GOVERNMENT FUNDS TRAINING
Government funds occupational health training for SME line managers
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a new programme of Government-funded occupational health training for line managers in small businesses across England, aimed at tackling rising levels of workplace sickness and improving productivity.
Between January and March 2026, up to £800,000 of training will be funded, supporting approximately 5,000 line managers working in SMEs. The training will be delivered on a voluntary basis and is designed to give managers practical skills to better support employee health and well-being at an early stage.
In particular, the training focuses on helping managers to:
spot early warning signs of health-related issues, such as persistent fatigue, behavioural changes and increased absence;
hold supportive and constructive conversations about health concerns;
understand workplace adjustments and occupational health referral pathways; and
support employees to remain in, or return to, work where possible.
The course can be found online here. Hurry, registration is only open until 31 January 2026.
The initiative reflects a significant gap in current practice. Government data shows that only 21% of SMEs provide health and wellbeing training for line managers, compared with 76% of large employers. For many small businesses, limited HR resource and access to occupational health support can make early intervention difficult.
This announcement closely aligns with the findings of the Keep Britain Working review, which we explored in our earlier insight on Britain’s sickness absence crisis. That review highlighted the need for earlier intervention, improved manager capability and better access to occupational health support, particularly in SMEs, as a way of addressing the sharp rise in economic inactivity linked to ill-health.
The policy context is pressing. More than 2.8 million people are currently signed off with long-term sickness, and employers continue to face significant costs associated with prolonged absence, loss of skilled staff and increased legal risk. From an employment law perspective, early and informed management of health issues is also key to reducing exposure under the Equality Act 2010, particularly where disabilities and reasonable adjustments are concerned.
Managers can register for the training via the Government’s campaign website, which opened for sign-ups on 2 January 2026.
What should employers do now?
Consider whether eligible managers should take advantage of this funded training while places remain available.
Use the initiative as an opportunity to review sickness absence, wellbeing and reasonable adjustment processes.
Ensure managers understand when to escalate issues for HR or legal advice.
If you would like support reviewing your absence management approach or training managers on handling health-related issues lawfully and effectively, please contact us.
