In all countries, rich and poor, the health of the population is strongly linked to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Access to high quality healthcare is essential but it is not lack of healthcare that leads people to become ill in the first place: it is the conditions in which people live and work. Inequalities in these social conditions account for a great deal of the inequalities in health that are a major feature of all societies. These inequalities were growing in the UK even before the pandemic, during a decade of austerity, and have been further amplified by the effects of COVID-19.

Until now, focus on these issues – the social determinants of health – has been for government and civil society. The private sector has not been involved in the discussion or, worse, has been seen as part of the problem. It is time this changed. Business has a vital role to play in shaping the conditions in which people live and work and, as a result, their health. Businesses can potentially play a key role in reducing health inequalities by improving equity in the social determinants. Read more...

Health inequalities: George and Sumita's life stories

By improving the health of their employees, employers can reap the benefits of a more productive workforce. In this animation share George and Sumita's life stories and see the impact of their different circumstances on their health and wellbeing.

Addressing health inequalities partnership

Research shows that the key drivers of health and health inequities are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age; businesses play an absolutely fundamental role. Hear Sir Nigel Wilson and Professor Sir Michael Marmot talk about the new report.