Legal & General (L&G), in partnership with virtual cancer clinic Perci Health, has analysed six months of real-world usage of its cancer awareness and nurse support services, which are available to workforces of group risk clients and their immediate families through L&G’s Spark app.
The findings highlight how a prevention-first, digitally enabled model can reach parts of the workforce often overlooked by traditional cancer pathways - including younger employees outside national screening programmes and those living with or beyond cancer but not currently in treatment or claim.
The announcement comes at a time when incidences of cancer are reportedly increasing among the UK’s younger generation.
According to L&G’s group protection claims data spanning the past decade (2015 vs 2025), the proportion of cancer cases among claimants aged 25 to 50 has increased, whereas the percentage among those aged 51 and above has decreased. This shift reflects a broader trend of cancer affecting working-age populations earlier in life, increasing the importance of prevention and early intervention within the workplace.
Additional key findings from L&G and Perci Health’s data include that 6% of users are under the age of 25, 11% of users are living with or beyond cancer, and of the latter, 35% report being diagnosed with cancer but never having received active treatment.
Together, the data points to a cohort of employees who may not yet meet traditional clinical or claims thresholds, but still need guidance, reassurance and early intervention.
L&G’s approach aims to extend cancer support earlier and more equitably across the workforce and to engage younger employees outside formal screening programmes through health literacy and risk awareness, while providing personalised nurse navigation for those living with or beyond cancer, whether or not they are in treatment or claim.
As part of the L&G partnership, Perci is providing risk reduction, early detection and cancer support services for all ages, including risk assessments, health literacy, screening guidance and one-to-one cancer nurse support.
In terms of cancer risk, early detection and health literacy, the data also reveals a quarter (24%) of users were overdue at least one NHS cancer screening programme, 44% of men aged 50 and over did not know they could request a free PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test via their GP, and 90% of users reported low awareness of the key signs and symptoms of skin cancer.
Despite this, 63% said they would seek medical advice if they noticed a skin change. This suggests the barrier to early action may be awareness and confidence, and not intent.
"Early detection is about much more than screening alone," Morgan Fitzsimons, co-founder & CCO at Perci Health, said. "To truly improve outcomes for working-age populations, we need models that combine risk insight, symptom awareness and specialist nurse guidance - delivered through an engaging digital experience that meets people where they are, rather than expecting them to fit their lives around healthcare.
"When support is accessible, personalised and easy to act on, people seek help sooner, and that’s what ultimately drives better outcomes."
Vanessa Sallows, claims & clinical development director - group protection, L&G, added: "Considering four in ten cancer cases are preventable, the need to help improve risk awareness and health literacy seems paramount, and workplaces of all sizes are ideally placed to help, not least because employers remain 'the most trusted institution' year after year in Edelman’s Trust Barometer, well ahead of government or media.
"In other words, with our support, employers can help build health literacy, tackle misinformation and provide trusted education and support by helping to raise awareness and remove the stigma associated with cancer. Such thinking aligns with the prevention-first goals of both the Keep Britain Working report and the recently announced National Cancer Plan.
"Our proactive approach, in partnership with Perci Health, reflects a shift in risk insurance from reactive cover to earlier intervention, helping close gaps in access while supporting better outcomes for people and employers alike."
