HR on the Offensive

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 In our opinion, that's an outdated view risks undermining both performance and resilience.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 of the whitepaper; Martin Colyer, Adam Morris, and Pavan Bilkhoo as they explore each step. Listen now for a brief overview of the three key areas of focus to tackling the efficiency paradox. Download our whitepaper to learn how you can unlock more with what you already have.

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 international recruitment landscape. If you're navigating cross-border talent strategies and wondering why your efforts might not be succeeding, listen now for Monika's valuable perspectives and practical advice.

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 by LACEr and talent expert Pavan Bilkhoo, as they discuss the looming skills gap facing UK organisation. This is not a distant problem; the Open University Business Barometer from last year already showed that a significant chunk of UK organisations – over 60% – are grappling with skills shortages right now. HR leaders must carve out time for strategic reflection. Making space to think critically about workforce transformation is what will set future-fit organisations apart. Listen now to learn how to modernise your workforce strategy and ensure the future readiness of your workforce.

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). Listen now to learn how you can empower your people managers in this new financial landscape.

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, challenges, and innovations shaping modern strategic workforce planning (SWP). SWP is an approach that forecasts the skills needed to meet business outcomes, not just in moment but for the future. By looking ahead, you are able to evaluate the actions needed such as upskilling current workforce or hiring in new skills. They also discuss how Beamery's AI-driven talent platform is transforming SWP, helping businesses build more agile, skills-based organisations that can navigate the complexities of the modern labour market. The future of SWP is about being proactive, data-driven, and human-centric. Companies that invest in their people will not only navigate the complexities of the modern workforce but emerge as industry leaders. Listen now to learn how you can use a skills-based approach to refine your SWP.

Today businesses rely on data more than ever, ensuring that information is accurate, actionable, and properly managed can make or break a technology investment. This episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast unpacks the complex, often overlooked role of data quality in HR technology and system implementation. Chris and fellow LACErs Martin Colyer and Becki Lovelady, explores the impact of poor-quality data. Listen now to understand why high data quality is essential and how to sustain it over time.

Payroll is the backbone of any organisation, ensuring employees are compensated accurately and on time. Yet, despite its critical role, payroll teams often operate behind the scenes, dealing with complex challenges that many outside the function rarely consider. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by LACE payroll experts Adrian Axtell, Simon Puryer, Chris Kirby, Tricia Conway, and Simon Bunday. Together, they delve into the realities of payroll, the obstacles professionals face, and how the function is evolving to meet the demands of the future. Payroll is no longer just an administrative function—it is a vital component of a company's success. Listen now to learn payroll can evolve to meet the challenges of the future of HR.

Navigating change is one of the most critical challenges organisations face, and the latest HR on the Offensive podcast dives deep into this subject, offering insights into how leaders can guide their teams through transformation effectively. Chris and change experts Gemma Ryall and Annette Frem discuss the concept of leading through change. Effective change leadership directly influences engagement, productivity, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, financial performance. Organisations that fail to evolve risk stagnation. Listen now to hear some pearls of wisdom from Gemma and Annette, and do feel free to reach out if via the form below if you'd like to discuss your change journey with them directly.

Business transformation isn't just about strategy and execution—it's about people. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris, along with Aaron Aubrey, speak with Sally Earnshaw, a specialist in driving cultural and leadership change. Their discussion centres on the crucial role HR plays in enabling large-scale transformation and how leaders can effectively communicate the “why” behind change to inspire and mobilise their people. Employees are more likely to embrace new ways of working if they see visible commitment from the top. Transformation isn't just about systems and structures—it's about culture, leadership, and people. Listen now to learn how to prioritise the human side of change.

What makes a great people manager? And how do you build the skills for the future super-charged people manager who is no longer just supervisor; but a coach, mentor and enabler of growth? Organisations that truly harness the potential of their people managers unlock new levels of productivity, engagement, and innovation. But what does it take to create these ‘supercharged' people managers? And what role do they play in the success of a skills-powered organisation? This is what Chris and Debbie Mitchell discuss in this amazing episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, as part of our Becoming skills-powered series. Listen now to hear more of Debbie's thoughts on how by equipping line managers with the right tools you can supercharge employee engagement and productivity through skills approaches.

In today's fast-changing business world, transformation is no longer a one-time event—it's a continuous process. In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACE co-founder Aaron Alburey discuss our new campaign, Driving business transformation: HR as the conductors of change, exploring why HR should take the lead in reshaping organisations. Our campaign aims to position HR as the strategic leader, the conductor orchestrating productivity, efficiency, and sustainable growth. For HR professionals looking to lead transformation within their organisations, listen now for valuable insights into the mindset shift HR needs to lead the change. Sign up to our campaign to stay updated with exclusive content, events, and resources designed to put HR at the forefront of transformation. - https://lacepartners.co.uk/hr-driving-business-transformation/

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, company culture plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable performance. This was the central theme of a recent episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris spoke with Niall Cluley, Managing Director at Dragonfish UK to discuss their latest research on culture alignment and its impact on organisational success. Listen now to learn how your business can unlock its full potential and drive long-term success through cultural alignment.

What does the future hold for payroll? In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACE payroll expert Chris Kirby speak with Nick Day, Founder of JGA Recruitment Group as they discuss how you can build the perfect payroll professional. The future of payroll is evolving rapidly, and those who embrace change won't just thrive—they'll redefine the impact payroll can have on organisations. Listen now to discover the key skills payroll professionals need to succeed in today's landscape.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris, predicts the year ahead for HR with guest Idris Arshad, Head of People at Asthma + Lung UK. Idris believes that in 2025 HR transformation must transcend buzzwords, advocating for clearly defined roles and proactive contributions to organisational evolution. Idris believes that in 2025 HR will not only secure a strategic seat at the table but also solidify its role as a cornerstone of organisational success in a rapidly evolving business environment. Listen now to hear more of Idris' predictions.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising HR, and in the latest HR on the Offensive podcast Chris delves into this transformation with guests Andrea Derla, Principal Research Value and Ben Harris, VP EMEA both at Visier. The discussion is centred on a report from Visier, “Managers Know AI Tools Make Them More Effective – Can HR Deliver?” that explores how generative AI can empower managers and transform decision-making in the workplace. Listen now to discover how to overcome the challenges of adopting AI solutions for people analytics.

In today's “HR on the Offensive” podcast, Chris and LACEr Pavan Bilkhoo speak to Jig Ramji, Chief Talent Officer at Aviva, as they explore skills-based organisations potential to redefine traditional HR practices and empower employees along the way. They discuss the ways this shift influences talent acquisition, reward systems and career progression as organisations prioritise skills over roles or hierarchies. This podcast is part of our Becoming skills-powered campaign where we are unpacking some of the BIG questions around skills approaches; from what the foundations are through to which skills solutions are right for you. More info on our campaign: https://lacepartners.co.uk/becoming-skills-powered/

At LACE we talk about how we are ‘fundamentally different' HR consultancy but what does that really mean? This guiding principle, or as we call it the LACE way, informs our approach to both clients and internal operations. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris speaks with LACE co-founder Aaron Alburey on what makes LACE 'fundamentally different'. Listen now for insights on how LACE approaches their projects, whether it's people strategy or improving your payroll function we have a unique approach and culture that's worth knowing about it.

HR professionals often carry the weight of organisational wellbeing on their shoulders. But in this case; who supports the supporters? In this insightful discussion from the HR on the Offensive podcast, host Chris Howard and Chris Horton explore this often-overlooked challenge alongside Paul McGregor, a mental health advocate and founder of Everymind at Work. Listen now to learn how to build a workplace that ensures all employees are supported.

Imagine a workplace where creativity thrives, unbounded by traditional barriers—this concept is called “borderless creativity.” In this episode of HR on the Offensive, Chris and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell speak to Elaine Grell, Chief People Officer of Ogilvy, as they explore this concept and its transformative implications for leadership, diversity and workplace culture. Listen now to learn how your organisation can resist stagnation and foster a workplace culture that cultivates innovation.

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

How does having a family-inclusive approach benefit employers as much as employees? What impact does it have on employer brand? How can care provision when there is a disruption help to ensure engaged employees? These are just a few questions that we explore in our latest podcast, featuring Jennifer Listen-Smith from Bright Horizons. They talk about their Work+Family Snapshot, which you can find out more about here -https://solutions.brighthorizons.co.uk/resources/work-family-snapshot

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by LACE payroll expert Adrian Axtell, along with Bronwynn Gordon, Global Payroll Director, and Claire Findell, VP of People Operations at Sage, to celebrate National Payroll Week. Together, they explore the importance of the payroll profession and dive into its evolution, current challenges and future opportunities. Listen now as we celebrate National Payroll Week and highlight the essential role payroll professionals play within an organisation.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris discusses the concept of unbossing in the workplace. He is joined by fellow LACErs Marcus Uzubalis and Stephanie Abel, as they explore the definition, benefits, and challenges of unbossing. Listen now to learn how you can successfully implement unbossing into your organisation.

In this HR on the Offensive podcast the conversation centres on how HR and people-centric strategies have evolved, particularly in the post-pandemic world. To explore this, Chris and fellow LACEr Cathy Acratopulo invite on Kathryn Dolan, Chief People Officer at Bureau Veritas, to share insights from her experience. Listen now to learn how to better equip your HR team is to support the organisation's business goals.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris discusses the evolving role of AI in HR with LACErs Charlie Frost and Aaron Alburey, alongside guest David Wilson, CEO of Fosway Group. Listen now to learn how AI will affect your business processes and how to prepare for this ongoing technological shift.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, we look at one of the primary business drivers from our, “Demystifying the HR Operating Model” campaign. We've identified four primary business drivers to shape your HR operating model around; growth, customer intimacy, agility, or productivity. Chris is joined by LACE Co-Founder and CEO Cathy Acratopulo and Helen Webb, Chief People Officer at WHSmith, to discuss productivity as a key business driver. Listen now to learn how you can boost your productivity business driver.

We're excited to launch our new campaign: Becoming Skills-Powered. In this episode of the "HR on the Offensive" podcast, Chris is joined by LACE team members Pavan Bilkhoo, Romy Hobson, and Gemma Ryall to talk about the campaign's goals and the importance of skills-based organisations. These organisations look beyond job titles to recognise employees for their wide range of skills from different experiences and personal lives. This approach changes how we think about talent and work, focusing on matching the right people to the right tasks to improve flexibility and efficiency. This approach brings flexibility, cost savings, and the ability to quickly adapt to business changes. For employees, it offers clear career paths, opportunities to learn new skills, and more chances to move up within the organisation. Our campaign aims to simplify the information about skills-based organisations and break it down into practical steps. This will help organisations keep up with rapid changes and tackle skill shortages by using internal talent instead of always hiring from outside. Find out more about "Becoming skills-powered": https://lacepartners.co.uk/becoming-skills-powered/

We have recently launched our newest whitepaper “Less stress HRIS – Part one: The road to the cloud”. In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris is joined by fellow LACERs Aaron Alburey and Sian Beacham as they cover the five steps to delivering the perfect HRIS implementation. To dive deeper into each step, download your free copy of the whitepaper here - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12884281/

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, we revisit our ongoing campaign, "Demystifying the HR operating model". In this series we explain how your HR operating model needs to be shaped to support your key business driver - whether that's productivity, customer intimacy, agility or in this case, growth. In this episode, Chris is joined by Aaisha Knights, Chief People Officer at LMAX Group, to discuss one of these critical drivers: rapid growth. Listen now for Aaisha's insights into the multifaceted role of HR in a rapidly growing business. View the campaign here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/prologue-demystifying-the-hr-operating-model/

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive, Chris explores the crucial topic of HR professionals' mental wellbeing. Chris and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell speak to Dr Jo Burrell author of the HR Mental Wellbeing Report and Rachel Jones, Director of People from Sodexo to discuss the report and provide insights from both clinical and practical HR perspectives. Listen now to discover the wellbeing challenges HR professionals face today and learn how organisations can better support them. You can download the report here - https://www.ultimateresilience.co.uk/hr-mental-wellbeing-report

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris dives into rapidly evolving topic of AI in HR. He is joined by fellow LACErs Aaron Alburey, and our resident AI expert Charlie Frost, to discuss the practical uses of AI in HR. Listen now to learn how you can better navigate the complexities of AI integration, enhancing your HR functions and overall business operations.

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris along with fellow LACErs Aaron Alburey and Debbie Mitchell discuss how CPOs should spend the first 90 days of working within a new HR function. They delve into the crucial strategies and considerations for CPOs as they navigate the initial period in a new role. Listen now to find out how you can make the most of your first 90 days, laying a solid foundation for your new role and driving meaningful change within your organisation. Here at LACE Debbie leads our CPO healthcheck, take a look if you would like additional support as a CPO -https://lacepartners.co.uk/what-is-a-cpo-healthcheck-and-how-can-it-help-you/

In the latest episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris discusses how organisations can benchmark their performance in the people and workforce analytics space with Aaron Lynch and Johanna Clarke de Dromantin from LACE's people analytics team. Listen now to to discover how you can evaluate the maturity of your people and workforce analytics teams. Our PWA Navigator survey is designed to help organisations assess their analytics teams based on LACE's maturity framework, which includes six key themes: strategy, systems and data, reporting and analytics, operating model, skills and behaviours, and self-perception. If you would like to complete our survey follow this link - https://7zmqgdxdn9c.typeform.com/to/okgWb6oJ

In this episode, Chris and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell discuss the topic of the general election and its potential impact on HR. Our newest whitepaper, “The successful CPO: Election special” provides an overview of the main parties' positions on employment the potential implications for HR professionals. Listen now to get ahead of the game and get ready for change. If you would like to read our whitepaper you can download a free copy here - https://lacepartners.co.uk/the-successful-cpo-election-special/

The latest HR on the Offensive podcast, hosted by Chris, delves into leadership and AI. Joined by LACE AI expert Charlie Frost, LACE Co-Founder Cathy Acrotopulo, and guest, Nick Chatrath, Managing Director of the Artesian Group. The discussion centres around his book, "The Threshold: Leading in the Age of AI" which addresses the intersections of AI advancements and leadership. Listen now to learn how fostering adaptive leadership, can help HR and organisations navigate the uncertainties and opportunities presented by AI advancements.

In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris is joined by people analytics experts and LACErs Nancy Allen and Jo Schwabl as they reflect on the recent People Analytics World 2024 event, discussing key topics and insights from the conference. Visit our webpage: https://lacepartners.co.uk/what-key-insights-emerged-from-people-analytics-world-2024/

In this follow up to our “Mentoring in HR – how can it be used?” podcast, Chris and Debbie Mitchell are once again joined by Charlotte Watmore, the Inclusion and Diversity Project Manager at Wates Group, and Charly Young, the CEO and co-founder of both The Girls Network and the Equilibrium Gender Collective. They discuss the theme of mentoring, particularly focusing on the quantifiable outputs and impacts of mentoring programmes. Listen now for valuable insights into the intricacies of mentoring programmes.

Chris and Emma Leonis-Hughes welcome Jennifer Liston-Smith, the Head of Thought Leadership at Bright Horizons, as their guest. Together, they delve into the latest insights from the Modern Families Index report from 2024, a piece of research conducted by Bright Horizons since 2012. This discussion sheds light on the myriad of challenges confronted by working parents and caregivers. Bright Horizons offer comprehensive services to support working families and employers in creating family-friendly workplaces. This podcast episode discusses hurdles encountered by working parents and caregivers. Listen now to explore actionable strategies for cultivating a workplace environment that supports parents and caregivers in in achieving a healthy work-life balance.

On the latest HR on the Offensive podcast Chris delves into the critical role of leadership in building organisational culture and enhancing employee engagement. Chris is joined by Andy Brown, co-founder of Engage, and Pete Thomas, owner and director of Team Fit Limited. They explore various aspects of leadership's impact on culture and engagement, shedding light on key insights and practical strategies. The podcast underscores the essential link between leadership, culture, and engagement in driving organisational success. Listen now to learn how leaders can take ownership of these areas, recognise their impact, and adopt proactive approaches.

In this episode, Chris brings in LACE Payroll specialists Simon Puryer and Chris Kirby to discuss the payroll fundamentals you need to get right. Listen now to learn why it's important to have the payroll basics right and why you should start thinking beyond the next tax year.

In this podcast episode, Chris and LACE payroll experts Adrian Axtell and Sara Thompson discuss national minimum wage breaches. After delving into recent press coverage around companies facing allegations of underpaying their employees, the conversation moves on to the payroll teams' responsibility in ensuring compliance and explores strategies for businesses to address this issue. Overall, the discussion underscores the multifaceted nature of national minimum wage compliance. Listen now for proactive steps you can take to uphold ethical and legal standards while prioritising employee welfare and ensuring minimum wage compliance.

In the latest episode Chris introduces co-host, Debbie Mitchell, and guest Graham Norris, an Organisational Psychologist and Speaker. The focus of this episode is on HR professionals' abilities to think strategically and long-term. The summary delves into various aptitudes necessary for navigating future HR challenges. HR professionals need to confidently engage in strategic conversations about the future, thereby positioning themselves as drivers of change and innovation within their organisations. Listen now to learn how to cultivate a mindset that embraces uncertainty and anticipates change