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 fee...

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...

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...

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. Davi...

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 m...

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...

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 Nega...

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...

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 or...

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 netw...

Addiction in the workplace is often a silent issue. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast host Chris Howard and guest, Dr. Georges Petitjean, Clinical Director at Inclusion, cut through the taboo to reveal why HR leaders can’t afford to ignore it. Georges explains that addiction is as a spectrum, from low-risk use, on one end, to compulsive behaviours continued despite harm, on the ot...

In a recent conversation, Chris Howard sat down with LACE payroll experts Simon Bunday and Simon Puryer to unpack the not only the insights from our latest whitepaper but also the power of our payroll community. They emphasised how the community, through shared insights, can support a more holistic approach to payroll strategy, that goes beyond day-to-day transactions and focuses on payroll as a s...

If you’ve ever asked yourself who’s looking out for the people who look after everyone else, the latest episode of HR on the Offensive dives straight into that question. Chris Howard is joined by clinical psychologist and Ultimate Resilience co-founder Dr. Jo Burrell to unpack a tough but important reality: HR professionals, who are responsible for supporting the well-being of others, are increasi...

What happens when two of the most culturally distinct functions in a business—HR and IT—are brought together under a single umbrella? In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris Howard is joined by fellow LACEr Julian Holmes and guest John Guy, CEO at Simply Get Results, as they explore the implications of merging HR and IT in an era increasingly shaped by AI and workforce transforma...

In this episode, Chris Howard and LACE founder Aaron Alburey unpack the results of a global study revealing the disconnect between HR’s ambitions and its real influence in business transformation. What needs to change—and how can HR step up? Tune in to find out.

AI is transforming the world of work at speed—but with great potential comes a need for clarity, accountability, and smart, human-centred decisions. That’s why we developed the TRUSTED AI framework at LACE Partners: a practical, values-led model to help organisations adopt AI in ways that are responsible, secure, and truly useful. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris Howard si...

When you think of payroll, it’s easy to imagine a simple process: work, get paid, repeat. But behind that straightforward cycle lies an intricate network of operations, systems, and strategy that most employees—and many businesses—rarely see. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by LACE payroll experts Chris Kirby and Nick Osborne-Moore to dive into our r...

Struggling to get the most out of your HR tech investment? You’re not alone. In the latest episode of HR on the Offensive, host Chris Howard, Ffion Bennett, and Louise Brown delve into “Less Stress Part Three,” a continuation of our Less stress series, which aims to guide businesses through their HRIS implementation journey. This third instalment tackles a commonly overlooked but crucial phase: po...

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by LACEr Gemma Ryall and guest Neil Carberry, CEO of the REC, for a great conversation about skills, productivity, and the changing world of work. They explore the challenges organisations are navigating in today’s fast-paced global environment—especially when it comes to embracing AI while maintaining the critic...

What if AI didn’t just reshape jobs, but reshaped how we think about work itself? Many organisations are rethinking the way that work get's delivered, whether that's through skills-based approaches or changes in strategic workforce planning. AI is central to conversations on this topic and is the core of this discussion on the HR on the Offensive podcast, where Chris Howard is joined by fellow LAC...

In today’s evolving business climate, efficiency can no longer be synonymous with cost-cutting and headcount reduction. In our opinion, that's an outdated view risks undermining both performance and resilience. In our latest whitepaper The Efficiency Paradox, we outline a three-step approach to tackling this problem. For this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris speaks with the authors...

Navigating the evolving world of global talent acquisition is no easy task—it's complex, fast-moving, and full of unexpected challenges. That’s why this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and Pavan Bilkhoo speak to Monika Lubczak-Pufelska, author of Shortlisted for a Better Life. Monika unpacks the cultural nuances, strategic missteps, and hard-won lessons that define today’s intern...

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report for 2025 highlights a massive transformation in the global job market. An estimated 170 million new jobs will be emerging in the next decade, alongside the displacement of around 92 million roles. That's a net increase, but it underscores the sheer scale of the skills evolution we're facing. In the latest HR on the Offensive podcast. Chris is joined...

What do you do when your business is hit with rising costs, regulatory changes, and mounting pressure to deliver more with less? In this episode of HR on the Offensive, Chris is joined by Simon Fowler, CEO at Empowering People Group, to discuss how HR leaders can strategically navigate cost pressures—including minimum wage increases and recent changes to National Insurance contributions (NIC). Lis...

In today’s fast-evolving workplace, organisations are looking for smarter ways to manage talent, align workforce strategies with business objectives, and leverage technology to stay ahead. As part of our Becoming skills-powered campaign Chris alongside LACE strategic workforce planning expert Becki Lovelady speak to Tom Shurrock VP of Product at Beamery. In this episode they unpack the strategies,...