South Yorkshire Chambers put workplace health in the spotlight as latest Quarterly Economic Survey opens

South Yorkshire’s three Chambers of Commerce – Doncaster, Sheffield, and Barnsley & Rotherham – have today opened the latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), with this quarter’s survey focusing on workplace health and the role employers play in keeping people well and in work.

The focus comes as South Yorkshire sets out its ambition to become the healthiest region in the country, one of three long-term ambitions in the South Yorkshire Strategy launched in September alongside the region’s updated Growth Plan. Nationally, the Keep Britain Working Review estimates that sickness, staff turnover and lost productivity cost employers around £85 billion a year, and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is one of the Vanguards testing new approaches to keeping people healthy and in work, with a focus on prevention and earlier support rather than only stepping in once things have gone wrong.

Alongside the core QES indicators on sales, cash flow, recruitment, investment and confidence, businesses will be asked which health issues are affecting their workforce and what impact these are having on productivity, absence, recruitment and retention. The survey also explores how far employers see supporting staff health as part of their role, the measures they already have in place, the barriers they face, how easy it is to access help such as NHS services and occupational health, and what support would make the biggest difference.

Dan Fell MBE, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber, said:

“Good work is one of the best things for people’s health, and a healthy workforce is one of the best things for a business, so employers are central to this ambition. Workplace health isn’t just an HR issue; it’s a productivity issue and a growth issue. Members tell us they’re managing long-term sickness, growing mental health pressures and employees waiting longer for NHS treatment, often without an HR team or occupational health provider to fall back on. Most smaller businesses want to do the right thing by their people, but cost, time and knowing where to turn all get in the way. If we want more people staying well and in work, and more businesses able to grow, we need an honest picture of what employers are dealing with on the ground, and this survey is how we get it.”

The theme follows last quarter’s results, which showed that, among businesses trying to recruit, more than 60% struggled to find suitable candidates, while more than 60% of businesses were operating below full capacity.

Louisa Harrison-Walker OBE, Chief Executive of Sheffield Chamber, said:

“When businesses are already facing challenges recruiting the people they need, supporting their existing workforce to stay healthy and in work has never been more important. Many South Yorkshire businesses are already taking positive steps, from offering more flexible working to investing in employee wellbeing and better management support. But there is more we can do. We need to understand where businesses face challenges, whether that's accessing occupational health services, navigating NHS waiting times or knowing what support is available. By listening to employers and understanding what they need, we can help shape a South Yorkshire Strategy and Growth Plan that delivers practical support and makes a real difference to businesses and their people.”

Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said:

“Becoming the healthiest region in the country is a bold ambition, and the right one, but it will only be achieved if the support on offer works for the businesses expected to help deliver it. Firms in Barnsley and Rotherham have told us time and again that they want support that is easy to access, practical and relevant to their size and sector, and workplace health is no different. Every response adds to the evidence we take to the Mayor’s Business Advisory Board and to Government, so I’d urge businesses of every size to take part.”

The survey runs from 9 November to 6 December 2026 and is open to all businesses across South Yorkshire, whether or not they are Chamber members. It takes around 5 minutes to complete and all responses are confidential. Findings will feed into the British Chambers of Commerce’s national dataset and be shared with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Mayor’s Business Advisory Board.