Workplace has been gaining momentum in a number of organisations over the last 5-10 years. Rooted in facilities management and workplace environment, this has rapidly involved to manage many of the wider challenges surrounding workplace, including culture, flexibility, productivity and change management.

In this episode, Will Easton joins us to share his experience as a Workplace Specialist and how the conversation has evolved over the last 18 months. With over 15 years' experience across public health, banking, fintech, luxury fashion and local government, Will has a wealth of knowledge and has guided all sizes of organisations through the challenges of change to ensure the workplace experience delivers for the company, the teams and the communities and stakeholders they serve.

For more information about Will and the role of workplace in supporting your organisation’s growth and change initiatives, make sure to connect with Will Easton on LinkedIn.

The last 12 months has been an interesting rollercoaster for all of us. For leaders, it has been a steep learning curve in managing workplace change, operations and the cultural impact of the pandemic, alongside continuing to support, nurture and grow teams at an individual level.

On episode 4 of The Talent Exchange we are joined by Catherine Smith, Co-Founder and Executive Coach of Equal Talent, and pioneer of the She Has No Limits membership organisation to support female leaders. Catherine joins us to explore how leaders need to adapt and be agile in the current climate, going back to basics to assess individual and organisational values. 

Inclusivity is not a destination, but a long-term commitment and journey organisations must go on. Although in an ideal world the responsibility lies with everyone, it is only when dynamic and inclusive leaders pioneer greater diversity and lead by example, that you can truly grow a diverse team.

For more information about the coaching and support Catherine discussed today, visit Equal Talent’s website over on equaltalent.com. On 20th-21st May, She Has No Limits is also running their Badass Career Summit for Women, so make sure to check out shehasnolimits.com/our-events for more information on how you can extend some of your key learnings from the podcast to further progress your career.

The last 12 months has shed an even brighter light on the stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace. Despite the fantastic work of charities and organisations nationwide, 9 out of 10 people with mental health challenges in the UK still suffer stigmatisation and discrimination.

We are proud to be collaborating with organisations who are taking great steps to normalise the conversation, including Sean Rothwell from The Regenda Group and Jake Mills from Chasing the Stigma. In this episode we catch up with both Sean and Jake about the initiatives they have been running over the last 12 months to connect departments, boost morale and encourage their teams to speak up about mental health at work.

From the virtual masked singer events, to promoting professional development and launching Ambassador programs, this podcast provides a wealth of ideas and tips to empower and inspire your team to 'chase the stigma'.

For more information The Regenda Group and to search opportunities to join their talented team, check out regenda.org.uk. To see how your organisation could partner with Chasing the Stigma, rolling out some of the ambassador programs that Sean and Jake shared, visit chasingthestigma.co.uk

Leadership has been a hot topic over the last 12 months. When we face challenges, we typically seek support and guidance from our managers, leaders in our community and those at the heart of the people in your business; HR. However, where do leaders get their support to ensure they can cascade best practice, solutions and a positive attitude to their direct reports?

In this episode, we catch up with Barbara Nixon who is a Success and Leadership Coach, supporting managers, directors and business owners improve their mindset and confidence, work smarter and really grow as a leader. With over 20 years in the personal development arena, including 12 years in corporate positions, Barbara has worked with hundreds of people to help them improve their skills and get to where they want to go, in turn enabling their wider communities to grow too. 

For the first ever episode on The Talent Exchange, we are joined by Rhonda McPhail and Daisy Crump from Scope, which is an equality diversity charity. The last year has been challenging and eye opening for organisations globally and surveys have highlighted that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is a core focus for businesses going forward. There are lots of ways to encourage greater diversity within your organisation and recruitment plays a big part.

In this episode we discuss the benefits of an inclusive workplace and the steps HR and talent professionals can take to attract, engage, manage and onboard a diverse pool of talent. As an Employer Engagement Specialist, Rhonda shares how she supports employers and recruiters who want to attract disabled candidates to promote roles on Scope’s Job Board, alongside insight into the Support to Work team, which is Scope’s national digital employment programme for disabled people in England and Wales. 

Providing some inspiring examples of applicants, Daisy shares her experience as an Employment Adviser on Scope’s Support to Work service. With a background of working in mental health and graduate recruitment, Daisy demonstrates the challenges applicants face and shares how Scope support both employers and applicants to succeed together.