Event Details

Join the Work Foundation and Lancaster University to discuss supporting more people to stay in and return to work.

Delivering healthy work in uncertain times

The UK continues to face a complex web of health and employment challenges. Nearly 2.8 million people are now out of the labour market due to ill health and, when in work, those in poorer health are more likely to be in jobs that may be harmful to their health. This is holding back economic growth, placing pressure on public services, and limiting people’s life chances across the country.

The Government’s Keep Britain Working review has described this as a “serious but fixable problem”, setting out an ambitious programme of reform. Its three-year Vanguard Phase has begun, proactively bringing together a growing collection of employers to develop new approaches to early intervention to reduce the risk of individuals leaving the workplace due to ill health. The clear expectation from Government is that supporting health at work becomes a shared responsibility between employers, individuals and health services.

However, delivering this ambition will not be straightforward. A stuttering economy and rising unemployment are particularly hitting young people, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions hardest. In addition, war in the Middle East is heightening instability and putting further pressure on employer and household finances.

Sustaining momentum behind the Keep Britain Working agenda will be critical to improving labour market participation and growing the economy. Senior leaders from business, policy, academia and the third sector are invited to participate in the Work and Health Summit 2026 to discuss supporting more people to stay in and return to work.

Attendance is by invitation only.

Confirmed speakers

The Summit be hosted by Ben Harrison (Director) and Alice Martin (Head of Research, Work Foundation). Speakers include:

• Sir Charlie Mayfield (Co-Chair of the Keep Britain Working programme and former Chairman of John Lewis Partnership)
• Professor Dame Carol Black (Policy advisor, Chair of British Library and Centre for Ageing Better)
• Paul Nowak (General Secretary, TUC)
• Professor Stavroula Leka (Distinguished Professor of Organisations, Work & Health, Lancaster University)
• Dr Richard Peters (Chief Medical Officer, JLR)
• Sara Weller (Non-executive Director, BT)
• Martin McTague (National Chair, Federation of Small Business)
• Asli Atay (Senior Policy Advisor, Work Foundation).

Work and Health Summit 2025

The first Summit took place in June 2025, with over 120 senior leaders attending. Speakers included Rt Hon Alan Milburn (Chancellor, Lancaster University and former Secretary of State for Health), Rt Hon Chloe Smith (President, CIPD and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions), Dame Clare Moriarty (Chief Executive, Citizens Advice), Beth Kume-Holland (CEO, Patchwork Hub and disability specialist) and leaders from Ingeus UK, Vitality Health and Holland & Barrett.