Beauty organisations partner with UK Government to tackle employee illness
By Rebecca Hitchon | 07 November 2025 | Health & Wellbeing, Movers & Shakers, News
More than 60 UK employers are joining forces with the Government to reshape how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace.
This follows Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, which revealed that one in five working-age adults are out of the labour force (800,000 more than 2019). The cost of ill health preventing work equals 7% of GDP, with employers losing £85 billion per year from sickness, turnover and lost productivity.
A three-year partnership between the Government and employer-led Vanguards will focus on preventing ill health, building healthier workplaces, supporting people to stay in and return to work, and boosting disability inclusion.
The Vanguards include organisations like British Airways, Google UK and Tesco, as well as beauty-focused companies: the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), RE:NEW Beauty and Adam Reed Hair.
They have committed to embracing Keep Britain Working Review‘s healthy working lifecycle. This will build an evidence base prior to the Government developing a voluntary certified workplace standard by 2029.
Sir Charlie Mayfield, author of the Keep Britain Working Review, will co-lead the Vanguard Taskforce and comments: “Britain is sliding into an avoidable crisis. Ill health has become one of the biggest brakes on growth and opportunity. But this is not inevitable.
“Employers are uniquely placed to make a difference, preventing health issues where possible, supporting people when they arise and helping them return to work. If we keep Britain working, everyone wins – people, employers and the state.”
Caroline Larissey, chief executive of the NHBF, says: “The NHBF already provides comprehensive health, safety and legal resources, to help our members protect their businesses and teams, and we’re proud to bring this expertise to the Keep Britain Working initiative as a Vanguard partner.
“We understand the concerns small businesses may have about additional burdens, which is why this voluntary programme is so important. It’s about developing practical, cost-effective solutions that work for employers of all sizes. We’ll ensure the small business voice is heard.
“By sharing what already works in our sector and learning from others, we can help shape support that’s genuinely achievable for small employers – including potential incentives and tax relief – while keeping our talented workforce healthy and thriving.”
Following the Keep Britain Working Review, other beauty industry figures have spoken up about the UK’s sickness ‘crisis’. This is particularly relevant for the sector because its work is highly physical and as we approach the demanding festive season, the risk of burnout grows.
Lesley Blair MBE, CEO & chair of the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC), comments: “Many beauty businesses will be doing their best to look after staff, but they’ll be under enormous pressure coming up to the Christmas season. When workloads rise and sickness levels nationally are at a record high, it’s easy for wellbeing to slip down the list.
“We’re encouraging business owners to build simple measures into daily routines, including regular breaks, posture awareness and honest conversations about workload. Supporting staff isn’t just the right thing to do; it protects businesses by retaining talent and maintaining standards.”
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