Workplace-Based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Findings from a Pilot NHS Health Check Programme in a Large UK Employer

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the UK, costing the NHS £7.4 billion and the wider economy £15.8 billion annually in lost productivity. Uptake of the NHS Health Check programme is often low among men in manual occupations and minority ethnic groups. Workplace-based approaches may offer a solution by reaching underrepresented groups and tackling access barriers.

 

Approach: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and local health partners piloted a workplace CVD health check programme between January and March 2025. Enhanced NHS Health Checks were embedded into JLR wellbeing initiatives, with staff given protected time, transport, and access to “Boost Your Team” and “People Love Day” events. Assessments included point-of-care blood tests (lipid profile, HbA1c), blood pressure, BMI, smoking and alcohol screening (AUDIT-C), and physical activity (GPPAQ). CVD risk was calculated in real time using QRisk3, with onward referral to employees’ GPs, on-site SoliHealth clinicians, and SMBC lifestyle services. Stakeholders included SMBC (commissioner), JLR (employer), Health Partners (occupational health), SoliHealth (GP alliance), and SiSU Health (digital kiosks).

 

Results: A total of 1,275 health checks were completed, representing 13.1% of JLR’s workforce (n = 9,700). The cohort was predominantly male (76.8%, n = 979), with strong participation from those under 40 (47.2%, n = 603). Key findings included:

• 10.9% (n = 139) had QRisk3 ≥10%, indicating moderate CVD risk.
• 18.2% (n = 232) had undiagnosed hypertension.
• 75% (n = 948) were overweight or obese.
• 11.4% (n = 145) were current smokers; 10.4% (n = 130) at high or very high risk of alcohol misuse.
• 6.6% (n = 84) were physically inactive, with inactivity twice as high in women (10.3%) than men (5.4%).
• 34.3% (n = 437) required primary care referral, leading to new diagnoses of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia.

Uptake among Asian/Asian British (20.2%) and Black/Black British (25.2%) employees exceeded local NHS Health Check participation, suggesting workplace delivery may address the social gradient in health. On-site GP availability improved referral completion, while digital data-sharing supported continuity of care.

 

Implications: This pilot demonstrates that workplace-based health checks are feasible, acceptable, and effective in identifying hidden CVD risk in high-risk groups. Embedding checks within wellbeing events increased uptake, particularly among younger men and minority ethnic groups. Early detection and referral may reduce future NHS costs, enhance productivity, and support national policy priorities such as the Get Britain Working agenda.

Key learning points:

• Cross-sector partnerships are vital to delivery.
• Point-of-care testing supports immediate referral.
• Manual workers remain harder to engage and need tailored strategies.
• Stronger data integration with primary care and lifestyle services is needed for sustainability.
• Future programmes should include validated mental health measures, recognising the link between psychosocial stress and CVD.

 

Conclusion: The JLR CVD health check pilot shows workplace health checks can reduce inequalities, engage under-served groups, and deliver meaningful case-finding at scale. With refinements in access, digital integration, and holistic assessment, this model could inform future national prevention strategies.