HR on the Offensive

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