Challenges and opportunities for strategic authorities

This essay was written by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and The King’s Fund, as part of a programme of work commissioned by The Health Foundation.

Employment is one of the most important determinants of physical and mental health and, despite some variation in devolution settlements, we know that the unique powers and resources that Strategic Authorities (SAs) have in relation to regional and sub-regional employment policy are a powerful lever with which health inequalities can be addressed.

This essay draws on interviews and discussion groups with mayors and SA officers to highlights ways in which the employment programmes that have been utilised to date within SAs and their wider ecosystems could be scaled and amplified to achieve greater impact on narrowing health inequalities.