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Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jonas Kao Jonas Kao London, United Kingdom Last Updated: January 2024 SIC SP0.362

Revenue

£305.0m

2024-25

£330.7m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

2,136

Businesses

69

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry analysis

The Employee Assistance Programme Services industry is a rapidly growing and changing market. Providers compete with each other on the quality and breadth of their programmes. Research has shown that investment into employee welfare notably benefits productivity levels within a company. A report by the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) suggested that for every £1 invested in staff welfare, businesses gain a benefit of £10.85. Growing demand for employee assistance programme (EAP) services has caused significant revenue growth over the years. Industry-wide revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 6.4% over the past five years to reach £305 million.

Trends and Insights

  • Employee assistance programme providers adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the outbreak, providers rapidly progressed their online offerings to cater to remote workers.
  • A high number of employees developed drinking and substance-related issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase has boosted the number of counselling sessions in employee assistance programme contracts.
  • Many employee assistance programme providers are located in London. They base themselves in the capital in order to secure clients in large multinational companies because these contracts are more profitable.
  • Companies that can offer a corporate wellness programme encompassing more than just employee assistance programmes are the most successful providers. Some providers offer additional benefits like occupational health therapy or dental care.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £305.0m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The pandemic has changed the industry's landscape

  • With fewer people working during the pandemic (due to unemployment or furlough), demand for employee assistance programme (EAP) services dipped and closed businesses suspended outlays.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Digital platforms are shifting the industry

  • Employee assistance programme (EAP) providers have massively improved their digital offerings since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Biggest companies in the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£m)
2024
Optima Health Group Ltd
19.8
Bupa Occupational Health Ltd
16.8
Peninsula Business Services Ltd
16.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Substance and alcohol abuse counselling, Nutrition and health education services and Stress counselling . Substance and alcohol abuse counselling is the largest segment of the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Rising alcohol consumption drives the frequency of counselling services

  • Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained professional for work and out-of-work issues. Employee assistance programme (EAP) service providers specify the number of sessions each employee has access to.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides employee assistance programme (EAP) services, which includes support for family, financial, career and legal issues through an employee’s benefits package. Industry operators provide a variety of services, including health coaching, nutrition and naturopathic advice.

What's included in this industry?

Counselling Family counselling Group training Health programmes

Companies

Optima Health Group LtdBupa Occupational Health LtdPeninsula Business Services Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

EAPSCOUNSELLINGALCOHOL ABUSE

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 78.3 - Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Employee assistance programme providers adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the outbreak, providers rapidly progressed their online offerings to cater to remote worke...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

A high number of employees developed drinking and substance-related issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase has boosted the number of counselling sessions in employ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Many employee assistance programme providers are located in London. They base themselves in the capital in order to secure clients in large multinational companies because th...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Companies that can offer a corporate wellness programme encompassing more than just employee assistance programmes are the most successful providers. Some providers offer add...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Optima Health Group Ltd's revenue surged in 2021 because of new customer wins. The company has expanded its customer base as private and public firms are spending more on emp...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Optima Health Group Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Bupa Occupational Health Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Peninsula Business Services Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Optima Health Group Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Bupa Occupational Health Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Peninsula Business Services Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Unemployed people are untapped potential for employee assistance programme service providers as programmes cannot be sold to them. The unemployment rate is falling in 2022-23...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Research shows that the return on investment for employee assistance programmes is growing. Therefore, employee assistance programme providers have been able to push up their...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £305.0m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 69 businesses in the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 6.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Employee Assistance Programme Services market in United Kingdom are Optima Health Group Ltd, Bupa Occupational Health Ltd and Peninsula Business Services Ltd

What does the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Counselling and Family counselling are part of the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Optima Health Group Ltd.

How competitive is the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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