North East aims to get more people working

Former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

North East mayor Kim McGuinness

THE North East is to help lead efforts to get more people into work after a major review warned that the UK is “sliding into an avoidable crisis” of ill health.

Former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield’s report found that poor workplace health costs UK employers around £85bn a year. It also warned that Britons being unable to work due to ill health is costing the country around 7% of GDP, with ill health now one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity in the UK.