Small and medium-sized employers are being encouraged to take advantage of a new free, government-funded occupational health training programme designed to help businesses better support their workforce and reduce sickness absence.
Launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the programme will train up to 5,000 line managers from SMEs across England between January and March 2026. The training is aimed at equipping managers with practical skills to spot early signs of health-related issues at work and take timely, supportive action.
Line managers will learn how to recognise indicators such as fatigue, changes in behaviour, or rising levels of absence, enabling earlier conversations and interventions that can help employees stay healthy, engaged and in work. By focusing on early support rather than crisis response, the programme aims to help businesses reduce costly sickness absence, improve productivity and retain skilled staff.
The programme, being delivered by Reed Learning, is fully funded and free to access for eligible SMEs, offering a valuable opportunity for employers to build confidence in managing health and wellbeing at work, while creating more resilient and supportive workplaces.
Local SMEs are encouraged to explore the training and consider how it could support their managers and teams over the coming year. Find out more and book your place at: keepbritainworking.internationalworkplace.com