The People Agenda

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!