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?

As part of Black History Month in this episode of The People Agenda podcast we are raising awareness of how organisations can be more inclusive. Host Chris Howard and Christina Adeniyi from our DE&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