Case Managers And Care
23:02 Data Driven Visibility
24:45 Building Trust To Speak Up
26:33 Confidential Workforce App
30:13 Beating Complexity At Work
34:44 Helping Young People Thrive
38:31 AI And Rehumanising Work
42:56 Final Thanks And Wrap
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