HR on the Offensive: Recent Episodes

LACE Partners

LACE Partners is a fundamentally different leading boutique HR Consultancy based in London, helping businesses with their HR tech, transformation, change and adoption challenges.

What is a CPO? With Kristine Pollock by LACE Partners

In this episode of the People Agenda Podcast, hosts Debbie Mitchell and Gemma Ryall are joined by Stuart Price, chief people officer at Zenith. Stuart draws on a career spanning food retail, healthcare and automotive to explain what the CPO role really involves, the constant tension between driving performance and protecting culture, and how to earn credibility at board level through commercial framing. He also shares why he expects AI to erode the value of technical HR knowledge over the coming years, and what skills will matter more as a result. The conversation is aimed at HR leaders, CPOs and anyone interested in the future shape of the people function.

This podcast episode explores the evolving role of the chief people officer in high-growth organisations. Featuring Toby Hough from HiBob, it examines how HR leaders align with business strategy, manage growth, and embed AI across the organisation. The conversation covers strategic prioritisation, organisational culture, performance evolution and the shift from hypergrowth to optimisation. Designed for senior HR and transformation leaders, the episode provides practical insights into building effective people strategies, fostering a change mindset and navigating the increasing complexity of modern organisations.

The role of the CPO is evolving faster than ever. No longer focused solely on HR operations, today's CPO is increasingly responsible for driving organisational transformation, shaping strategy, influencing culture, and helping businesses navigate complex change. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, Debbie Mitchell speaks to Sean Mileusnic from the RNIB as he shares his perspective on what it means to be a modern CPO and why the role has become critical to organisational success. If you want deeper insights into how today's CPOs are shaping organisations, leading transformation, and preparing for the future, listen to this episode of the People Agenda podcast.

Change is no longer an occasional business challenge. It is a constant reality. Organisations are facing difficult decisions at an unprecedented pace. The real test for leaders is not whether change happens, but how they guide people through it when the impact feels personal. In this The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard, Annette Frem, and Ed Sparkes, explore the practical strategies for managing restructures organisational change with empathy, transparency, and resilience. This topic was also explored in our blog, When change feels personal – navigating tough times, read it for more details. Change may be constant, but how organisations manage it remains a choice. This podcast provides practical guidance for leaders, HR professionals, and change practitioners who want to navigate difficult transitions with empathy, transparency, and confidence. Listen to the full People Agenda podcast to hear the real-world experiences, leadership lessons, and actionable advice from the LACE team.

The role of the Chief People Officer has evolved far beyond traditional HR. In high-growth, private equity-backed businesses, today’s CPO is a commercial leader responsible for driving growth, enabling strategy, shaping culture, and creating the conditions for long-term business success. In this episode of the People Agenda Podcast Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell speak to Michelle Wall as she shares how modern people leadership is becoming a key driver of business value rather than a support function. The modern CPO is no longer focused solely on people processes. The role has become a strategic leadership position that drives growth, supports transformation, strengthens culture, and helps organisations create lasting business value. If you want to understand how people leadership is shaping the future of business, listen to this episode of the People Agenda Podcast.

The modern Chief People Officer is no longer just a people leader. Today's CPO is a strategic business partner, cultural architect, and organisational conscience. In this episode of The People Agenda Podcast Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell speak to Jonny Friedman, Senior Vice President of People and Talent at Acumetis, as he shares how people leaders can balance commercial performance, organisational transformation, and employee experience while navigating rapid growth and change. If you're interested in the future of people leadership, organisational culture, and the evolving role of the Chief People Officer, listen to this podcast episode and hear Jonny Friedman's insights firsthand.

Great leadership roles are rarely defined by job titles alone. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell sit down with Neil Morrison, the Chief People Officer (CPO) of Severn Trent as he explains why the modern CPO is no longer just an HR leader. The role has evolved into a business-critical position focused on organisational performance, culture, trust, and commercial impact. Neil shares practical insights on what separates high-performing executive teams from disconnected leadership groups. This episode offers a practical and refreshingly honest perspective on the future of leadership, culture, and the evolving role of the CPO. If you want actionable insights on organisational performance, executive leadership, and the intersection of people and business strategy, this is a podcast worth listening to.

This People Agenda podcast episode examines what it means to be a chief people officer today. Featuring Joe Binnion, CPO at Keywords Studios, the discussion explores the relationship between people strategy and business strategy, credibility in the C-suite, the metrics that matter, and how AI is beginning to reshape workforce planning and HR leadership. Designed for senior HR, payroll, and change leaders, the episode offers practical insight into the evolving CPO role in complex, global organisations.

The future of early careers is being rewritten in real time.As AI reshapes entry-level roles and application volumes surge, employers are rethinking what potential really looks like, and candidates need a new playbook to stand out.In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by LACE Partners’ Emma Johnson and Talia Pavell, alongside Emily Goodyear, Head of Early Careers at the Financial Conduct Authority, to explore how AI is changing early careers from every angle.From the rise of human skills like judgement and critical thinking, to how employers are redesigning roles and assessments, this conversation offers practical insight for organisations and candidates navigating the AI era.Listen how leading employers are rethinking early careers, and what it really takes to stand out in a competitive, AI-enabled market.https://www.lacepartners.com/are-your-early-careers-hiring-strategies-ready-for-the-ai-era/

The conversation around AI in the workplace is shifting fast and the real tension isn’t about technology, it’s about ownership. Who actually “owns” AI inside an organisation today? In this episode of The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard and LACE Director of AI Data and Technology, Martin Colyer, speak with Chris Cherry from Eightfold. They cut through the noise and explore how HR, IT, and business leaders are navigating agentic AI, and real-world adoption.AI is an operational reality that demands clarity, coordination, and action. If you want to hear the full discussion, including real examples and practical insights from industry experts, take the next step and listen to this podcast.

The role of a Chief People Officer is evolving fast and it’s no longer just about HR. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell speak to Keniro Miller, Chief People Officer at Ultimate Performance, as he reveals how a “triple lens” approach is redefining the modern C-suite. Keniro shows why today’s CPO must operate as a hybrid business leader who can drive performance and shape strategy. Are you a CPO looking to meet likeminded individuals? Our CPO network meet semi-regularly to share insights, discuss challenges and people solutions around the fast-evolving role of a CPO.

“Reward and performance is all about understanding people.” says Jenny Craik. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by experienced HR leader Jenny Craik, who shares insights from her career in reward and performance at organisations like HSBC, Standard Chartered and Barclays. If you want to hear the full conversation and dive deeper into these insights, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast. It’s packed with real-world perspective you won’t get from theory alone. If you want support on how to build an effective reward strategy check out our Reward and performance services page to learn more.

Well-designed incentives can transform organisational performance however, poorly designed ones can quietly undermine strategy, culture, and results. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and LACE reward specialists, Julie Elder and Mike Aldred as they explore how organisations can design incentives that genuinely drive the behaviours they want. They discuss why incentives matter, the most common structures companies use, and how leaders can align reward programmes with business strategy to maximise impact. Incentive design sits at the heart of an effective reward strategy. When done well, it aligns people, performance, and business outcomes in a powerful way. If you want to hear the full discussion and deeper insights from reward experts, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast for practical examples and real-world perspectives on designing incentives that work.

Great leadership does not start with a title. It starts with influence. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we explore one critical question: how can today’s Chief People Officer (CPO) move from having a seat at the table to genuinely shaping business transformation? Drawing on insights from our research “From implementer to influencer” host Chris Howard and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell speak to executive coach Hilary Gee, on how CPOs can build influence among the C-suite.The shift from implementer to influencer is not theoretical. It is behavioural, structural, and relational. If you are a CPO, CEO, or executive navigating transformation in 2026, this conversation offers practical insight you can apply immediately. Tune in to this episode of The People Agenda podcast to hear the full discussion and start redefining HR’s role in business transformation.

Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer a future-focused concept; it’s a present-day business imperative. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by Douglas Leach, Founder of People Strategy Hub and the driving force behind the SWP Summit, to explore what people can expect from the event and why SWP has become critical to business performance today. SWP is shifting from conceptual ambition to operational necessity. Listen now to hear the full conversation about the upcoming summit and dive deeper into these strategic workforce topics.

in hiring and how your organisation can remain vigilant of recruitment fraud, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast.

A on the people side, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast and hear directly from Andrew and Shivani who share their experiences.

In our recent podcast with Beth Scaysbrook from Addidat, a leading ESG data and advisory firm, and our very own Martin Colyer, Director of Digital and AI here at LACE. Together they explore why the intersection of AI and ESG matters, the myths that often hold organisations back, and the practical steps leaders need to take to navigate this evolving landscape. From workforce transformation to ethical governance and sustainability, we uncover the realities behind the headlines, and what it means for businesses preparing for the future.

AI is no longer a future concept. It is already reshaping how organisations lead, plan, and compete. The real question is not whether AI will change the world of work, but who will lead that change. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we unpack Visier’s latest report, The Business Case for Humans in the AI Era, exploring five key trends that show why HR, powered by data and generative AI, is stepping into a central role in business transformation. Host Chris Howard is joined by Andrea Derler, Principal Researcher at Visier, and Dibyendu Sharma Mondal, Head of People Analytics at Unisys. Together, they discuss how organisations like Unisys are using generative AI to augment human capability and drive better business outcomes.

HR leaders are being asked to deliver more strategic value at exactly the moment when uncertainty, cost pressure, and technology disruption are accelerating. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and fellow LACErs, Marcus Uzubalis, Gemma Ryall and Kayley Gaylor, discuss the strategic disruptors that the new HR ecosystem needs to adapt to. If you want to hear the nuance behind these disruptors, and how HR leaders can practically respond, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast. Want to know how you can rewire HR for the ever-changing business landscape of today join our campaign, Rewired HR - https://www.lacepartners.com/rewired-hr/

Is it time to rewire HR? In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard talks to LACErs Kat Bernardes and Alice McCormack who are behind our latest campaign Rewired HR. This campaign explores our new HR operating model built to respond to rapid global change, moving beyond traditional structures to focus on business outcomes, agility, and integrating AI as a core part of the team rather than just a tool. Listen now as Kat and Alice give an overview of the model and why traditional operating model are no longer fit for purpose. As part of our Rewired series, we will be exploring each area in detail all content will be added to our Rewired hub as it’s released.

The latest episode of the People Agenda podcast dives into the evolving world of payroll and reward strategy, offering insights that every HR and payroll professional needs to hear. Hosted by Chris Howard from Lace Partners, this episode features two industry experts: Simon Puryer, Head of Payroll Practice at Lace Partners, and Vickie Graham, Managing Director of Reward Strategy. Together, they unpack the highlights from the recent Reward Strategy Summit, a flagship event attracting over 200 senior professionals from across sectors.The discussion begins with reflections on the summit’s purpose and audience, before moving into the key themes shaping payroll and reward today. One major topic is the challenge of building a compelling business case for investment in payroll technology and processes. Simon shares practical advice on how to engage stakeholders, tailor messaging for different audiences, and demonstrate value beyond simple cost comparisons. Vickie adds her perspective on common pitfalls, such as focusing solely on accuracy and timeliness without articulating the wider organisational benefits.Another hot topic is artificial intelligence. Both speakers explore how AI is influencing payroll operations, from real-time reporting to shifting roles towards more analytical and compliance-focused tasks. They emphasise that AI is not about replacing people but enhancing processes, and they caution against viewing it as a quick fix. Incremental change and understanding the legislative context remain critical.For HR and payroll leaders, this episode offers actionable insights on future-proofing operations, aligning strategies with employee expectations, and preparing for regulatory changes like the EU pay transparency directive. Whether you’re planning for 2026 or looking to optimise your current processes, this conversation provides clarity and inspiration.https://www.lacepartners.com/what-should-payroll-leaders-know-from-the-reward-strategy-summit-2025

What changed in the UK Budget for pensions and salary sacrifice? From 2029, a £2,000 annual cap will be introduced on National Insurance (NI) savings through pension salary sacrifice. Any pension contributions made via salary sacrifice above this cap will become subject to NI. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by reward experts, Mike Aldred and Jeremy HIll, to discuss the impact of this change in the budget on employees and organisations. They also explore how organisations can prepare for the upcoming changes.

Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) is no longer about spreadsheets and headcount forecasts. It’s about driving real business change. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by some of our people analytics team; Nancy Allen, Jo Clarke de Dromantin and Julian Holmes as they reflect on the SWP Conference London. During the conference it was acknowledged how SWP had shifted from cost control to business transformation. Today, SWP exists to tackle real business challenges including productivity, growth, skills shortages, and AI adoption, rather than simply managing numbers or budgets. SWP needs to account for all forms of work. That means looking beyond full-time employees to include contractors and contingent labour, as well as bots, automation systems, and AI agents. Workforce planning is evolving into workforce plus automation planning, reflecting how work is truly delivered today.

A concise conversation with Danny Harmer, Chief People Officer at Aviva, exploring what makes a modern CPO effective. Discover how aligning people strategy with business goals, building trust-based relationships, and anticipating future workforce needs drive organisational success.

Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series, What is a CPO? Hosted by Debbie Mitchell, Director at LACE Partners and lead of our CPO Network, this series explores the evolving role of the Chief People Officer (CPO). Through conversations with experienced CPOs, we’ll dive into how the function is changing, the challenges leaders face, and how collaboration is shaping the future of HR. In this mini-series, we’ll be speaking with leaders who have held or currently hold the role across different industries and sectors. In this episode, Debbie is joined by Nicky Bliss, People Director at Sainsbury’s and a member of our CPO Network. Together, they dive into the central question: What is a CPO?

I team speak to Lildonia Lawrence, a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, as they discuss allyship, anti-racism, and bystander intervention as key skills for every HR leader.

In this new episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard and performance management expert Debbie Mitchell sit down with Amira Kohler, AI Change Consultant and Transformation Expert at People Stuff Limited, to explore how AI is transforming performance management. From turning data into real-time insights that help managers prepare, coach, and evaluate more effectively, to analysing feedback and development goals in seconds. AI is changing the way we manage and develop people. Real success depends on balance because even the smartest algorithms can’t replace human judgement.

In a rapidly changing business world, HR is no longer simply the team that implements transformation, it’s becoming the driving force behind it. That’s the focus of the latest People Agenda podcast episode, which explores how HR’s influence in shaping business transformation has evolved from supportive to strategic. Host Chris Howard and co-authors Julian Holmes and Katie Jacobs, discuss insights from our latest whitepaper From implementer to influencer: Redefining HR’s role in business transformation.

It’s an exciting day as we announce that our podcast - previously known as HR on the Offensive has had a refresh and will now be The People Agenda! New name, same faces and same great content. We believe this new identity better reflects how work, people, and leadership have evolved. In this episode hosts Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell dive into the deeper question of how HR has transformed from a back-office function to a strategic driver of business success.

Strategic workforce planning (SWP) at its heart is about answering a very human question: how can organisations ensure they have the right people, in the right roles, at the right time to deliver on their goals? That’s the compelling premise of The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook by David Edwards, which highlights what it’s really like to grapple with workforce challenges on the ground. David joins the HR on the Offensive podcast to discuss the contents of his new book with host Chris Howard and LACE Executive Director Julian Holmes.If you like what you hear, you can pre-order David’s book here - https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/the-strategic-workforce-planning-handbook-9781398623590

The Payroll function may not always be the ‘flashiest’ part of a business, but it’s one of the most vital and one that’s undergoing a remarkable transformation. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard and LACE payroll expert Tricia Conway are joined by guest Ian Giles Global Payroll Sales Director at Dayforce, discussing Payroll’s role, challenges, and future in the modern workplace. This podcast aims to reframe payroll from an unseen process to a critical enabler of business success, one that’s evolving fast, and one that demands leaders, not just administrators, to take it forward.

Fifteen million people, half of all workers, are set to benefit from the Employment Rights Bill, which will establish day one rights to parental and bereavement leave, include sick pay for up to 1.3 million of the lowest earners, and challenge fire and rehire practices. This marks the biggest shift since the Employment Rights Act of 1996. For HR professionals and business leaders, the conversation isn’t about whether this bill matters, it’s about how quickly they can prepare. On this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris Howard and Chris Horton are joined by Paul Chamberlain, Head of Employment at JMW Solicitors, as they discuss what changes HR teams should be preparing for. Although, the bill is set to roll out in stages the impact will be felt immediately.

Did you know not all breast cancers can be treated the same way? In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast host Chris Howard, a member from our CSR team Natalie Berkoff, and guest Robin Woolcock, chairman of the UK charity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), pulls back the curtain on one of the most aggressive and least understood forms of the disease. The UK charity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer is one of LACE Partners’ chosen charities that we choose to support and to us, support is more than charitable donations, but it is also about raising awareness. That is what we hope to do with today’s podcast. `

Ever wondered what it really takes to run a world-class payroll function? In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard and LACEr Julie Choudhury and special guest Melanie Pizzey, Founder of the Global Payroll Alliance (GPA), dive into the evolving landscape of payroll and the critical importance of getting the basics right. Listen now to learn how your Payroll function can support broader business goals and drive business success.

For many, the title has a different meaning depending on the business and the requirements (the scope also differs depending on which ‘hat’ a CPO wears), often seen as just another corporate rebrand of HR. Yet, as Kathryn Kendall, CPO at Saltus, explains in this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, the role is complex and nuanced. It’s about creating the conditions where people thrive so organisations can perform at their best. She discusses with host Chris Howard that the modern CPO is embedded in the business, understanding its culture, and championing its people strategy at every level.

What does HR Shared Services and Payroll transformation look like in practice? That’s the question at the centre of the latest HR on the Offensive podcast, where Chris Howard and Dawn Goodall from LACE Partners were joined by Clare Phillips, Global Head of HR Services at IFS, and Michael Serbrock, Head of Change at Lloyds Banking Group. Clare and Michael recently spoke to our HRSS and Payroll networks about their transformation journeys, which was so insightful we wanted to share it with you!

Addiction in the workplace is often a silent issue. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast host Chris Howard and guest, Dr. Georges Petitjean, Clinical Director at Inclusion, cut through the taboo to reveal why HR leaders can’t afford to ignore it. Georges explains that addiction is as a spectrum, from low-risk use, on one end, to compulsive behaviours continued despite harm, on the other. This not only includes well-known addictions but also caffeine, prescription medication, or even behavioural addictions such as gambling. All of these challenges have an impact on the employee’s personal life but also their work life, and as such should be a consideration for HR leaders.

In a recent conversation, Chris Howard sat down with LACE payroll experts Simon Bunday and Simon Puryer to unpack the not only the insights from our latest whitepaper but also the power of our payroll community. They emphasised how the community, through shared insights, can support a more holistic approach to payroll strategy, that goes beyond day-to-day transactions and focuses on payroll as a strategic, foundational element of business operations.

If you’ve ever asked yourself who’s looking out for the people who look after everyone else, the latest episode of HR on the Offensive dives straight into that question. Chris Howard is joined by clinical psychologist and Ultimate Resilience co-founder Dr. Jo Burrell to unpack a tough but important reality: HR professionals, who are responsible for supporting the well-being of others, are increasingly struggling with their own mental health.This podcast doesn’t just highlight a problem; it offers a path forward. Listen to learn how you can turn insight into action before burnout becomes the new baseline.

What happens when two of the most culturally distinct functions in a business—HR and IT—are brought together under a single umbrella? In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris Howard is joined by fellow LACEr Julian Holmes and guest John Guy, CEO at Simply Get Results, as they explore the implications of merging HR and IT in an era increasingly shaped by AI and workforce transformation.

In this episode, Chris Howard and LACE founder Aaron Alburey unpack the results of a global study revealing the disconnect between HR’s ambitions and its real influence in business transformation. What needs to change—and how can HR step up? Tune in to find out.

AI is transforming the world of work at speed—but with great potential comes a need for clarity, accountability, and smart, human-centred decisions. That’s why we developed the TRUSTED AI framework at LACE Partners: a practical, values-led model to help organisations adopt AI in ways that are responsible, secure, and truly useful.In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris Howard sits down with LACE AI experts Martin Colyer and Charlie Frost to unpack the framework and what it means for forward-thinking HR teams wanting to trust in AI.Introducing the TRUSTED AI FrameworkWe’ve also published two companion blogs that go deeper into each element of the model—but here’s a quick guide to what TRUSTED stands for:T — TechnologyMake sure your AI tools and infrastructure match the needs of your people and business—not the other way around.R — RegulationStay compliant with evolving laws and ethical expectations. Responsible AI starts with knowing the rules.U — UsabilityIf AI isn’t intuitive, it won’t get used. Prioritise design that blends seamlessly into everyday workflows.S — SecurityKeep systems and data safe. Robust protection is essential when dealing with sensitive HR information.T — TransparencyBuild trust by making it clear how AI decisions are made, and how tools are trained and evaluated.E — EthicsAI must be fair and accountable. Bias and unintended consequences must be actively addressed—not left to chance.D — DataHigh-quality, well-governed data is the fuel for reliable AI. Without it, everything else breaks down.

When you think of payroll, it’s easy to imagine a simple process: work, get paid, repeat. But behind that straightforward cycle lies an intricate network of operations, systems, and strategy that most employees—and many businesses—rarely see. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by LACE payroll experts Chris Kirby and Nick Osborne-Moore to dive into our recent whitepaper, “Optimal Payroll Starts with the Foundations”. Together, they take listeners behind the scenes to explore what it truly takes to build a world-class payroll function. It’s evident that payroll has outgrown its transactional roots. For organisations looking to future-proof their payroll function, investing in the foundational elements outlined in the whitepaper is essential. Listen now for a concise overview of how to build the foundations of an optimal payroll function. For a deeper dive into the seven key pillars, download our full whitepaper. - https://www.lacepartners.com/payroll-foundations/

Struggling to get the most out of your HR tech investment? You’re not alone. In the latest episode of HR on the Offensive, host Chris Howard, Ffion Bennett, and Louise Brown delve into “Less Stress Part Three,” a continuation of our Less stress series, which aims to guide businesses through their HRIS implementation journey. This third instalment tackles a commonly overlooked but crucial phase: post-implementation optimisation. Optimisation doesn’t happen by accident. By treating it with the same rigour as implementation—complete with dedicated resources and budget—prevents stagnation and ensures the system keeps pace with business growth. Whether you're post-go-live or planning your next tech move, listen now to learn how you can get the most out of your HRIS. Download our whitepaper for a more in-depth exploration. - https://www.lacepartners.com/less-stress-hris-part-three-beyond-launch-unlocking-the-full-value-of-your-hris/

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by LACEr Gemma Ryall and guest Neil Carberry, CEO of the REC, for a great conversation about skills, productivity, and the changing world of work. They explore the challenges organisations are navigating in today’s fast-paced global environment—especially when it comes to embracing AI while maintaining the critical value of human connection. Listen now to learn how to strike the right balance between embracing new technology and understanding the human side of work.

What if AI didn’t just reshape jobs, but reshaped how we think about work itself? Many organisations are rethinking the way that work get's delivered, whether that's through skills-based approaches or changes in strategic workforce planning. AI is central to conversations on this topic and is the core of this discussion on the HR on the Offensive podcast, where Chris Howard is joined by fellow LACEr Gemma Ryall as they speak to Dr Nicola Millard, Principal Innovation Partner at BT Business about the impact of AI on the workplace. AI isn’t here to replace people; it’s here to enhance how people work—if we’re thoughtful about how we implement it. Listen now to learn how AI can be used to transform the workplace for the better.

In today’s evolving business climate, efficiency can no longer be synonymous with cost-cutting and headcount reduction. In our opinion, that's an outdated view risks undermining both performance and resilience. In our latest whitepaper The Efficiency Paradox, we outline a three-step approach to tackling this problem. For this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris speaks with the authors of the whitepaper; Martin Colyer, Adam Morris, and Pavan Bilkhoo as they explore each step. Listen now for a brief overview of the three key areas of focus to tackling the efficiency paradox. Download our whitepaper to learn how you can unlock more with what you already have.

Navigating the evolving world of global talent acquisition is no easy task—it's complex, fast-moving, and full of unexpected challenges. That’s why this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and Pavan Bilkhoo speak to Monika Lubczak-Pufelska, author of Shortlisted for a Better Life. Monika unpacks the cultural nuances, strategic missteps, and hard-won lessons that define today’s international recruitment landscape. If you're navigating cross-border talent strategies and wondering why your efforts might not be succeeding, listen now for Monika’s valuable perspectives and practical advice.

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report for 2025 highlights a massive transformation in the global job market. An estimated 170 million new jobs will be emerging in the next decade, alongside the displacement of around 92 million roles. That's a net increase, but it underscores the sheer scale of the skills evolution we're facing. In the latest HR on the Offensive podcast. Chris is joined by LACEr and talent expert Pavan Bilkhoo, as they discuss the looming skills gap facing UK organisation. This is not a distant problem; the Open University Business Barometer from last year already showed that a significant chunk of UK organisations – over 60% – are grappling with skills shortages right now. HR leaders must carve out time for strategic reflection. Making space to think critically about workforce transformation is what will set future-fit organisations apart. Listen now to learn how to modernise your workforce strategy and ensure the future readiness of your workforce.

What do you do when your business is hit with rising costs, regulatory changes, and mounting pressure to deliver more with less? In this episode of HR on the Offensive, Chris is joined by Simon Fowler, CEO at Empowering People Group, to discuss how HR leaders can strategically navigate cost pressures—including minimum wage increases and recent changes to National Insurance contributions (NIC). Listen now to learn how you can empower your people managers in this new financial landscape.

In today’s fast-evolving workplace, organisations are looking for smarter ways to manage talent, align workforce strategies with business objectives, and leverage technology to stay ahead. As part of our Becoming skills-powered campaign Chris alongside LACE strategic workforce planning expert Becki Lovelady speak to Tom Shurrock VP of Product at Beamery. In this episode they unpack the strategies, challenges, and innovations shaping modern strategic workforce planning (SWP). SWP is an approach that forecasts the skills needed to meet business outcomes, not just in moment but for the future. By looking ahead, you are able to evaluate the actions needed such as upskilling current workforce or hiring in new skills. They also discuss how Beamery’s AI-driven talent platform is transforming SWP, helping businesses build more agile, skills-based organisations that can navigate the complexities of the modern labour market. The future of SWP is about being proactive, data-driven, and human-centric. Companies that invest in their people will not only navigate the complexities of the modern workforce but emerge as industry leaders. Listen now to learn how you can use a skills-based approach to refine your SWP.

Today businesses rely on data more than ever, ensuring that information is accurate, actionable, and properly managed can make or break a technology investment. This episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast unpacks the complex, often overlooked role of data quality in HR technology and system implementation. Chris and fellow LACErs Martin Colyer and Becki Lovelady, explores the impact of poor-quality data. Listen now to understand why high data quality is essential and how to sustain it over time.

Payroll is the backbone of any organisation, ensuring employees are compensated accurately and on time. Yet, despite its critical role, payroll teams often operate behind the scenes, dealing with complex challenges that many outside the function rarely consider. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by LACE payroll experts Adrian Axtell, Simon Puryer, Chris Kirby, Tricia Conway, and Simon Bunday. Together, they delve into the realities of payroll, the obstacles professionals face, and how the function is evolving to meet the demands of the future. Payroll is no longer just an administrative function—it is a vital component of a company's success. Listen now to learn payroll can evolve to meet the challenges of the future of HR.

Navigating change is one of the most critical challenges organisations face, and the latest HR on the Offensive podcast dives deep into this subject, offering insights into how leaders can guide their teams through transformation effectively. Chris and change experts Gemma Ryall and Annette Frem discuss the concept of leading through change. Effective change leadership directly influences engagement, productivity, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, financial performance. Organisations that fail to evolve risk stagnation. Listen now to hear some pearls of wisdom from Gemma and Annette, and do feel free to reach out if via the form below if you’d like to discuss your change journey with them directly.

Business transformation isn’t just about strategy and execution—it’s about people. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris, along with Aaron Aubrey, speak with Sally Earnshaw, a specialist in driving cultural and leadership change. Their discussion centres on the crucial role HR plays in enabling large-scale transformation and how leaders can effectively communicate the “why” behind change to inspire and mobilise their people.Employees are more likely to embrace new ways of working if they see visible commitment from the top. Transformation isn’t just about systems and structures—it’s about culture, leadership, and people. Listen now to learn how to prioritise the human side of change.

What makes a great people manager? And how do you build the skills for the future super-charged people manager who is no longer just supervisor; but a coach, mentor and enabler of growth? Organisations that truly harness the potential of their people managers unlock new levels of productivity, engagement, and innovation. But what does it take to create these ‘supercharged’ people managers? And what role do they play in the success of a skills-powered organisation? This is what Chris and Debbie Mitchell discuss in this amazing episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, as part of our Becoming skills-powered series.Listen now to hear more of Debbie’s thoughts on how by equipping line managers with the right tools you can supercharge employee engagement and productivity through skills approaches.

In today's fast-changing business world, transformation is no longer a one-time event—it’s a continuous process. In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACE co-founder Aaron Alburey discuss our new campaign, Driving business transformation: HR as the conductors of change, exploring why HR should take the lead in reshaping organisations. Our campaign aims to position HR as the strategic leader, the conductor orchestrating productivity, efficiency, and sustainable growth. For HR professionals looking to lead transformation within their organisations, listen now for valuable insights into the mindset shift HR needs to lead the change. Sign up to our campaign to stay updated with exclusive content, events, and resources designed to put HR at the forefront of transformation. - https://lacepartners.co.uk/hr-driving-business-transformation/

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, company culture plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable performance. This was the central theme of a recent episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris spoke with Niall Cluley, Managing Director at Dragonfish UK to discuss their latest research on culture alignment and its impact on organisational success.Listen now to learn how your business can unlock its full potential and drive long-term success through cultural alignment.

What does the future hold for payroll? In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACE payroll expert Chris Kirby speak with Nick Day, Founder of JGA Recruitment Group as they discuss how you can build the perfect payroll professional.The future of payroll is evolving rapidly, and those who embrace change won’t just thrive—they’ll redefine the impact payroll can have on organisations. Listen now to discover the key skills payroll professionals need to succeed in today’s landscape.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris, predicts the year ahead for HR with guest Idris Arshad, Head of People at Asthma + Lung UK. Idris believes that in 2025 HR transformation must transcend buzzwords, advocating for clearly defined roles and proactive contributions to organisational evolution.Idris believes that in 2025 HR will not only secure a strategic seat at the table but also solidify its role as a cornerstone of organisational success in a rapidly evolving business environment. Listen now to hear more of Idris’ predictions.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising HR, and in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast Chris delves into this transformation with guests Andrea Derla, Principal Research Value and Ben Harris, VP EMEA both at Visier. The discussion is centred on a report from Visier, “Managers Know AI Tools Make Them More Effective – Can HR Deliver?” that explores how generative AI can empower managers and transform decision-making in the workplace.Listen now to discover how to overcome the challenges of adopting AI solutions for people analytics.

In today’s “HR on the Offensive” podcast, Chris and LACEr Pavan Bilkhoo speak to Jig Ramji, Chief Talent Officer at Aviva, as they explore skills-based organisations potential to redefine traditional HR practices and empower employees along the way. They discuss the ways this shift influences talent acquisition, reward systems and career progression as organisations prioritise skills over roles or hierarchies.This podcast is part of our Becoming skills-powered campaign where we are unpacking some of the BIG questions around skills approaches; from what the foundations are through to which skills solutions are right for you.More info on our campaign: https://lacepartners.co.uk/becoming-skills-powered/

At LACE we talk about how we are ‘fundamentally different’ HR consultancy but what does that really mean? This guiding principle, or as we call it the LACE way, informs our approach to both clients and internal operations. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris speaks with LACE co-founder Aaron Alburey on what makes LACE 'fundamentally different'.Listen now for insights on how LACE approaches their projects, whether it’s people strategy or improving your payroll function we have a unique approach and culture that’s worth knowing about it.

HR professionals often carry the weight of organisational wellbeing on their shoulders. But in this case; who supports the supporters? In this insightful discussion from the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard and Chris Horton explore this often-overlooked challenge alongside Paul McGregor, a mental health advocate and founder of Everymind at Work.Listen now to learn how to build a workplace that ensures all employees are supported.

Imagine a workplace where creativity thrives, unbounded by traditional barriers—this concept is called “borderless creativity.” In this episode of HR on the Offensive, Chris and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell speak to Elaine Grell, Chief People Officer of Ogilvy, as they explore this concept and its transformative implications for leadership, diversity and workplace culture.Listen now to learn how your organisation can resist stagnation and foster a workplace culture that cultivates innovation.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by LACErs Charlie Frost and Aaron Lynch, our in-house AI experts, as they chat with Ben Williams, Founder and Managing Director of Sten10. They discuss the transformative impact of AI on organisations attempting to become skills-powered. Listen now to learn how AI is reshaping workplace dynamics, skill requirements, and organisational strategies.

In this special episode of HR on the Offensive, Chris sits down with our Co-Founders, Aaron Alburey and Cathy Acratopulo, to reflect on 10 incredible years. Together, they look back on LACE’s journey from an ambitious vision in 2014 to a leading consultancy with a team of nearly 100, a trusted network of associates, and long-lasting client partnerships across industries.Aaron and Cathy share memorable moments, from early years that were all about laying strong foundations to the milestones along the way. A standout example: the pandemic, when team well-being and client support came first—weekly all-hands meetings and a stronger listening culture were some of the enduring practices born from that time.Today, LACE’s legacy includes a growing community of alumni, clients, and partners. As they look forward, Aaron and Cathy share their hopes for the future, aiming for continued growth while staying true to LACE’s core values: passion, innovation, and care.

In our latest HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACE director Pavan Bilkhoo speak to Tom Larter, CEO of WithYouWithMe, a software platform which maps and manages workforce skills, allowing organisations to understand current capabilities and future requirements. The discussion centred around the organisation's innovative approach to combatting underemployment and fostering inclusive hiring practices.Listen now to learn how a skills-first approach can transform the way you hire and manage your talent in your organisation as well as unlocking untapped talent pools across the market.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and LACE CEO Cathy Acratopulo are joined by Lucinda Carney, CEO and Founder of Actus and host of the HR Uprising podcast. They explore how organisational development (OD) reaches beyond structure to drive leadership development, talent management, culture, and continuous improvement—all aligning with broader business strategy.Listen now to learn how organisation design can drive business transformation with people-focused solutions that meet your organisation's objectives.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACEr Gemma Ryall speak to Simon Gibson, Head of Talent at Center Parcs. The focus of the podcast is skills-based organisations and how companies can effectively transition to a skills-focused approach. More organisations are moving to a skills-based approach. That’s why we’ve launched our Becoming skills-Powered campaign to explore the key questions and challenges surrounding this shift - https://lacepartners.co.uk/becoming-skills-powered/Listen now to learn how you can use a skills-based approach to bridge your skill gaps.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACE Director Pavan Bilkhoo speak to Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), on how the world of recruitment is undergoing a significant transformation.Listen now to learn how businesses and recruiters are rethinking their approaches to talent acquisition and workforce management.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris welcomes fellow LACEr Julian Holmes, who shares his insights from the recent HR Analytics Summit. The discussion centres around the growing importance of data analytics in HR and how organisations can harness people analytics to drive better business outcomes.Overall, the HR Analytics Summit showcased how organisations are utilising data to create scalable, repeatable processes, improving both employee and business outcomes. Listen now for more key takeaways from the summit.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris, LACE CEO Cathy Acratopulo and guest Melanie Steel, one of HR Magazine’s most influential for 2024, delve into how different business drivers shape HR operating models. These drivers include agility, customer intimacy, growth, and productivity. This is part of our Demystifying the HR Operating Model campaign read more here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/demystifying-the-hr-operating-model/Listen now to learn the necessity of aligning HR strategies with broader business objectives and the importance of adaptability.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and LACEr Pavan Bilkhoo discuss the importance of skills in driving business performance with their guest, Craige Heaney, VP of Talent and Organisational Effectiveness at Pandora.Listen now to learn how a skills-based approach not only enhances employee capabilities but also drives bottom-line value for the business.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACEr Chris Horton along with guest Anthony Nash, co-founder of Leadership Success, explore the role of leadership in enabling skills-based organisations (SBOs), focusing on how companies are adapting to prioritise skills over traditional job structures.Listen now to learn what role leadership plays in guiding organisations towards a skills-based approach – and follow our campaign for more skills insights.https://lacepartners.co.uk/becoming-skills-powered

How does having a family-inclusive approach benefit employers as much as employees? What impact does it have on employer brand? How can care provision when there is a disruption help to ensure engaged employees? These are just a few questions that we explore in our latest podcast, featuring Jennifer Listen-Smith from Bright Horizons. They talk about their Work+Family Snapshot, which you can find out more about here -https://solutions.brighthorizons.co.uk/resources/work-family-snapshot

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by LACE payroll expert Adrian Axtell, along with Bronwynn Gordon, Global Payroll Director, and Claire Findell, VP of People Operations at Sage, to celebrate National Payroll Week. Together, they explore the importance of the payroll profession and dive into its evolution, current challenges and future opportunities.Listen now as we celebrate National Payroll Week and highlight the essential role payroll professionals play within an organisation.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris discusses the concept of unbossing in the workplace. He is joined by fellow LACErs Marcus Uzubalis and Stephanie Abel, as they explore the definition, benefits, and challenges of unbossing. Listen now to learn how you can successfully implement unbossing into your organisation.

In this HR on the Offensive podcast the conversation centres on how HR and people-centric strategies have evolved, particularly in the post-pandemic world. To explore this, Chris and fellow LACEr Cathy Acratopulo invite on Kathryn Dolan, Chief People Officer at Bureau Veritas, to share insights from her experience.Listen now to learn how to better equip your HR team is to support the organisation's business goals.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris discusses the evolving role of AI in HR with LACErs Charlie Frost and Aaron Alburey, alongside guest David Wilson, CEO of Fosway Group.Listen now to learn how AI will affect your business processes and how to prepare for this ongoing technological shift.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, we look at one of the primary business drivers from our, “Demystifying the HR Operating Model” campaign. We’ve identified four primary business drivers to shape your HR operating model around; growth, customer intimacy, agility, or productivity. Chris is joined by LACE Co-Founder and CEO Cathy Acratopulo and Helen Webb, Chief People Officer at WHSmith, to discuss productivity as a key business driver.Listen now to learn how you can boost your productivity business driver.

We're excited to launch our new campaign: Becoming Skills-Powered. In this episode of the "HR on the Offensive" podcast, Chris is joined by LACE team members Pavan Bilkhoo, Romy Hobson, and Gemma Ryall to talk about the campaign's goals and the importance of skills-based organisations.These organisations look beyond job titles to recognise employees for their wide range of skills from different experiences and personal lives. This approach changes how we think about talent and work, focusing on matching the right people to the right tasks to improve flexibility and efficiency.This approach brings flexibility, cost savings, and the ability to quickly adapt to business changes. For employees, it offers clear career paths, opportunities to learn new skills, and more chances to move up within the organisation.Our campaign aims to simplify the information about skills-based organisations and break it down into practical steps. This will help organisations keep up with rapid changes and tackle skill shortages by using internal talent instead of always hiring from outside. Find out more about "Becoming skills-powered": https://lacepartners.co.uk/becoming-skills-powered/

We have recently launched our newest whitepaper “Less stress HRIS – Part one: The road to the cloud”. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris is joined by fellow LACERs Aaron Alburey and Sian Beacham as they cover the five steps to delivering the perfect HRIS implementation.To dive deeper into each step, download your free copy of the whitepaper here - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12884281/

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, we revisit our ongoing campaign, "Demystifying the HR operating model". In this series we explain how your HR operating model needs to be shaped to support your key business driver - whether that's productivity, customer intimacy, agility or in this case, growth. In this episode, Chris is joined by Aaisha Knights, Chief People Officer at LMAX Group, to discuss one of these critical drivers: rapid growth.Listen now for Aaisha’s insights into the multifaceted role of HR in a rapidly growing business. View the campaign here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/prologue-demystifying-the-hr-operating-model/

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive, Chris explores the crucial topic of HR professionals' mental wellbeing. Chris and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell speak to Dr Jo Burrell author of the HR Mental Wellbeing Report and Rachel Jones, Director of People from Sodexo to discuss the report and provide insights from both clinical and practical HR perspectives.Listen now to discover the wellbeing challenges HR professionals face today and learn how organisations can better support them.You can download the report here - https://www.ultimateresilience.co.uk/hr-mental-wellbeing-report

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris dives into rapidly evolving topic of AI in HR. He is joined by fellow LACErs Aaron Alburey, and our resident AI expert Charlie Frost, to discuss the practical uses of AI in HR.Listen now to learn how you can better navigate the complexities of AI integration, enhancing your HR functions and overall business operations.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris along with fellow LACErs Aaron Alburey and Debbie Mitchell discuss how CPOs should spend the first 90 days of working within a new HR function. They delve into the crucial strategies and considerations for CPOs as they navigate the initial period in a new role. Listen now to find out how you can make the most of your first 90 days, laying a solid foundation for your new role and driving meaningful change within your organisation.Here at LACE Debbie leads our CPO healthcheck, take a look if you would like additional support as a CPO -https://lacepartners.co.uk/what-is-a-cpo-healthcheck-and-how-can-it-help-you/

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris discusses how organisations can benchmark their performance in the people and workforce analytics space with Aaron Lynch and Johanna Clarke de Dromantin from LACE’s people analytics team.Listen now to to discover how you can evaluate the maturity of your people and workforce analytics teams. Our PWA Navigator survey is designed to help organisations assess their analytics teams based on LACE's maturity framework, which includes six key themes: strategy, systems and data, reporting and analytics, operating model, skills and behaviours, and self-perception. If you would like to complete our survey follow this link - https://7zmqgdxdn9c.typeform.com/to/okgWb6oJ

In this episode, Chris and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell discuss the topic of the general election and its potential impact on HR. Our newest whitepaper, “The successful CPO: Election special” provides an overview of the main parties' positions on employment the potential implications for HR professionals.Listen now to get ahead of the game and get ready for change. If you would like to read our whitepaper you can download a free copy here.

The latest HR on the Offensive podcast, hosted by Chris, delves into leadership and AI. Joined by LACE AI expert Charlie Frost, LACE Co-Founder Cathy Acrotopulo, and guest, Nick Chatrath, Managing Director of the Artesian Group. The discussion centres around his book, "The Threshold: Leading in the Age of AI" which addresses the intersections of AI advancements and leadership.Listen now to learn how fostering adaptive leadership, can help HR and organisations navigate the uncertainties and opportunities presented by AI advancements.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by people analytics experts and LACErs Nancy Allen and Jo Schwabl as they reflect on the recent People Analytics World 2024 event, discussing key topics and insights from the conference.

In this follow up to our “Mentoring in HR – how can it be used?” podcast, Chris and Debbie Mitchell are once again joined by Charlotte Watmore, the Inclusion and Diversity Project Manager at Wates Group, and Charly Young, the CEO and co-founder of both The Girls Network and the Equilibrium Gender Collective. They discuss the theme of mentoring, particularly focusing on the quantifiable outputs and impacts of mentoring programs.Listen now for valuable insights into the intricacies of mentoring programs

Chris and Emma Leonis-Hughes welcome Jennifer Liston-Smith, the Head of Thought Leadership at Bright Horizons, as their guest. Together, they delve into the latest insights from the Modern Families Index report from 2024, a piece of research conducted by Bright Horizons since 2012. This discussion sheds light on the myriad of challenges confronted by working parents and caregivers. Bright Horizons offer comprehensive services to support working families and employers in creating family-friendly workplaces.This podcast episode discusses hurdles encountered by working parents and caregivers. Listen now to explore actionable strategies for cultivating a workplace environment that supports parents and caregivers in in achieving a healthy work-life balance.

On the latest HR on the Offensive podcast Chris delves into the critical role of leadership in building organisational culture and enhancing employee engagement. Chris is joined by Andy Brown, co-founder of Engage, and Pete Thomas, owner and director of Team Fit Limited. They explore various aspects of leadership's impact on culture and engagement, shedding light on key insights and practical strategies.The podcast underscores the essential link between leadership, culture, and engagement in driving organisational success. Listen now to learn how leaders can take ownership of these areas, recognise their impact, and adopt proactive approaches.

In this episode, Chris brings in LACE Payroll specialists Simon Puryer and Chris Kirby to discuss the payroll fundamentals you need to get right. Listen now to learn why it's important to have the payroll basics right and why you should start thinking beyond the next tax year.

In this podcast episode, Chris and LACE payroll experts Adrian Axtell and Sara Thompson discuss national minimum wage breaches. After delving into recent press coverage around companies facing allegations of underpaying their employees, the conversation moves on to the payroll teams’ responsibility in ensuring compliance and explores strategies for businesses to address this issue.Overall, the discussion underscores the multifaceted nature of national minimum wage compliance. Listen now for proactive steps you can take to uphold ethical and legal standards while prioritising employee welfare and ensuring minimum wage compliance.

In the latest episode Chris introduces co-host, Debbie Mitchell, and guest Graham Norris, an Organisational Psychologist and Speaker. The focus of this episode is on HR professionals’ abilities to think strategically and long-term. The summary delves into various aptitudes necessary for navigating future HR challenges.HR professionals need to confidently engage in strategic conversations about the future, thereby positioning themselves as drivers of change and innovation within their organisations. Listen now to learn how to cultivate a mindset that embraces uncertainty and anticipates change

In the latest episode Chris is joined by LACE people analytics experts Becki Lovelady and Nancy Allen, as they discuss the importance of maintaining accurate and reliable people data in organisations.Listen now to learn how you can unlock the full potential of your people data and drive organisational success.

In this episode Chris is joined by LACErs Debbie Mitchell and Ffion Bennett as they speak to guest Susan Binnersley, Director at h2h Limited. The discussion revolves around the complexities of outplacement, shedding light on its significance during times of organisational change. Outplacement, often included in a severance package, is a benefit offered by employers to assist terminated or laid-off employees in transitioning to new jobs or careers.Listen now for valuable insights into best practices for managing transitions with empathy and professionalism.

In this podcast we discuss our newly released HR Shared Services Trends 2024 report. Chris is joined by the authors of the report, Emma Leonis-Hughes and Dawn Goodall, as well as guest Nadia Hutchinson, Global Director HR Services and Operation from the Cabot Corporation. Together, they chat through the evolving landscape of HR shared services.

In this episode of our HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris introduces the topic of discussion, the HR operating model, particularly focusing on the payroll aspect. He is joined by Chris Kirby, a senior manager specialising in Payroll at LACE, to delve into the intricacies of payroll operating models.Listen now to learn how you can evaluate your organisation’s payroll operating model.

In this episode Chris and Cathy Acrotopulo welcome their special guest, Dr. Lucy Ryan, an Amazon best-selling author and founding director of Mindspring Consulting. Dr. Ryan's latest book, "Revolting Women: Why Midlife Women Walk Out and What to Do About It," is the focal point of this podcast.Listen now to learn how you can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment for midlife professionals.

In this episode Chris and LACEr Debbie Mitchell are joined by two guests, Charlotte Watmore the Inclusion and Diversity Project Manager at Wates Group and Charly Young, the CEO and co-founder of both the Girls Network and the Equilibrium Gender Collective. The episode focuses on the core topic of mentoring and the importance of creating an equitable work environment for all employees.Listen now to learn how to incorporate mentoring programs into your organisation effectively.

In this episode we delve into the intricate relationship between energy, culture, and productivity within organisations. The conversation explores how organisational culture and leadership play a crucial role in shaping energy levels and driving productivity at scale. Chris is joined by fellow LACEr Jess Herniman and returning guests from Dragonfish; Strategy and Research Director, Andree Gowar and Managing Director, Niall Cluley.Listen now to learn how you can empower your teams to understand and leverage their unique energy dynamics for greater productivity and innovation.

We have recently launched our newest whitepaper, CPOs: From HR to Workforce Transformation. In this episode Chris is joined by two of the authors of our recent whitepaper, Julian Homes and Alice McCormack to discuss the challenges of terms such as ‘workforce transformation’ and its implications, and to also discuss the key themes. Listen now for the key takeaways from our latest workforce transformation whitepaper.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris dives into the fascinating topic of storytelling and its important use case in HR. Joined by fellow LACEr Gemma Ryall and guest Karen Eber, author of "The Perfect Story", the discussion revolves around leveraging storytelling to enhance employee experience and communication and Karen shares some examples of impactful storytelling from her book.Stories are not only memorable but also instrumental in shaping organisational culture, fostering engagement, and driving meaningful change. Listen now to learn the transformative power of storytelling in HR.

What implications could AI have for the HR functions? Chris speaks to LACErs Tim Ringo and Charlie Frost as they delve into the world of AI and its impact on the future of work. Charlie is our AI lead here at LACE so direct any AI questions his way!Listen now to hear the full discussion about how the People function can leverage AI for informed decision making, boosting productivity and more.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and Cathy Acratopulo introduce the co-founders of Engage Andy Brown and Sarah Jordan to discuss the evolution from descriptive engagement data to a more strategic, outcome-driven approach in the field of employee experience.Listen now to learn how data-driven insights contribute to a more nuanced understanding of your employee needs.

In this podcast, Kevin Green, Chief People Officer of First Bus, shares his HR transformation journey and some of the lessons learnt. First Bus is the second-largest bus company in the UK, with approximately 13,500 employees and is undergoing a significant transformation from an asset-driven to a service-oriented organisation.Hear Kevin talk about the changes he's made to First Bus's employee value proposition, emphasising strategic investments, effective storytelling, and aligning short-term changes with long-term goals.

In the latest HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris introduces guest Sharon Green from Chiara Consultancy Ltd. The focus of this episode is on communities and their significance, from an HR perspective. Sharon, an experienced HR professional, shares insights into the power of communities, emphasising their impact not only on HR but also on a business as a whole.Listen now for valuable insights into the role of communities in the HR landscape, emphasising the importance of authenticity, purpose, and a balanced approach to community engagement for HR professionals.

What challenges do organisations face in managing DEI – particularly when it comes to focusing more on inclusion than diversity? In the latest episode, Chris talks to Jig Ramji, senior human resources professional who has worked at some of the biggest brands including the London Stock Exchange Group, Bloomberg and Fujitsu. They look at questions like:- How do you create a sense of belonging for everyone within an organisation?- How can you break the cycle of hiring similar profiles in leadership roles to deliver true diversity and inclusion?- What can HR and marketing learn from each other when it comes to selling and communicating HR solutions to employees?Jig and Chris also discussed the links to LACE’s current campaign around employee experience and how the utopia organisations should strive for is one that encompasses inclusion, belonging, respect, empathy, and employee experience. Should there be a shift in language from diversity to more inclusive terms, with a focus on creating environments where everyone feels valued and accountable for fostering a positive workplace culture? Additionally, how essential is the importance of measuring success through more nuanced and intersectional data rather than simplistic metrics?

How can HR and Marketing alignment help to deliver amazing employee experiences?In the latest podcast and as part of our Employee experience revolution campaign, we spoke ton Chief Marketing Officer Gonzalo Garcia Villanueva from Nielsen about the importance of having a closely aligned Marketing and HR function and the impact it can have on driving amazing employee experiences. Gonzalo spoke to Chris Howard and Chris Horton about his own lessons from the C-Suite on experience, employer brand, as well as how closely what marketing delivers for customers can be aligned to what HR delivers to employees. What does best practice look like? How vital is it that the CHRO and the CMO are aligned in delivering the best possible employee experience? How integral is it that mission, vision and values are so closely linked to delivering great employee experience? What can HR learn from Marketing and vice-versa? We explore all of this in this latest edition.

The Employee Experience Revolution: The importance of human interactions in delivering amazing experiences.OpenBlendPerformance Enablement 2022: Full Academic Findings: https://www.openblend.com/performance-enablement-report-2022-academic-report Performance Enablement 2022: Webinar: https://www.openblend.com/performance-enablement-report-2022-webinar

In a recent HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Nelson Sivalingam, the CEO of HowNow, exploring the concept of the death of the LMS (learning management system) as presented in HowNow's latest whitepaper, and emphasising the necessity of making learning an integral and meaningful part of the work experience.

Chris and LACE Manager Georgina Sutton speak to guest Jocelynne Thompson, Director of People Strategy and Transformation at Virgin Media O2 to discuss a pressing issue within the HR field. The conversation centres around the perception of HR within the business world and addresses the challenge of enhancing HR’s branding and communication. Overall, this podcast episode delves into the challenges HR faces in branding and positioning itself as a strategic partner within organisations.

In the latest HR On the Offensive podcast, Chris and LACE Director Pavan Bilkhoo speak with their guest, Michelle Gyimah, who is a keynote speaker and a consultant specialising in gender and ethnicity pay gaps. The discussion revolves around the challenges and strategies related to pay reporting. If you are considering pay transparency within your organisation, listen now to understand the challenges associated and how you can mitigate them.

The latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast has Chris joined by fellow LACEr Liz Bailey, to explore the concept of a "lull" at the end of the day in the context of remote and hybrid work.This podcast explores the dynamic nature of energy management, emphasising the need for self-awareness, open communication, and a supportive workplace culture. Listen now to learn how you can navigate the complexities of individual energy levels and optimise team collaboration.

In this podcast Chris and LACE change management expert Liz Bailey speak with Dr. Marcia Goddard, a neuroscientist and Chief Culture Officer at The Contentment Foundation. They discuss various aspects of culture, psychological safety, and the impact of stress on individuals and organisations.Listen now for insights into how individuals and organisations can work to reduce the negative impact of stress and foster a culture that promotes innovation and adaptability.

The latest HR on the Offensive podcast has Chris being joined by two fellow LACErs Simon Puryer and Chris Kirby to delve into the world of faster payments and earned wage access. In this podcast our in-house payroll experts discuss the evolving landscape of financial wellbeing and the role of payroll professionals in this context. Listen now, if you are considering earned wage access, for valuable insights into the world of faster payment.

In this podcast host, Chris along with Cathy Acrotopulo and Debbie Mitchell speak to guest Gethin Nadin, Chief Innovation Officer at Benefex.Listen now for a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape and its growing significance. As part of our wider EX Revolution campaign, we’ll be unpacking the core components of good employee experience, sign up on our website to receive updates as our latest content is released.

This podcast is part of our broader employee experience revolution campaign that explores the significance of employee experience in the context of business culture and performance. Chris, Cathy Acratopulo and Kat Bernardes welcome on two guests from Dragonfish; Strategy and Research Director Andree Gowar and Managing Director Niall Cluley. They have come together to discuss Dragonfish's latest research on cultural alignment, and its impact on business value and performance. Dragonfish are a culture and performance consultancy that specialises in measuring, shaping, and strengthening organisational culture to attain better business outcomes and sustainable growth.

Chris and Cathy Acratopulo welcome Simon Smith, Chief People Officer of Aston Martin, as their guest to discuss the crucial topic of employee experience and employee listening. Simon highlights the significance of employee listening, particularly in smaller organisations where understanding employee feedback is paramount.Listen now for valuable insights from Simon into the evolving landscape of employee listening, stressing the importance of real-time feedback, personal interactions, and ethical considerations when incorporating technology.

Chris welcomes on Barry Hoffman, an experienced non-executive director and former Chief People Officer (CPO) of major businesses, including LANSAC. Barry shares insights into his career journey and discusses the evolving role of the CPO. The conversation also delves into the importance of the digital employee experience in today's work environment. Listen now for Barry's perspective on the evolving role of the CPO and the critical importance of the digital employee experience in today's workplace.

LACErs Chris Howard and Ed Sparks explore practical approaches to igniting creativity and imagination, emphasising the need to move beyond lip service. They define innovation as finding new ways to do things and highlight its alignment with an organisation's core values. The discussion includes examples of how innovation can engage and excite employees, drawing parallels with football manager Mikel Arteta's approach. The "Ignite" programme mentioned by Ed is an example of promoting innovation through discussions on emerging trends and sustainability.

This latest podcast features Nancy Allen from the People and Workforce Analytics team here at LACE, discussing her recent attendance at the HR Analytics Summit. The conference gathered heads of people analytics and their teams, offering a platform for HR professionals to connect, share insights, and discuss common challenges. Listen now for a discussion showcasing the dynamic nature of HR analytics and the constant need for HR professionals to adapt and innovate in response to changing workforce trends and technologies.

Chris invites on guest Katie Jacobs to shares her insights on a recent CIPD report called “The value of people expertise on corporate boards” exploring the evolving role of HR professionals in corporate leadership.Listen now for the latest insights into the increasing significance of HR expertise in corporate leadership, driven by evolving corporate governance and investor expectations. Discover how HR professionals can take on strategic roles at the highest levels of organizations and uncover the challenges and misconceptions associated with the HR profession.

What challenges arise when manging change within organisations? This podcast features insights and perspectives from LACErs Cathy Acratopulo and Liz Bailey, who join Chris to explore various facets of change management, particularly in the context of HR transformation, and offer valuable takeaways.The episode underscores the importance of collaboration between HR and business leaders, customisation to local contexts, managing HRBP transitions, setting realistic expectations, and staying committed to the change vision. Listen now for key takeaways that can serve as valuable guidance for organisations navigating change successfully.

We welcome on Gary Stringer Content Marketing Manager at learning platform HowNow, once again to discuss two article that they have produced which analysed successful L&D strategies and their outcomes.

Throughout the discussion, the importance of context emerged as a recurring theme. Gary encouraged listeners to always consider the context of the learner, industry, and problem being addressed. This approach ensures that learning solutions resonate and provide practical value within specific situations. Listen now for valuable insights into effective L&D practices.

In this podcast Chris invited Aisling Teillard, Chief Custom Officer at beqom, to discuss a recent report they wrote called “Levelling the Paying Field”. The report highlights the evolving nature of workplace dynamics, influenced by factors like the pandemic and rising living cost. Listen now to learn how you can begin to address your organisation’s gender pay gap.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris and fellow LACErs Ed Sparkes, Romy Hobson, and Liz Bailey delve into a discussion about the relationship between corporate culture and organisational performance.

Overall, the podcast episode provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between corporate culture and business performance. Listen now for perspectives on culture's evolution, recruitment practices, and the impacts of happy employees on overall productivity.

This podcast episode features guest Cemal Ezel, founder of Change Please, a non-profit which focuses on creating meaningful and sustainable solutions to address homelessness and unemployment. Cemal tells Chris and David Pacifico about his journey and the ethos of Change Please. Change Please is one of LACE’s charities of the year. So today we’re sharing more information to spread the word about the great work they’re doing.

Change Please has gained recognition for its innovative approach to addressing homelessness and its positive impact on the lives of the people it supports. Listen now to hear Cemal’s story and if you would like to donate to help their cause or just to read further into their organisation, click the link

Recently we held the latest in a series of CPO forum events in which we discussed the topic of HR benchmarking and its relevance in the current business landscape. The host, Chris, was joined by Cathy Acratopulo, Aaron Alburey, and Debbie Mitchell, to reflect on our key takeaways form our CPOs. The discussion revolved around the reasons for using benchmarking, the challenges it presents, and the 10 traits of high-performing people functions.

Listen now for a robust and passionate discussion, demonstrating the relevance and significance of benchmarking in shaping HR strategies and driving organisational success.

The latest HR on the Offensive podcast focuses on talent acquisition and the candidate experience. Host Chris, alongside fellow LACEr David Pacifico, introduce guest speaker, Maggie Spong, the former Global Head of Talent Acquisition at AstraZeneca and Roche. Listen now for valuable insights into the world of talent acquisition and the evolving landscape of candidate experiences.

Our latest podcast focuses on productivity and performance with a specific link to well-being. Joining Chris is fellow LACEr and published author Tim Ringo. The conversation revolves around Tim's book, "Solving the Productivity Puzzle," which explores the impact of wellbeing on productivity. Tim’s book links perfectly links to a campaign we’re having around “Redefining workforce productivity” which challenges businesses to look at what they mean when they talk about productivity.

This podcast discussed a variety of topics including the interplay between wellbeing and productivity, exploring individual and organisational dimensions and the importance of aligning purpose, leadership actions and work conditions with employee motivations. Listen now for an insightful discussion on how happy employees make the best workforce.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, hosted by Chris, the focus is on change management and change analytics. Joining Chris are two LACE change experts Ed Sparks and Liz Bailey, as well as a special guest, Colin Sloman, the Chief Strategy Officer at Cognician. Cognician is an activation platform that focuses on mindset, behaviour change, and skills development, with a strong emphasis on measuring and analysing outcomes.

This podcast explores the significance of change analytics in driving successful organisational change and emphasises the importance of data-driven decision-making in HR. Listen now for valuable insights and practical approaches for change managers and HR professionals.

Our host Chris and in-house skills expert David Pacifico speak to two expert guests, Annee Bayeux, Chief Learning Strategist at education technology company Degreed and Dr. Tiffany Tesfamichael Head of Learning Strategy, at drone experience business Lens.Vegas about what benefits a skills-focused organisation can bring, including creating more opportunities for mobility and inclusivity.

A skills-based talent strategy focuses on an employee's skillset rather than their role or position at a company. As such, it creates room for sideways and diagonal moves within an organisation regardless of any preconception of what competencies are associated with an existing role.

In the latest episode of our HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris introduces the topic of tokenism and welcomes fellow LACEr, Bosede Adekola and guests from the Clear Company, Corinne Crosbourne and Maria Baggio, to discuss this important issue. Bosede shares her background and why she thought tokenism was worth discussing. She explains that her interest in the topic stemmed from her previous experience in an organisation where impostor syndrome was common among minority employees. She believes it is crucial to address these concerns and support organisations facing similar challenges. Two significant impacts of tokenism are reduced morale and a negative perception of DE&I efforts.

Listen now to learn how you can address tokenism and how to avoid its detrimental effects on individuals and organisations.

In this week's podcast we speak to LACE Senior Manager and payroll expert Adam Morris alongside Ana Laiu, the Head of Payroll at the PPHE Hotel Group. They discuss what challenges have emerged for payroll in the last few years and ways those in the profession can tackle them head on.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and fellow LACErs Cathy Acratopulo, and Evan Wynne discuss the highly topical issue of the enforced return to the office. They delve into the current debate surrounding businesses mandating their employees to come back to the office and explore both the advantages and pitfalls of this approach.

This podcast highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for organisations to navigate between the push to return to the office and the pull of accommodating employees' preferences. Listen now to find the right balance and make informed decisions by understanding the business impact and consulting employees.

Adrian Thomas, a talent acquisition (TA) thought leader and non-executive director of the RL 100, joins the podcast to discuss various aspects of talent management with our host Chris and Executive Director, David Pacifico. RL100 is a peer network for senior in-house resourcing leaders. Adrian has worked for large companies in HR and recruitment roles, both in the private and public sectors. More recently, Adrian has been advising companies on optimising their recruitment processes and helping suppliers in the industry engage better with in-house recruiters. Listen now to learn how to enhance the value of your talent acquisition.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, hosts Chris and Chris Horton welcome Aaisha Knights, Chief People Officer of LMAX Group, to discuss how HR leaders can support and develop their teams during uncertain times. Aaisha shares her experience in the HR space, emphasising the increasing demand for support and guidance from line managers who are navigating the changing trends and expectations in the field.Listen now for practical insights on how to encourage a continuous learning mindset that can help your employees boost productivity and navigate the evolving landscape of HR.

In this episode of the HR on the offensive podcast, Host Chris and Chris Horton welcome Donald H Taylor, Network Chair at Emerge Education, as a guest. As a part of the podcast, we discuss his Learning and Development Global Sentiment Survey and what it reveals. It has been running for more than ten years now, and the survey has gradually expanded in terms of the number of respondents with 3,396 participants from 100 countries. It consists of three core questions: What will be hot in workplace learning and development in the coming year? What is the greatest challenge for the respondents in the upcoming year? And where do they work?Listen now for an insightful discussion on the Learning and Development Global Sentiment Survey, highlighting the importance of staying informed about emerging technologies like AI in the L&D field.

Can we redefine the word “productivity”? Chris is joined by fellow LACErs, Tim Ringo and Chris Horton. We recently hosted an event, which was based on Tim's book called "The Productivity Puzzle". Is there a potential impact on productivity from a four-day workweek? Could it be implemented into industries we thought were unsuitable? Listen to this podcast to get an insight into how you can redefine workforce productivity in your organisations and find innovative approaches to adapt to the changing world of work.

Is HR going to be affected by the rise of AI as other industries have been? The latest episode of our podcast discusses the increasing role of AI in the world of work and the future of learning in this context. Our host Chris and LACE Executive Director, David Pacifico speak to Brian Murphy, Senior Director Employee Skilling at Microsoft and Charles Jennings, Managing Director at Duntroon Consultants.Listen now to learn how your organisations can embrace this technology while being mindful of its potential risks and impact on the workforce.

How do you create a great work experience for your employees? This was just one of the questions that this week’s podcast, where Chris from our team spoke to co-founder Aaron Alburey and Client Executive Director, Tim Ringo, as well as how this can lead to an increase in engagement, belonging, and productivity. During a recent forum of Chief People Officers (CPO) a model was presented that focused on the different components of a great work experienceListen now to find out how you can create a positive work environment for your employees

In this week's podcast we hear from the Empowering People Group, represented by; Yvonne Wilcock CPO of Empowering People Group (EPG), Caroline Moore Managing Director at Working Transitions and Rena Christou Director and Employment Lawyer at Halborns.One of the services the Empowering People Group offer is supporting people who find themselves impacted by redundancy and help them transition into their next role. In this week's podcast we hear how you can use empathy, honesty and compassion to support employees and teams through difficult transitions.

Our host Chris is joined by Chris Horton as they speak with this week's guest Tracy Brower, Vice President of Workplace Insights at Steelcase. Tracy is a published author and a regular contributor to Forbes magazine. In this podcast she has come onto to discuss an article she has written about the impact that line managers can have on their employees mental health, with many people indicating that their manager’s influence on their mental health is on par with their partner’s. Listen now to learn how you can contribute towards creating the conditions for improved mental health by giving employees a reason to care, providing a challenge and allowing employees to have a choice.

Host Chris is joined by Chris Horton as this week's guest is Cat Paterson, Director, HR Business Partner at Elastic. Her recent role has been to manage Elastic's EMEA workforce of around 3000 employees.Like most companies in the technology sector they have had to undergo some kind of restructuring earlier on in the year, Elastic also had to do the same. Listen to learn how Cat was able to overcome the challenges she faced and to learn how using compassion and respect can help both your leaving employees as well as the remaining members of the organization.

A new series of videos has been launched to provide a deeper dive into the three core themes of our One Big Thing Campaign; hybrid working, employee value proposition (EVP) and talent.In this podcast episode, host Chris is joined by two LACErs Tim Ringo and Chris Horton to discuss where we are with regard to these topics at this point in time. It is also discussed how there is a difference in HR priorities around the world. Take a moment to listen to our podcast now to find out how these challenges have evolved and what's next in this space.

We have recently launched our newest whitepaper, Market pulse check: Seven common themes in People Analytics. This piece of research focused on the People and Workforce Analytics space and aimed to answer two questions; what are the key trends in the people analytics space? and which challenges will be most significant moving forward?In this episode our podcast host Chris is joined by two fellow LACERs and the authors of our recent whitepaper, Julian Homes and Nancy Allen. Listen now as Julian and Nancy gives us a run down on each of the seven themes. Download it here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/market-pulse-check-seven-common-themes-in-people-analytics/

In this episode host Chris speaks to Kay Phelps founder of PR in HR which topics she is seeing getting the most coverage in the HR press – and which areas are not. PR in HR are a specialist PR agency working with organisations daily to get noticed and have their own voicesThey have recently released a report that showed which workplace issues journalists are talking about. Chris along with Kay delve deep into this report and pull out the key takeaways. Listen as they also compare this year’s results to the 2021 report to see what topics have increased in popularity, emerged or lost relevance.

In this episode Chris and LACE Partners co-founder and COO Cathy Acratopulo speak with Dave Page, co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Actual Experience. We get to the root of some of the challenges and assumptions in hybrid working and digital employee experience.It's clear that the preference to work from home is going nowhere, so the importance of getting digital EX right is paramount. Listen in to hear how organisations can use data to target areas in the business which are blocking good employee experience and productivity.

Late in 2022 our team interviewed 30 CPOs from a variety of industries to determine what the “One Big Thing” keeping them up at night was. We were interested in getting a tech vendor’s perspective on our research. Our host Chris teams up with Chris Horton to speak with David Carling, a solutions consultant at Applearn, to comment on how well our research assumptions match what they are seeing in the market and with their clients

Chris along with Evan Wynne are joined by Deirdre O'Shea who is the Associate Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology at the University of Limerick. She has come onto the podcast to give an academic perspective on the state of wellbeing and how this is impacting organisations.Many organisations are putting a lot of emphasis on their employees' mental health these days Should organisations be thinking more holistically in terms of employee wellbeing? Listen now to hear Deidre explain what she meant by the ‘misapplication of wellbeing’ that some organisations are creating.

Chris and Debbie Mitchell are joined by Rob Boland, COO of Reward Gateway, on this podcast. Reward Gateway is an employee engagement platform that consist of several features with the aim to boost employee experience. One of these features include improving employee wellbeing. They recently published a report on the 2023 employee engagement trends. In the report there are five strategies that can be implemented to help improve employee engagement. Listen in as Rob briefly outlines the topics of the five key strategies in the report.

The talent marketplace connects and matches people with job opportunities, it’s enabled by people and technology. Rather than a single place or system they need to use it’s more of an approach to talent management. Chris and Chris Horton speak to Dan Whitehead about the talent marketplace. Listen now as they ask what are the benefits of using a talent marketplace for both the recruiter and candidate? What does it look like when it’s done well?

Who can help HR with employee mental health and wellbeing. 2 in every 5 employees experiencing anxiety, stress and depression related to work. How can businesses address this issue? This week Chris talks with Charlie Winton, Founder of OK Positive Listen to discover how Charlie's mental health journey led to him creating OK Positive.

Chris is joined by three LACErs, Adam Morris, Becky Jones, and Chris Horton to have a fireside chat about hybrid working. Hybrid working was one of the issues CPOs were most concerned about in the next 12-24 months according to our One Big Thing research. Most problems arise when hybrid working practices clash with organisations’ business strategy. What can businesses do to avoid this from happening?

How has the perception of pensions changed over time? In the past final salary schemes were commonplace which encouraged long-service in a company. Pensions should be seen as a contribution not a deduction. Chris along with Chris Kirby discuss payroll with the founder of PayCaptain, Simon Bocca. They discuss how the term financial wellbeing is being misused and should organisations' support their employees who lack financial literacy.

Why are one-to-ones important? What makes an effective one-to-one? Being a people manager is a challenging role even more so post-Covid. Chris and Debbie Mitchell speak to Anna Rasmussen, CEO and founder of OpenBlend. Most people managers lack support, Anna explains how OpenBlend can help.

Flexible working is here to stay. What can organisations do to strike the right balance with hybrid working? Chris and Chris Horton discuss the ongoing challenges with flexible working with Olga Needham, Senior HR Director at Tokyo Electron Europe. Olga gives her views on employee's right to request hybrid work and its implications.

The pandemic has shifted what good people management looks like as now managers need to consider both hybrid and in office workers. Success in people management requires certain traits, such as empathy and inspiration, which cannot be taught. Chris and Kat Bernardes are joined by Mitch Lassman from Diageo as they discuss line manager capability and whether we should we be pushing every manager into the role of people management?

In this special edition of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris Kirby talks to Sam Isaac from Neeyamo about their January event - 'Evolve Beyond Borders' - which will be a global hybrid event with both online and offline sessions, including one in London that the team at LACE are involved in.Register for the event here -https://www.evolvebeyondborders.com/

We recently hosted a roundtable for Mervyn Dinnen's latest book "Digital Talent". As part of our One Big Thing research we found that digital talent was one of the main concerns for CPO's, either attracting and/or retaining said talent. Chris is joined by Mervyn Dinnen, Chris Horton and Tim Ringo as they reflect on some of the key discussion points that were raised.

When resourcing for talent should businesses focus finding it internally rather than looking externally. How can businesses better advertise their opportunities to internal talent? Emily Fryer joins Chris as they chat about this topic with Tom Baker who is Head of Talent & Resourcing at M&G plc.

In this episode Chris speaks to Gary Stringer, from HowNow, about an article he has written on the 7 HR Trends to Win 2023. In it Gary identifies the top trends HR can take advantage of to start the next year strong.

Chris and LACE managing director Cathy Acratopulo speak to Jim Macleod about all things DE&I. Jim shares his stories about leading diversity and inclusion initiatives within the military space. They also discuss the important role culture plays in enabling an inclusive work environment.

Are there specific traits that separate a good Chief People Officer from a great one? Why should it be seen as one of the most fundamental roles in the organisation? Is it undervalued at C-suite level? How far does the remit stretch and where does it start/end? We ask these questions and more in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast, with Aaron Alburey and Cathy Acratopulo giving their thoughts based on the many CPOs we speak to at LACE.

Chris with Emma Leonis-Hughes speak to Nelson Sivalingam from HowNow and author of Learning At Speed. Nelson gives a brief overview of the 3 sections covered in his book. Additionally, the book can help deconstruct and optimize learning strategies.

What is a lost employee? How does it impact payroll? The two Chris's speak to Daniel Greaves from Brown Brothers Harriman about this topic. Additionally, they share their own examples of how businesses have addressed this issue.

When we talk about management empowerment, what do we mean? How can management empowerment effect the employee experience? Chris and Emma Leonis-Hughes chat with Yvonne Wilcock, CEO of Empowering People Group and AdviserPlus, on what businesses can do to empower their managers.

What is the single most pressing concerns on CPO/CHROs right now? What is the 'one big thing' they would like to fix in the next 12 - 18 months? Getting their employee value proposition right? The impact of flexible/hybrid working? Attracting and retaining talent? Cathy and Chris' Horton and Howard discuss in our latest podcast, which follows on from research just released by LACE Partners which you can read here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/hrs-one-big-thing/

How can you accurately measure the correlation between employee experience and customer experience? How can you avoid survey fatigue? Chris and Emma are joined by Kevin Campbell from Qualtrics to talk about his perspective on the topic.

Chris and fellow LACEr Rebecca Addison talk to Ewart Campbell about a few of the DE&I initiatives he’s spearheaded; they also discuss what businesses can do to address their unconscious bias and why it's necessary to maintain DE&I initiatives long-term.

As part of a collaboration for financial wellbeing week Chris and Adam Morris from LACE speak to Therese Procter, global advisor at Wagestream about their The Cost of Living Report 2022. What can businesses do to help their employees through these difficult times?

Ahead of national inclusion week. Chris is joined by two LACErs Rebecca Addison and Eve Edmonds to discuss inclusivity in the workplace and why it's important. How can larger businesses create a more inclusive work environment?

In this podcast we are joined by our HR Transformation Senior Manager Debbie Mitchell to talk about a book she wrote, called 50 Top Tools for Employee Engagement. The book discusses how you don't need expensive interventions to achieve good employee experience. Chris speaks with Debbie as she explains some of the tools in the book

Chris is once again joined by Emma Leonis-Hughes as they speak with Steven Rothberg from College Recruiter as they discuss why employers are finding it difficult to recruit Gen Z. Is it due to a shift in attitude towards work? How are employers unknowingly alienating these digital natives?

Quiet quitting: what is it and why is it becoming more common? Cathy Acratopulo our co-founder was featured on an article around this topic. In this episode, Chris and Cathy discuss how quiet quitting doesn't just affects both the employer and employee but the business as a whole.

How can business create a culture of inclusivity for their employees? What is rainbow washing and why is it harmful to the LGBT community? How can DE&I teams and HR work together to prevent it? Chris Howard and Emma Wadsworth discuss this with Guilherme Klein from PMI.

Today is a very special day - we've hit episode number 100! Listen in to hear from the team which episodes we enjoyed the most, which ones we recommend and also some bloopers from behind the scenes.

Who is responsible for good employee experience? Can the culture of a company affect it? Does leadership play a role? Chris discusses this with Tope Sadiku from Kraft Heinz.

The two Chris' from LACE Partners talk to Stephen Ousley from SD Worx about the whitepaper they produced, Reinventing HR, which looked at how HR has supported post pandemic business model changes, the impact of inaccurate data in payroll amongst other functions, as well as how businesses navigate the complexity question when it comes to managing payroll.

In this week's podcast Chris speaks with Emma Leonis about her new whitepaper, HR Shared Services Trends 2022 Report. They briefly talk about some of the key statistics from the report.

How valuable can employee network groups/employee resource groups (ENG/ERGs) be to businesses who are looking to get an accurate pulse of the thoughts and feelings of their diverse workforce? In the latest podcast Chris Howard and Emma Scriven from LACE Partners talk to Kate Nash from Purple Space about the value they bring.

How much of the gender pay gap discussion is related to pay? And why should businesses focus on more than just pay? How much of the gender pay gap challenge is industry-specifically related? How much does size and geography play in issues surrounding the gender pay gap? In this latest LACE Partners podcast we talk to Josh Harmston-Gething, who undertook extensive work in his previous employment and shares our story.

In this week’s podcast, we spoke to Mervyn Dinnen about a new book he has written with Matt Alder called ‘Digital Talent’. Chris sat down with Mervyn and discussed some of the core themes, including how to continuously develop employees, as well as leaders, to ensure that the organization has the skills it needs both for today and the future.

In this week's podcast we spoke to Christian Voelkl from HR Pepper about a book they have recently released called 'Human Business Design'. Aaron and Chris chat with him on some of the core themes, including how organisations need to embrace change and the importance of understanding who is involved in that change and what they need to buy in to it.

Amanda Coulson from SVC Solutions speaks to Chris Howard from LACE Partners about how the relationship between the HR function and recruitment teams - both internal and external agencies - has changed and is constantly evolving.

What are the biggest challenges the Payroll function faces when it comes to attracting talent? Has the skills required to succeed in payroll changed pre and post pandemic? We explore this in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast, with Sam Field from Oakleaf Partnership.

How can businesses leverage people data to improve on their approach to predicting attrition, improving culture and identifying the key talent levers in a business? Chris and Aaron explore this in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast.

Tim Ringo, author of 'Solving the Productivity puzzle' joins Aaron and Chris from LACE to discuss how businesses can solve their own challenges with the productivity of their own people through giving autonomy, purpose and mastery to their own people. They also explore some of the five trends to turbocharge future success.

Get your copy of the book here -https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9781789664751&i=stripbooks&linkCode=qs

How has the global pandemic shifted businesses approach to how the look at financial wellbeing? What more can employers be doing to support employees? How can employees and employers work together to make employees feel less vulnerable when it comes to financial wellbeing? We explore this in the latest podcast, based on a whitepaper Wagestream have produced which you can download here -https://wagestream.com/en/state-of-financial-wellbeing-2022/

In this week's podcast speak to Zellis about their recent report 'The Resilience Factor: CPOs - Post-COVID Boardroom Insights 2021'. We discuss what changes businesses have made and how that has impacted Chief People Officers in their roles.

Read the report here - https://www.zellis.com/chro2022

We recently hosted an event focused on HR technology implementation and asked our guests to tell us what their key lessons learned were from projects they have worked on. In this podcast Max and Chris chat through the takeaways from event panelists Mark Corden from Parkdean resorts and Alastair Logan and Ceridian.

What changes are we likely to see in the payroll function? What impact will things like blockchain have? Which function should Payroll sit within - HR or Finance? We explore this and more in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast with Chris Kirby and Chris Howard.

What is neurodiversity and why aren't employers tapping in to this important talent pool at a time of talent shortages we ware seeing? What are some of the strengths and challenges that exist within a neurodiverse workforce? We explore this and more with Mel Francis, a neurodiversity speaker and champion, in the latest podcast.

What is keeping HR Directors up at night right now? We talk this, hybrid working, wellbeing and much more with Sunila Jethwa from Ceridian.

What are the tools you need to focus your performance management on outcomes rather than a 'box ticking' exercise? How can businesses get better at leveraging data in performance management? How can you performance manage people on shorter, contract assignments? We explore this and more in the latest podcast with Roly Walter from Appraisd.

Gary from HowNow discusses their thoughts on some of the big workplace trends that we are all going to see more of in 2022. Hybrid working is here to stay, but in what form? What is the changing relationships we'll have with our offices? Will we see the end of weird office perks and how will the Great Resignation have an impact? We explore in the latest pod.

What are the emerging trends in the EX space? How much of an impact does a mobile-first approach have? What about hybrid? How has the landscape shifted? We explored this and more with our partners at Applaud, following their Digital Employee Experience trends report 2022 report, which you can view here - https://www.applaudhr.com/2022-digital-employee-experience-trends-0

How can HR professionals help to change the 'myth of normality'? In this latest podcast we talk to Maria from our partners at The Clear Company to talk about a blog she wrote which relates to supporting LGBTQ+ professionals in the workplace.

Read the blog from the Clear Company here - https://theclearcompany.co.uk/the-myth-of-normality/

Reflecting on a community forum ran by LACE Partners and Applaud in November 2021, Aaron from LACE and Katie from Applaud discuss some of the hot topics in the EX space right now. What are employee experience specialists thinking about right now?

Chris Howard and Emma Leonis are joined by Simon Cunniffe from EasyJet to discuss how they engage workers who are unconnected, remote or - by their very nature of the job they do - often difficult to engage with.

There is also a reference to the Future of HR Shared Services whitepaper produced by LACE Partners, which you can see here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/future-hr-shared-services-whitepaper/

Chris and Max from LACE Partners reflect on a blog that was written pre-pandemic about the key steps you need to take to ensure that your HR tech implementation project can seamlessly transition in to 'business as usual'. Has the advice changed much since the global pandemic? Find out by listening in.

Aaron, Chris and Max from LACE Partners reflect on what the key trends of 2022 might be for HR teams, from refining EVP, more talent fluidity in the HR market, M&A activity and an increase in those looking to the Cloud for their HR tech solutions.

How do businesses avoid 'navigation burn'? What can HR teams do to minimise the time wasted on switching between different platforms? Why are so few businesses measuring their productivity and the success of their newly implemented tech after two years? We look at this with Andrew Avanessian, CEO of Applearn, following their recent whitepaper released in 2021.

Get a copy of the whitepaper here - https://applearn.com/insights/hidden-cost-digital-employee-experience/

What should you benchmark? Why should you benchmark? What are others benchmarking? And what are the cautionary tales? We explore this in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast.

What is best practice when it comes to using data metrics to measure and monitoring your DE&I practices? What are common data points companies are using? We explore this in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast, with the team from The Clear Company, who have written a guide to data metrics in DE&I.

You can download the guide here - https://theclearcompany.co.uk/insights-resources/#guides

In this latest episode we talk to Kamran Mallick and Cameron Lynch from Disability Rights UK about their Disability Employment Charter. What more can Government do to help disabled people get into the workplace and how can businesses be more inclusive by using the principles of the Charter?

You can view the charter here - https://www.disabilityemploymentcharter.org/

Raj Sundarason, author of 'The DAP Strategy', talks to Chris from LACE Partners about his latest book, which makes some bold predictions about the digital adoption market between now and 2027. Find out some of those predictions in the latest episode, out now.

Get a copy of Raj's book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/DAP-Strategy-Risk-Accelerate-Transformation/dp/9811816492/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1R721R3ARSWSN&keywords=the+dap+strategy&qid=1637829372&sprefix=the+dap+strateg%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1

The DAP Strategy: A New Way of Working to De-Risk & Accelerate Your Digital Transformation

What shifts do employers, employees, candidates and recruiters need to think about when it comes to delivering the next level of candidate experience? We explore this in our latest podcast with Merv Dinnen, an HR industry influencer, who has recently written a whitepaper on the subject.

Read the whitepaper here - https://www.shl.com/resources/by-type/whitepapers-and-reports/innovation-rising-whitepaper/

What is continuous performance management? What benefit does it have for employees? What are the challenges of not getting it right? We explore this and more with Roly Walter from Appraisd, who talks us through his background and organisation.

Find out more about Appraisd here - https://www.appraisd.com

How do your connect your DE&I agenda to other programmes and parts of your business? In this special edition of our podcast we're delighted to announce a strategic partnership with The Clear Company, who are specialists in DE & I consultancy for businesses.

Find out more about the Clear Company here - https://theclearcompany.co.uk/

What are the big emerging trends in payroll? What impact is data and analytics, AI, RPA and blockchain having for payroll professionals? In the latest episode we talk to Sam Isaac from Neeyamo about their whitepaper which looked at all of the above, as well as the impact of the Cloud on payroll solutions.

You can also access the whitepaper here - https://www.neeyamo.com/resources-center/applications-of-emerging-technologies-in-global-payroll/

In this weeks podcast we are joined by Stephen Holliday, CEO of Level Financial Technology to talk about financial wellbeing. What do we mean by the term and why should it be at the top of business leader's agendas? Listen in to find out more.

Dr Tracey Leghorn from Suez expands on some of the initiatives that her and her team have worked on at Suez and how they supported employees with their own wellbeing through a variety of different activities that involve including employees in setting the agenda for wellbeing within the business.

What is real time payments and why do they help to support employees and their ability to control their money? What impact will this have on payroll teams? What about global payroll - how does it fit in? We look at this with Zellis and Ian Wheeler from Income Group.

The latest HR on the Offensive podcast looks at a recent HR Magazine article that questioned whether employees and HR teams are suffering a tech overload because of the number of systems they are using.

The HR Magazine article itself can be found here - https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news/hr-risks-tech-overload-following-pandemic-software-surge

How can you ensure your people use your LMS? How do you create a pathway to progress? What are the three ways you can make it easier for learners in your business? We look at this in the latest podcast, featuring Lulu Dermeche from HowNow.

This podcast was following a blog the team at HowNow recently wrote, which you can see here - https://gethownow.com/blog/how-to-get-people-using-your-learning-platform/

How can employees bring their 'whole selves' to work? What does this mean from a diversity and inclusion perspective? How have attitudes towards D&I changed post BLM movement and the beginning of 2020? How do you measure the success of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion efforts?

In the latest podcast we spoke to Jo Rose from Linklaters about a passion of hers, as well as what Linklaters do to support D&I in their business.

How can businesses find the balance between AI and human connection? What do we think the future of AI will look like in HR? In this week's podcast we speak to Racheal and Aaron from LACE about where we are at now, and where AI will take HR in the near future.

How did leaders step up in 2020 and now in 2021? What does work/life balance really look like? How much have businesses changed in terms of D&I since the George Floyd murder? Why are HR still bearing the brunt of emotional labour?

We look at these questions and more with Melissa Paris from Culture Amp, as she reflects on a survey conducted in 2020 that Culture Amp wrote a blog on earlier in the year. How much has changed since then?

You can also read the blog here -https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/covid-19-survey-insights

What value can a digital adoption platform add from a data and analytics perspective? How can it help businesses undertaking a digital transformation to improve operational efficiency? And how should what you measure change depending on where you are in your transformation journey?

We look at this in the latest podcast, which is a review of a recent whitepaper produced by the Everest Group and Applearn, looking at the power of DAP analytics software.

You can download the report from the Applearn website here -https://applearn.com/insights/understanding-digital-adoption-analytics/

What is the highest priority for HR leaders in 2021 and beyond? Why can technology be such an area of frustration for employees, from an EX perspective? Why are so many businesses looking to increase the number of HR systems they have in place? We look at this and more in the latest podcast with Applaud, who recently released the whitepaper "The Future of HR: Employee experience fuelled by consumer-grade technology" - link to download the report here - https://www.applaudhr.com/tei-report

What lessons has the last 18 months taught HR teams when it comes to getting better at analysing their people data and analytics? What impact with predictive analytics have in future? How can you better leverage the HR system you already have? We look at all of these questions in the latest podcast, which was a reflection podcast following the webinar we ran with Ceridian in July. To see the webinar visit -https://lacepartners.co.uk/insights/lace-partners-webinars/

Are you looking at migrating your HR system to the Cloud? What are your motivations? How do you ensure a smooth transition? What should your 'post-go live' plan look like? We discuss this in the latest podcast, taken from the webinar 'Getting HR's Head in to the Cloud' from earlier in July 2021.

Chris Howard is joined by Emma Leonis from LACE to discuss some of the challenges HR leaders are faced with such as 'How do you deliver employee-centric services given geographic challenges?' and 'How do you create a one-team culture in HR?'. This podcast is a follow-up session from our May webinar, where we spoke to Vale Dale - Aggreko and Jayne Traill - Syngenta.

What are the biggest challenges that companies face when thinking about changing their payroll provider? How do you build your business case for change? Adam Morris and Chris Kirby from LACE Partners discuss some of the challenges they have seen from some of the businesses we work with on payroll consultancy support.

Chris Howard is joined by Cathy Acratopulo and Chris Horton from LACE to discuss the differences between an HR strategy and a people strategy. Delving deeper into questions like, why we need both? and what are the strategic themes we are seeing?

How many businesses get it right when it comes to using people data to become more adaptable in their thinking? How much does culture play in effectively leveraging data? What can HR learn from building - and being part of - cross-functional teams leading on data projects?

The latest podcast talks to Barry Green, co-author of 'Data Means Business' (available here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Data-Means-Business-organisation-ever-changing-ebook/dp/B08YKDSXHY) about what he's learned in his time working within a change environment, across multiple business functions, and what HR teams can learn about how to get better with using their data.

Data Means Business: Level up your organisation to adapt, evolve and scale in an ever-changing world

Chris is joined by Cathy and Rachel from LACE to discuss the complexities of HR transformations compared to other transformations. They also discuss lessons learned when it comes to managing change impacts, as well as how much of an impact COVID has had in terms of personas and hybrid working.

Chris and Aaron from LACE Partners talk to Bob Rehill from HRTech247 about his online marketplace for HR tech businesses to share their products, as well as consultancies to share their experiences.

How has the role of the SI changed and evolved over the years? Why are they so important when you are embedding a new piece of HR tech? What questions should you be asking of them? What does a good SI look like? We ask these questions and more in the latest podcast featuring Max and Chris from LACE Partners.

Why don't more large scale organisations offer hyper-personalisation in their employee experience? Why do so few offer some or all of their HR services via mobile? What more can be done during the induction process with regards to remote working? We discuss this and more in the latest podcast with Duncan Casemore from Applaud, who have recently released a digital EX trends report.

A copy of the report is here - https://www.applaudhr.com/2021-digital-employee-experience-trends

There is also a free digital audit you can complete here - https://s.surveyanyplace.com/digitalexpaudit?cf1=lace

Future Workshops Founder Matt Brooke-Smith tells Chris and Max from LACE Partners about the importance of the research and analysis on what the business needs are for a business before rushing in to developing an app. He also talks about how their low-code/no-code app development approach has enabled a number of businesses - and HR teams - to broaden their horizons.

How can you avoid a culture of workplace bullying in a business? How do you spot the signs? How do you manage all individuals involved, from the employee, to the line manager and how can you support all parties to prevent any such scenario occuring. Those are just a few questions that Chris from LACE posed to Nicki Eyre from Conduct Change, a specialist consultancy who work with businesses to help them improve the environment of employees.

Chris and Max ask Andrew Holmes from Skillsoft whether upskilling is now clearly more attractive to businesses than the costs of hiring new skills and talent in to the workforce. This comes from a white paper Skillsoft produced earlier in the year, which you can find more about here - https://www.skillsoft.com/resources/skillsoft-signals-report-pg8647a1

What are the challenges HR leaders face in empowering their managers and leveraging technology to do so? How have these challenges changed over the last 12 - 18 months? How do you give line managers control and independence, whilst ensure they have a degree of self service that can still be supported? We asked a few of these questions to Michael Campbell from AdviserPlus (https://adviserplus.com/) in the latest HR on the Offensive Podcast.

What is the right HR tech for your business? How do you decide which will work? What questions should you be asking yourself before making the decision?

In the latest HR on the Offensive podcast - which was a follow on conversation from the blog written a few weeks back on our website - https://lacepartners.co.uk/best-of-breed-versus-enterprise-platform/ - Max Bailey, Aaron Alburey and Kayley Gaynor discuss the considerations HR teams need to make when selecting the right tech for them.

Chris and Emma are joined by Charlie Knox from SDWorx to discuss their latest white paper, which looked at survey results of over 3000 respondents to the changes that HR teams are expecting to occur after the pandemic, including the improving of employee experience as a priority, as well as the rise in flexible workers/freelancers and of course the need for organisations to reach digital maturity quicker than they currently are.

How do you effectively manage change in an environment where frontline workers are under so much pressure? In the latest HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and Emma from LACE Partners talk to Penny Lang about the last year working in HR at a care company - Cornwall Care - and some of the lessons her and her team learnt.

Nelson from HowNow joins Chris and Emma from LACE Partners to discuss whether now is the best opportunity to review your digital learning platforms given the current global environment. Also discussed is the increase in companies using outplacement services, as well as the ever-growing importance of re-skilling workers for the future of the business, and whether HR/L&D teams identify the key problems they are trying to solve and how they can better evidence their decision making.

In this special episode of HR on the Offensive, Chris from LACE Partners talks to Paul Chamberlain, Head of Employment at JMW Solicitors, about some of the key employment-related announcements in the Chancellor's March 2021 budget. Immigration, tax exemptions for remote workers, as well as self employment updates, all included in today's podcast.

Maire Sloman from Colt talks to Aaron Alburey and Annette Andrews from the Guild of HR Professionals about her teams response to the global pandemic, how HR in general has evolved and the lessons we can all take as we look to exit this pandemic period.

Why has HR historically been seen as a second class citizen? What can HR teams do to change that? Should your HR team re-brand itself so that it is seen like a strategic people function, rather than just a HR operations team? We look at these questions and more in the latest LACE Partners podcast, which is a deep dive on our white paper chapter 'What's in a name?' in the Future of HR Shared Services paper. Emma Leonis and Chris Howard from LACE discuss.

In the latest podcast Andrew Hall from Philip Morris International joins Chris and Emma at LACE Partners to discuss the types of HR tech that organisations are using. What is the right channel management strategy? How does your culture impact the different channels you implement to your people (chatbots, etc)? What are some of the best adoption metrics to measure what success looks like?

What is your EVP and how has it evolved over time? Has the global pandemic changed it? Why should you be looking to constantly review and refresh it? What is 'the deal' you offer your employees and how well do you communicate it? These are just a few of the questions Cathy and Chris from LACE Partners discussed in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast.

Aaron and Annette from the Guild of HR Professionals talk to Darren Cornish of Aviva about his transition in to the world of HR and the challenging first year he had in the function. They also discuss the value of peer-to-peer networking groups and the Guild's leadership programme.

How can leaders stay connected in 2021? What are the pressure points that leaders should think of? What are the short and long term impacts on productivity and happiness? What are the biggest risks you see for 2021? Emma and Chris from LACE Partners talk to Steve Bernard, founder of Connectwell, in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast.

In the latest 'In the Spotlight' episode Aaron and Annette from the Guild of HR Professionals talk to Keri Garrod about her career, what she's learned from her experience both in the |UK and working in the Middle East, as well as the importance of developing her networking and getting 'out of her comfort zone' as a senior HR professional

What were the key lessons learned for HR in 2020? What were the key HR tech platforms that HR shared services teams were looking at in 2020 and has that changed in 2021? Has the debate about the value of HR in an organisation now truly subsided? What trends will we see in 2021 and is this the year of employee empowerment? Chris and Emma from LACE Partners talk to Lisa Dennis from SPX Flow in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast.

Aaron and Annette from the Guild of HR Professionals talk to Stephen Sidebottom about the latest Guild Cohort for their leadership programme, including some of the benefits of the scheme, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities that exist for HR professionals on it.

How do HR Shared Services Teams evolve? What are the characteristics of successful HR Shared Services Consultants? What can HR Shared Services Teams learn from other front-line functions like Customer Services? In this latest podcast Chris and Emma from LACE Partners talk about the latest whitepaper released in November this year and how HR Shared Services can become people and solutions experts.

How did HR react during the crisis of 2020? And what opportunities lie ahead? What are the big strategic questions that HR needs to ask in 2021? How do you improve performance and productivity through better people management? How do we structure our workforces for the future? Kevin Green joins Aaron Alburey and Annette Andrews in the latest Guild of HR Professionals podcast.

How can leaders get the most from their people? What enables us to work better and how important are the connections that leaders make? Is it ok to show vulnerability as a leader? These were just a few questions discussed in the latest 'In The Spotlight' podcast from the Guild of HR Professionals. Nicola Forbes-Taylor joins Aaron Alburey and Annette Andrews in the latest podcast.

More and more senior HR professionals are looking at the bigger picture in their business and expanding their own influence beyond just the people function. As a result the ability to effectively communicate your message is essential. In this short podcast Chris from LACE Partners talks to Brendan from Mastertalk to get tips on honing HR's public speaking skills.

How does HR ensure it remains the conscience of the organisation? How can we ensure that we are focused on the 'moments that matter' for employees? And how do we take stock, realise the value that HR has added during this period, so that we can demonstrate the value as we look to exit the global pandemic? Chris talks to Karen Dempster, an communications expert, on how to articulate an effective approach to communication during the current crisis.

Is there a movement for senior HR professionals to become more commercially focused? How many are working beyond the people agenda? Are there specific capabilities and skills that make up a successful HRD/CPO? What does the HR function have to do to ensure the people stepping up into these roles in future have this commercial mindset? Chris from LACE Partners talks to Katie Jacobs from the CIPD after some roundtables that they ran earlier in 2020.

Bringing in diverse talent is only one side of the coin and in the latest ‘In the Spotlight’ series from the Guild of HR Professionals looks at how diversity and inclusion should feed through the entire life cycle of an employees time at a business, from initial recruitment through to onboarding and ongoing talent retention strategies.

Annette Andrews and Andrew Pullman from the Guild of HR Professionals talk about the impact of wellbeing and the impact and importance of mental health, as well as the role that mental health first aiders can be to a business and people. This is particularly relevant post Covid-19.

How can businesses effectively personalise the learning experience better and particularly, how do businesses get better at driving the diversity and inclusion agenda through online systems? Chris and Max from LACE Partners spoke to Mehdi Tounsi from Open Sesame, the online learning and development platform.

How have businesses and HR teams leveraged data and analytics since lockdown? Have they been efficient? Is there a danger for some businesses to over-elaborate in the way they interrogate data for areas like performance management? How do you collate data effectively from multiple sources so that you aren’t just wading through numbers-treacle? These are just a few questions that Simon Haines from Simply Get Results talks to Chris and Max from LACE Partners about.

Are you creating barriers for talent to come into your organisation as a result of your approach to diversity? Aaron Alburey from LACE Partners and Annette Andrews from the Guild of HR Professionals talk to Kate Headley from The Clear Company about the societal and economic changes that have occurred over 2020 and how HR needs to drive the inclusivity agenda at senior Exec level.

What does the change from the Job Retention Scheme (furlough) to the Job Support Scheme mean for HR teams and businesses? How will it impact contractual arrangements between employer and employee? Can employees on the scheme still undertake training? What are the challenges that companies entering onto this new scheme will face? Chris from LACE Partners spoke to Paul Chamberlain from JMW Solicitors to get the lowdown on the governments latest attempts to retain jobs during this global pandemic we are still in the midst of.

Carissa Kilgour from Co.Lab returns to talk about what has changed in the way in which businesses are utilising their workspaces. How can a business collaborate better when everyone is at home? Will we start to see a move away from mass migration into the big cities? How can you maintain your workplace culture when nobody is in your office? How do you build relationships with those people in your business that you don’t work with all of the time? And how do you train your leaders to manage remotely?

How can HR teams and businesses get better at bringing data to the forefront of measuring a culture in a business? How can you use culture as the ‘first line of defence’ in stamping out unproductive behaviours in a business? Hani Nabeel from iPsychTec talks to the HR Guild about his experiences, how he has worked with organisations to drive behaviour change, as well as how you can use predictive analytics to look at what a change in culture can do for you in future, rather than looking backwards as to what your culture has been.

Doing things right or doing the right thing? Aaron Alburey from LACE Partners and Co-host Annette Andrews from the HR Guild, talk to Stephanie Davies - From Laughology and Founder of the National Happiness Awards, about what we should be thinking about as we step into the new norm of the working world.

An introduction from Aaron Alburey and Annette Andrews talking about season two of the HR Guild podcast, in which they explain what to look forward to in this upcoming series.

They talk about being a 'business professional' rather than just a 'HR professional' and how this series will focus on how to help people network, develop themselves and give back to the HR community.

On this Thursday's podcast Aaron and Chris are joined by technology adoption expert Andy Barlow, VP of Innovation at Applearn. We talk to Andy about their recently released Digital Adoption Pulse Report, where they asked 500 business leaders what their experiences, challenges and priorities were in terms of enterprise software. Listen to the podcast to deep dive into the results.

We sit down with employee experience expert Luka Winterborne and our Director, HR Transformation Emma Leonis to talk about how Covid-19 has pushed many organisations to drastically change and improve their digital employee experiences. We explore the new focus on employee safety and wellbeing, the importance of service delivery tech and how HR teams can adapt to a quickly changing working world.

Chris from LACE Partners talks to Raj Sundareson from WalkMe about the future of the digital adoption space. Raj talks about the way in which DAPs can improve effieicny and speed up peoples lives. He also explains how digital adoption solutions can turn HR into problem solvers.

Chris and Aaron discuss the importance of collaboration tools in keeping workforces connected with Nazir Ul-Ghani, Head of Workplace by Facebook. They discuss how people have quickly adapted to life during lockdown and how collaboration tools that enable online engagement with work colleagues have played such a big part, as well as what the future holds for the evolution of the space.

Digital Adoptions Solutions and why they should matter to you by LACE Partners

What are the biggest challenges that the global coronavirus pandemic has delivered for HR and resourcing teams when it comes to talent management? How are priorities going to need to shift in terms of the skillsets needed by businesses? How much impact will a second wave of the pandemic have on businesses forecasting their talent attraction and retention strategies? Kevin Green discusses this and more with Chris in the latest podcast.

Kerry Nutley, Human Capital Management Strategy Director for Oracle, talks to Chris about how rapid change has meant increasing digitisation for HR teams. The impact of proper adoption of technology is essential and so Kerry and Chris discuss that, as well as changing people and culture, in addition to some innovative ways in which some businesses are leveraging technology to drive their people performance.

How well does your HR team deliver successful diagnosis for its challenges, rather than retrospectively finding solutions? Is your HR function seen as the ‘police’ of your business and what can you do to avoid that? Chris from LACE Partners talks to Steve Othen from Product Madness about these issues, as well as what Product Madness are doing to drive the upskilling of their people.

Wendy Muirhead from Ceridian talks about how Ceridian try to drive innovation in their business through the culture that they have developed. As a technology-focused business, the expectation is that Ceridian are innovative in its culture, but how do they achieve that? And what tips do they have?

How capable is your HR function? What is stopping your team from reaching your strategic objectives? In 2019 LACE Partners spoke to a series of HRDs as part of the HR on the Offensive whitepaper and to follow on from the findings, Emma Leonis talks about the importance of HR moving from the transactional side of the business, to that of a strategic ‘people consultant’.

How do you make the world of work more engaging for your people? How do you bring your workplaces back into sync with better engagement and how can you break down the existing constructs of the workplace to improve the overall efficiency of your business? Chris talks to Cecile from Ultimate Software about her book ‘From Dissonance to Resonance’

In such a time of uncertainty and both personal and professional challenges, how can HR teams keep their line managers positively engaged, especially when so many are remote managing (possibly for the first time)? Danny Harmer from Aviva and Steph Davies from Laughology talk to the LACE Partners team on what they've seen in recent months.

What is agile leadership? How do you identify companies that deliver it and what types of characteristics do they have? Stephen Sidebottom and Clare Harvey explore this in the latest edition of 'In the Spotlight', a HR podcast brought to you by the Guild of HR Professionals, in association with LACE Partners.

What legal considerations do you need to make when bringing back furloughed workers? How much notice do you need to give to inform a furloughed worker of a return date? What can furloughed workers do when on leave and what are the logistics of part-time working? What about holiday pay or the process of redundancy? We look at all of these questions in the latest podcast, featuring Paul Griffin from Norton Rose Fulbright.

How have businesses reacted to their resource plans during the global pandemic? How important will employer brand be post the current crisis? What creativity in resourcing has this global pandemic delivered? Andrew Wilkinson from Peoplescout and Sally Talbot from Per Ardua give their take in the latest HR Guild podcast.

How has the covid-19 crisis impacted the search for leaders? How have views on leadership and identifying leaders changed during this time? Is 'trust' the new frontier for businesses when it comes to empowering their leaders and line managers? Which leaders have developed the most during this difficult time?

These questions and more are answered by Steve Bernard from Connectwell and Emma Leonis from LACE Partners, in the latest HR on the offensive podcast

How do you adapt the workplace to meet your colleagues' needs in this current climate? Do you have a hybrid wellbeing offering? How do you make home-based workers feel fully included in wellbeing programmes? What are your plans for holiday rollover and how do you deal with that?

These are just a few questions that we look at in the latest HR Guild 'In the Spotlight' podcast featuring Mark McLane and Nikki Squelch, members of the HR Guild.

How much of what the government has set out for returning to work are 'rules' and how much are 'guidelines' for HR teams and employers to deliver on? What happens to those people with childcare arrangements that are concerned with going back to work? Chris and Cathy from LACE Partners spoke to Paul Griffin from law firm Norton Rose Fulbright to get answers to some of the common questions HR teams are asking right now.

Master of the Guild Paul Hucknall talks to Chris Howard and Annette Andrews about how his business - Quilter - has adapted quickly to moving from an office-based environment to a remote one, touching on policies, support, but also how their leaders have adapted to the change across the organisation, not just at the top.

What will the office of the future look like when everybody returns back to work? Will there be creative and news ways of utilising space? Will businesses need as much space? How can you social distance in a lift designed to get 20 people in it and up to the 20th floor as quickly as possible. Aaron and Chris from LACE talk to Carissa Kilgour from Co.lab advisory about what the future of the office could potentially look like.

In the second edition of the 'In the Spotlight' series from the Guild of HR Professionals, Peter Cheese - CEO of the CIPD - talks about how HR needs to position the 'human' at the centre of the business after the Covid-19 pandemic has begun to subside. HR needs to come together as a community and share collaborative ideas and Peter shares his thoughts on how that can and should happen in future.

Chris from LACE Partners is joined by Jig Ramji, Head of Talent at the London Stock Exchange, to talk about the importance of HR teams using data to evidence their decision making and delivering ROI to the people function. Jig talks about challenges of businesses who value HR as a critical part of its business objectives, as well as those businesses who don't put HR at the front of their strategy.

In this first episode of the Guild of HR Professionals' series of leadership 'in the spotlight' podcasts, Chris and Aaron from LACE Partners talk to Danny Harmer from Aviva on her experiences during the current lockdown period, having joined Aviva earlier in 2020.

What are the common challenges that leadership teams are facing and what coaching support do they need? Do HR Directors need to focus more on themselves in getting coaching support? Jessica Raby from Jess Raby Associates talks to Chris and Aaron from LACE Partners.

How good is your digital learning platform and how much are you utilising it in the current climate? With some businesses using digital learning to re-skill employees in light of the Covid-19 global pandemic, or with furloughed employees able to undertake training whilst not being able to physically work, digital learning has become even more prevalent. The latest Hr on the Offensive Podcast talks to Andrew Holmes from Skillsoft, a digital learning provider.

What is your business doing about it's wellbeing strategy? What are other HR teams looking at right now? What will be the focus as we come out of the current global pandemic? The LACE Partners Team spoke to Annette Andrews, former Chief People Officer at Lloyds of London, to find out what she is seeing and hearing from senior colleagues in the industry.

How can HR teams react appropriately to the current crisis brought about by Covid-19? Is HR the conscience of the business? What does the return to work plan look like? What will 'business as usual' look like when the crisis starts to subside?

Chris from LACE Partners sat down with strategic advisor Kevin Green to ask how HR can think differently and how bold HR should be.

Workforce planning may not be new, but the environment we are currently operating in caused by the global pandemic is. Chris Howard and Charlie Donaldson talk about why agility is needed more than ever from HR during this current period and what HR teams need to be thinking about as they consider how to efficiently restructure and reploy their workforce to be in the best position to succeed once we exit this current crisis.

With large numbers of people working from home during the global pandemic, how can you maintain business continuity in your culture, your people and your processes? Aaron Alburey and Cathy Acratopulo look at this issue, as well as the impact that technology is playing for companies, in this challenging time.

We all know what it feels like to be managed well, but how many of us have been trained to be better people managers? How many companies have effective processes in place to help line managers become better people managers? Cathy Acratopulo from LACE Partners shares some findings from work LACE Partners has done with a variety of different sized businesses across a multitude of different industries.

How will AI and blockchain impact HR teams in 2020? How much do you need to know about and what’s on the horizon? Aaron Alburey from LACE Partners provides a quick overview, as well as some of the practical ways in which these two very different technologies will affect your department.

Does HR try to be all things to all people? Is that hindering HR’s ability to be successful? Do HR need to focus on core business priorities? Emma Leonis from LACE Partners talks about some of the core priorities that HR Directors have spoken to LACE Partners about.