The government is funding occupational health training for 5,000 line managers working in small businesses in England.
The free course, which usually costs £249, aims to tackle the issue of workplace sickness. More than 2.8 million people are signed off long-term sick in the UK, one of the highest rates in the G7, while the government commissioned Keep Britain Working Review found that 800,000 more working-age adults are out of work due to sickness than in 2019.
Figures show that replacing an employee lost to ill-health costs businesses over £11,000, while every sickness absence day causes around £120 in lost profit.
Despite this, the government said only 21% of SMEs provide training for line managers on ways to improve employees’ health and wellbeing, compared to 76% of large firms.
The free training, led by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), will help line managers to recognise early signs that someone they’re managing needs help. These include persistent fatigue, behaviour changes, and increased absence.
Minister for employment Dame Diana Johnson said:
“Too often, small businesses lose skilled staff to health issues without the tools to support them, and that doesn’t help anyone.
This free training changes that. It gives line managers the confidence to have the right conversations and make the adjustments that could help keep people in work.
“When small businesses support their staff to stay at work healthy, everyone wins – employees, businesses, and our economy.
Managers can sign up for the free training here. Pre-registration is open until 31 December and registration from 2 January 2026.