International Workplace has announced that security SMEs will benefit from government funded training as the sector faces mental health challenges.
According to International Workplace, SME security services teams often operate under tight margins, long hours and high-pressure environments.
The new training is set to offer practical tools to protect both workforce wellbeing and productivity.
With approximately 11,010 enterprises in the UK security industry (2025) and around 99% of these falling into the SME category – the health of SME teams in this sector has never mattered more.
International Workplace highlighted that the challenges the sector faces are:
Against this backdrop, close to 2,000 SME managers across England 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
International Workplace stated that the learning will equip line managers with being able to spot early warning signs such as fatigue, behavioural changes and rising absence, as well as knowing when 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.
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.”
Johnson concluded: When small businesses support their staff to stay healthy, everyone wins – employees, the business and the wider economy.”
Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), said: “Work should be a source of health, not harm.
“When people feel supported and their health, safety and wellbeing is prioritised, they thrive – and so do businesses and communities.
“This initiative is a powerful step towards creating workplaces where work-related ill health and disease is prevented, conversations about wellbeing are normalised and managers have the skills and confidence to lead with care,” she concluded.
