Cipd

In a world of uncertainty and constant disruption, what does an effective and human response to crisis really look like? Are employee benefits creating real impact – or are too many organisations offering perks without a clear sense of what they’re for? And as technology promises ever-greater efficiency, are employees starting to resist the pressure to optimise everything in pursuit of something more meaningful?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Sasi Venables, HR Business Partner at the University of Worcester and founder of The HR Confidence Club and Rob Worrall, Chief People Officer.Recorded: 06 March 2026---Explore more from this episode:HR People Pod – Ep 12: Crisis events | Supply chains | Politics at work | ‘Ghost jobs’Report: Reward Survey: Focus on benefits 2026  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What really happens at the World Economic Forum in Davos? And what are global leaders saying about the future of work? Are organisations simply layering AI onto existing systems, or are they facing a fundamental re-engineering of work itself? If intelligence becomes infrastructure, what happens to how we define value and professional identity? And if entry-level roles decline, what does that mean for the strength of our future talent pipeline?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Allyn Bailey, Senior Director Corporate Narrative and Communications at SmartRecruiters.Recorded: 20 February 2026---Read more from Allyn Bailey at the World Economic ForumDavos 2026: the key takeaways for HR on AI, skills and workforce reinventionhttps://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1946227/davos-2026-key-takeaways-hr-ai-skills-workforce-reinvention Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does sustained performance depend less on the learning event itself and more on the environment in which it is applied? In modern workplaces – shaped by inbox overload, operational pressures and competing demands for attention – employees often return from training motivated and well-intentioned, yet without the time, permission or support to put new skills into practice. Without the right conditions, learning quickly fades and performance remains unchanged.Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests — Aglaia Economou, HR Learning Development & Change Manager at Hertfordshire County Council; Fergal Connolly, Learning Transfer Specialist and Founder of Multiply Transfer; and Steve George, Head of Learning at CIPD — as they examine what it really takes to ensure learning translates into measurable performance.In this episode, we explore:-         The organisational conditions required for learning to translate into sustained performance, beyond the design and deli

As volatility becomes the default rather than the exception, what does it really mean for organisations to be ready for change? When it comes to ‘peanut butter’ pay rises, does spreading reward evenly strengthen trust and fairness, or quietly undermine the idea that performance and capability matter? And just how decisive can small moments be — how have acts of trust, stretch or recognition shaped the careers of our guests?   CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Alix Bolton, Chief People Officer, Europe at Smollan; and Alison Hodgson, Market Director – CIPD Ireland. Recorded: 6 February 2026  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As new trends and demands accelerate, how can HR leaders ensure the profession’s foundations are robust enough to support effective and timely action? If AI is becoming part of everyday work, should organisations deliberately test how candidates think, reason and collaborate with AI as part of the recruitment process? And is the rise in temporary work a strategic shift in workforce strategy – or a symptom of wider uncertainty?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Mel Steel, Interim People, Change & Transformation Leader; and Martyn Dicker, Director of People at Unicef UK.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a tight labour market and amid rapid skills change, organisations face growing pressure to retain critical capability and reduce reliance on external hiring. Yet many employees still can’t see a future inside their organisation, and unclear progression continues to drive attrition. Could strengthening routes for internal mobility provide the strategic response needed to address these challenges? Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests — Laura Ibbotson, Interim Head of HR at The Green Spark Group; and Sarah Lardner, Director of Business Innovation & Senior Reward Principal at Innecto Reward Consulting. In this episode we explore: Why has internal mobility become such a critical issue for organisations today, particularly in the context of skills disruption, retention pressures and changing expectations of progression?  What does effective internal mobility look like in practice, and what organisational, cultural or m

2026 is set to be another challenging year for organisations and the people profession. As economic uncertainty continues and AI adoption accelerates, where should the profession focus its efforts? How can job design and management capability drive productivity without increasing burnout? And what skills do people professionals need to navigate the year ahead.CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by a trio of leading HR podcasters, Fay Wallis, career and leadership coach and host of HR Coffee Time; Lucinda Carney, Chief Executive Officer at Actus Software, and host of HR Uprising podcast; and Bruce Daisley, host of Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat podcast.Recorded: 09 January 2026---Bookings are now open for the CIPD Student Conference 2026. Student members can secure your place for free at cipd.org/studentconf2026Take ownership of your learning and enhance your professional practice. Explore our suite of tools to support your CPD journey at cipd.org/en/learning/cpd/---Explore more podcasts from this we

Are traditional grievance and disciplinary processes really delivering fairness at work – or are they creating harm, cost and disengagement? With workplace conflict estimated to cost organisations billions each year, how can HR move beyond legacy, retributive systems towards a more people-centred and performance-focused approach to justice?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by David Liddle, Founder of The TCM Group and author of People and Culture, to explore how organisations can resolve conflict more effectively, and why justice, culture and leadership are inseparable from productivity and performance.Recorded: 6 November 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite technology transforming — and often streamlining — how we work, its impact on productivity has been surprisingly limited. So is productivity misunderstood? We talk about boosting it, measuring it and even “unlocking” it, but what does it really mean in modern organisations, and what role should the people profession play in driving workplace productivity?Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests — Sharon Benson, founding director of Colleague Central; Lu McKay, founder and lead consultant at Luminary Communications; and Bart van Ark, Managing Director at the Productivity Institute and Professor of Productivity Studies at Alliance Manchester Business School.In this episode we explore:-         Why productivity continues to stagnate despite technological advances, and the hidden barriers affecting workforce performance and business growth-         How HR and the people profession can shape strategies that enhance

Apprenticeship funding is up, and tax-free salary sacrifice on pensions will soon be capped. How have our panellists responded to the UK Government’s Autumn Budget and what does it mean for employers and the workforce? Has the pressure and drive for instant productivity squeezed out hiring for potential? Could organisations be doing more to create routes for internal mobility? And finally, crystal-ball gazing: what opportunities should the people profession lean into in the year ahead?CIPD Trust Senior Programme Manager Leah De Silva is joined by Kerri O’Neill, Chief People Officer, UK & Ireland at Ipsos UK; and Idris Arshad, Head of People at Asthma and Lung UK.Recorded: 28 November 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can people make the best decisions when time is short and the stakes are high? Why is decentralising decision-making critical for organisations who want to move decisively? And how can the people profession strike the right balance between innovation and risk mitigation when adopting and implementing AI?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by science broadcaster, author and emergency medical doctor, Professor Kevin Fong, to explore the profession’s risk appetite and how it can lead effectively under pressure.Recorded: 5 November 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new CIPD report revealed that 62% of employers believe the UK is entering a more unstable period of employee relations. With potential new legal changes arriving soon, those wishing to build positive industrial relations will need to have a transparent approach, underpinned by shared expectations and behaviours. So, what role must people professionals and employers more broadly play in establishing shared expectations and behaviours, strengthen partnerships with trade unions, and create effective voice channels within organisations?Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Nita Clarke, Director at Involvement and Participation Association (IPA); Mustafa Faruqi, Employee Relations Strategy Director at BT; and Alistair Paton, Senior Director for Colleague Relations at Asda. In this episode we explore:The changing context of industrial relations in the UK and what the implications of the Employment Rights Bill will beThe principal foundations of productive and effective partnerships with trade unions and th

Some consider annual reviews ‘irrelevant’ and a ‘burden’, but how would you feel about AI playing a role in the performance review process? As media scrutiny continues to question the impact and growing influence of HR, we reflect on the value the profession brings to workplaces. And finally, we ask: trick or treat, when it comes to the Employment Rights Bill?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Transformation Leader and HR Consultant, Katherine Watkins, and Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive at NHS Employers.Recorded: 31 October 2025 CIPD members can keep up to date with what will change under the Employment Rights Bill, with our dedicated tracker.https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/employment-law/proposed-changes-under-labour-government/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does loyalty look like in 2025? In a climate of low wage growth, how can you keep employees motivated and engaged? As warnings come of retirement ages potentially rising above 70 years old, how can employers foster opportunities for skills development for older workers? And are organisations missing a vital growth opportunity by not investing enough in ‘green skills’?CIPD Reference Content Manager, Holly Ivins, is joined by Chief People Officer at Caxton, Jane-Emma Peerless; Head of People and Culture at Dowds Group, Rob Rees; and Chief People Officer at the Bank of Ireland, Matt Elliott. Recorded: 17 October 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Organisations face constant and increasingly complex change, making it critical to bring people along on the journey. But can L&D play a more proactive role in enabling successful transformation by fostering buy-in, anticipating resistance, and building change capability? How can learning professionals go further than training, positioning themselves as strategic and operational partners who build change capability across the organisation?Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Melanie Franklin, CEO at Capability for Change and Founder of Change Capability Community; Nick Baker, Senior Lead: Learning Design and Digital Innovation at The Football Association; and Paul Hodgkinson, Learning and Development Business Partner at CIPD. In this episode we explore:-         How L&D can be used to empower voice, solicit input and buy-in to change?-         What can be done to anticipate and address blockers and barrie

Is the introduction of digital ID cards using a ‘nut to crack a sledgehammer’ in the effort to curb illegal work, and what impact might this have on UK employers? Are grievances against HR simply an occupational hazard, and how can HR professionals best manage the emotional and personal toll – especially when they’re in the firing line? Finally, is it reasonable for employers to incentivise employees to use their personal social media to promote the company?CIPD Trust Senior Programme Manager, Leah De Silva, is joined by Chief People Officer at Effective Energy Group, Jo Carlin; Principal Consultant at Healix People Solutions, David Balls; and Founder and Managing Director at Campbell HR Consulting, Janet Campbell. Recorded: 8 October 2025  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just how important are team dynamics and psychological safety in driving organisational performance? What behaviours do leaders need to model to create an environment of high performance? In the second and final episode, CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by best-selling author and broadcaster Matthew Syed to explore the role of organisations in driving and enabling high-performance.Recorded: 11 August 2025Listen back to the first episode with Matthew Syed here:https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/podcasts/hr-people-pod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should AI be used to resolve conflict in the workplace? Are over-sensationalised stories of ‘eye-rolling’ leading to legal issues masking deeper problems in the workplace? Does ‘lifelong learning’ apply from hire-to-retire for employees? And what lessons can we take around succession planning from a messy football transfer saga?  CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Founder and Managing Director at Haylo HR and CEO of Resolution at Work, Trish Hewitt, and Chief People Officer at Lore Group, John Dawson. Recorded: 5 September 2025  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is loneliness at work the hidden crisis no one is talking about? The CIPD’s Good Work Index 2025 report revealed that more than a third of working adults say they sometimes, often, or always feel lonely at work — a feeling that carries serious consequences for organisations. But what can be done? Is it an inevitable by-product of modern working life, exacerbating feelings of isolation, or can organisations take meaningful action?Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Caroline Woolland, Director of HR at The King’s Fund; Liggy Webb, award-winning author, consultant and wellbeing expert; and Stephanie Davies, Founder, CEO and Head of Happiness at Laughology – as we explore how to tackle workplace loneliness head-on. Could your culture or job design be exacerbating feelings of loneliness, and what are the signs you should be alert to? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we seeing a trend in the merging of HR and IT functions, and how could this reshape the role of the profession? Where’s the line between healthy openness and harmful oversharing in the workplace? Do we still need hard-and-fast, rigid rules for triggering absence management conversations? How do we make accountability a collective standard, rather than a top-down directive? CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Alix Bolton, Chief People Officer, Europe at Advantage Smollan, and Mark Pavlika, Chief People and Purpose Officer at Bicycle London. Recorded: 22 August 2025  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.