SME FM suppliers to benefit from government-funded occupational health and wellbeing training

Fully funded occupational health and wellbeing training for facilities management line managers is nearing its registration deadline.

With 125,000 suppliers in the UK facilities management sector, 93 per cent of which are SMEs with a turnover of under £1m (ONS/IWFM Market Intelligence Report 2025) – the health of SME teams in this sector has never mattered more.

According to data from MRI Software, the sector faces stark challenges as FMs experience increased pressure in their daily roles, with 52 per cent reporting some level of impact on their mental and physical wellbeing.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funded IOSH Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing course for line managers across England is nearing its final phase. Close to 2,000 SME managers across the country have already enrolled in free government-funded occupational health training designed to help prevent skilled workers leaving the industry due to ill health – with up to 3,000 places still remaining to eligible line managers before the 31 March registration deadline.

More than 20 professional, membership, trade and representative bodies are now supporting the initiative, spanning facilities management, hospitality, cleaning and hygiene, and transport and logistics sectors. Major employers including Mitie, Vinci FM and the British Beer and Pub Association are sharing the opportunity with SME clients and suppliers across their networks.

The IOSH-accredited Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing course – funded by up to £800,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions, supported by the Department of Health and Social Care, and delivered by International Workplace in partnership with Reed Learning – equips line managers to spot early warning signs such as fatigue, behavioural changes and rising absence, and to intervene before problems escalate.

The initiative follows the government-commissioned Keep Britain Working Final Report, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, which highlighted a significant rise in working-age adults leaving the workforce due to health conditions.

• Currently, only 21 per cent of SMEs provide health and wellbeing training for line managers.
• This is compared to 76 per cent of large employers, despite clear evidence of its effectiveness.
• The cost of inaction for small businesses is stark: replacing an employee lost to ill-health costs over £11,000; and every sickness absence day costs around £120 in lost profit.

Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson said: “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but too often they lose skilled staff to health issues without the tools to support them. This free training is already making a real difference – giving line managers the confidence to have the right conversations and make the adjustments that keep people in work.

“I thank those managers who have already signed up and encourage even more to do so. When small businesses support their staff to stay healthy, everyone wins – employees, the business, and the wider economy.”

Having taken the course, Daniel Stokes at Hewer Facilities Management Ltd. said: “I thought the course was excellent. Really informative, clearly structured, and very relevant to real workplace situations. I found the content on wellbeing particularly useful, especially the clear explanation of how wellbeing differs from traditional health and safety. It’s helped me understand what to look out for in my team and how to manage wellbeing‑related conversations more effectively.

“I’d definitely recommend the course to other FM line managers. It gives practical insight into supporting employees, understanding early signs of wellbeing issues and handling scenarios such as return-to-work discussions with confidence.

“As a result of completing the course, I’m now planning to carry out a full wellbeing assessment project within my area of the business, develop a wellbeing policy and introduce Health Risk Assessments where needed to support a healthier working environment.”

The programme remains open to eligible SMEs in England as part of the Government’s commitment to keeping people healthy and in work – free registration closes 31 March, and the course must be completed by 30 April 2026.

Sign up at: https://keepbritainworking.internationalworkplace.com/