Matthew Neal’s Post

💡 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵? In yesterday’s Budget, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, stated that ‘economic growth will be our mission for the duration of this Parliament’. The Chancellor also announced that the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper will be published imminently. The White Paper will, Reeves said, be focused on ‘tackling the root causes of inactivity with an integrated approach across health, education and welfare’. Ensuring a joined-up approach between work and health will be critical to realising the economic growth that the Government wants to achieve. Our experience of delivering employability support, such as the Work and Health Programme, and health interventions like the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, gives us a unique perspective on how successful results can be achieved. In his latest article, our Employability Director, Nick Morgan, sets out the centrality of driving behavioural change to realising permanent, beneficial changes to people’s health and employment outcomes. We are looking forward to the publication of the White Paper and to working with national and local stakeholders to put the solutions in place that will drive the growing economy we all want to see. Read more: https://ow.ly/GnG950TX4h9 #Growth #Work #Health

Is there a public sector earnings premium in UK healthcare? ⤵ Read our new feature where Dr Ezgi Kaya and Professor Melanie Jones explore pay differences and uncover a clearer picture of public sector pay in healthcare. https://bit.ly/4dQ5Op7

Draft budget 2025/26 for Wales: £600m “extra revenue and capital funding” for health and social care with promise for investment in digital tech Story: https://lnkd.in/ewX9wUFA

Today's budget offered little in the way of specifics in how spend will be directed towards technology in the public sector, but its role in planned transformation and modernisation across all of the major services was mentioned significantly. With a shift from analogue to digital being one of the key cornerstones of the new NHS 10-year plan, due to be published in spring - will we see more direction soon?

The middle class is grappling with increasing expenses, including housing, healthcare, and education. https://zurl.co/1rOy #MiddleClassConcerns #EconomicStability #FinancialWellbeing #WorkLifeBalance #AffordableHealthcare #RetirementPlanning #DebtFreeLiving #

Big increases in NHS Consultants’ pay recently means uplifts of between 2.85% and 12.8% in addition to the previously announced 6% pay award for 2023/24. We consider the potential impact on Annual Allowance charges as well as pension contributions, tax and national insurance. https://lnkd.in/er_V5kz8

💼 UK Budget 2024: a new era for Public Sector transformation 💼 Today’s Budget announcement brings significant funding boosts across healthcare, education, and local government, with an ‘immediate injection of funding’ to strengthen the UK’s core public services. Rachel Reeves shared, this isn’t just about adding resources, it’s a “new approach to public service reform” that puts technology at the centre of transformative change. 📈 Local Government  With £1.3bn earmarked for local government (including £600m for social care), councils will have greater control over spending. We anticipate increased interest in technology to improve local infrastructure and enhance service delivery, from smart city solutions to social care management systems. 📉 Healthcare  The Government’s largest funding increase since 2010. £22.6bn for day-to-day health spending and £3.1bn in capital – sets the stage for a 10-year NHS reform plan focusing on efficiency and reducing wait times. A shift from analogue to digital is already in focus, providing a promising outlook for tech suppliers in healthcare. 📚 Education  The Department for Education will see a £6.7bn investment, with £2.1bn set aside for school maintenance and £1bn for special educational needs and disabilities. With funding in place to rebuild and enhance schools, further details on technology infrastructure investments may open opportunities for suppliers in connectivity and digital learning. #UKBudget2024 #PublicSector #Technology #DigitalTransformation #Healthcare #Education #LocalGovernment #publicsectortech #publicsectorpr #techpr

'A missed opportunity for Government to realise its own ambitions' The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) has issued the following response to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget 2024: The Chancellor said there can be no “solid growth without solid finances”, but we know there can be no growth without improved health too. The announcements yesterday will do little to move the dial on physical activity levels nor unlock the potential of our sector to contribute to wider Government policy priorities. Yesterday’s Budget was a missed opportunity to improve the health and productivity of the nation by supporting more people to be active. Given the Budget’s focus on increasing productivity, workforce and NHS efficiency, further measures designed to support the sport, recreation and physical activity sector to achieve these priorities - including targeted tax and regulatory reforms and wider investment - should have been much more prominent in this announcement. Read the full response here, including the thoughts of Alliance CEO Lisa Wainwright MBE (She/Her) ⬇ https://lnkd.in/emnZaZVM Active Partnerships CIMSPA Sport for Development Coalition ukactive Youth Sport Trust

As Chancellor Jeremy Hunt prepares to deliver the upcoming Autumn Statement, there's significant attention on how new measures might address the UK's employment challenges. With economic pressures continuing and workforce participation remaining a key concern, the announcements could reshape how the government supports people returning to work. Key Areas to Watch: Support for Economic Inactivity. The government has previously highlighted concerns about rising economic inactivity. Any new measures targeting over-50s and those with long-term health conditions will be particularly significant. Potential reforms to existing back-to-work support programs. Skills and Training Investment. Expected focus on addressing skills gaps in key sectors. Possible expansion of adult education funding. Potential new initiatives for retraining and upskilling Health and Work Programs. Potential reforms to fit notes and occupational health services. Support for those with health conditions to remain in or return to work. Mental health support services in the workplace. Universal Credit and Benefits. Possible changes to work capability assessments. Reforms to benefit conditions and work requirements. Support for in-work progression. Why This Budget Matters: It Could introduce new targeted support for specific groups. It May reshape existing employment support services. Potential impact on funding for local employment initiatives. The upcoming announcement will be crucial in determining how the UK approaches its employment challenges in the months ahead.

📄 Get Britain Working White Paper The UK Government's latest proposals aim to tackle economic inactivity and support individuals into sustainable, meaningful employment. This White Paper outlines key reforms in employment, health, and skills support to drive positive change in the workforce. Order your copy today and stay informed: 👉 https://lnkd.in/enPaWzPA #GetBritainWorking