CIPD

As agentic AI moves beyond being a tool and starts to act with greater autonomy, how should organisations think about trust, oversight and accountability? If entry-level roles are changing — or even shrinking — what does that mean for young people trying to take their first step into work, and for employers hoping to build future capability? And which pivotal career moments can change how HR professionals think about their work, their leadership and their impact?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza, is joined by Jo Carlin, Chief People Officer at Effective Energy Group, and Andy Stephenson, Director at Dove Nest Group. Recorded: 11 June 2026 ---Additional resources:Case studies: AI in the workplacehttps://www.cipd.org/en/topics/artificial-intelligence-workplace/Guide: How people professionals can develop, deploy, and use AU in an ethical, legal and sustainable wayhttps://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/guides/people-professionals-ai-use/Skills for the future: Why investment in early talent is crucial for workforce successhttps://www.cipd.org/en/views-and-insights/thought-leadership/insight/investment-early-talent/Your next listen:CIPD Podcast 228: The missing first rung: Are we sleepwalking into a talent crisis?https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/podcasts/missing-first-rung-are-we-sleeping-into-a-talent-crisis/CIPD Podcast 229: From AI experimentation to AI maturityhttps://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/podcasts/from-ai-experimentation-to-ai-maturity/HR People Pod - Ep 43: Inside Davos - AI, work and the future of identity - with Allyn Baileyhttps://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/podcasts/hr-people-pod/#:~:text=on%20benefits%202026-,HR%20People%20Pod%20%E2%80%93%20Ep%2043%3A%20Inside%20Davos%20%E2%80%93%20AI%2C%20work%20and%20the%20future%20of%20identity%20%2D%20with%20Allyn%20Bailey,-Duration%3A%2000%3A34HR Coffee Time with Fay Wallis - Episode 155https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zi4ib2ER6g Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 is set to be another challenging year for organisations and the people profession. As economic uncertainty continues and AI adoption accelerates, where should the profession focus its efforts? How can job design and management capability drive productivity without increasing burnout? And what skills do people professionals need to navigate the year ahead.CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by a trio of leading HR podcasters, Fay Wallis, career and leadership coach and host of HR Coffee Time; Lucinda Carney, Chief Executive Officer at Actus Software, and host of HR Uprising podcast; and Bruce Daisley, host of Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat podcast.Recorded: 09 January 2026---Bookings are now open for the CIPD Student Conference 2026. Student members can secure your place for free at cipd.org/studentconf2026Take ownership of your learning and enhance your professional practice. Explore our suite of tools to support your CPD journey at cipd.org/en/learning/cpd/---Explore more podcasts from this week’s panel:HR Coffee Time with Fay Wallishttps://brightskyhr.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/HR Uprising with Lucinda Carneyhttps://hruprising.com/Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat with Bruce Daisleyhttps://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite technology transforming — and often streamlining — how we work, its impact on productivity has been surprisingly limited. So is productivity misunderstood? We talk about boosting it, measuring it and even “unlocking” it, but what does it really mean in modern organisations, and what role should the people profession play in driving workplace productivity?Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests — Sharon Benson, founding director of Colleague Central; Lu McKay, founder and lead consultant at Luminary Communications; and Bart van Ark, Managing Director at the Productivity Institute and Professor of Productivity Studies at Alliance Manchester Business School.In this episode we explore:-         Why productivity continues to stagnate despite technological advances, and the hidden barriers affecting workforce performance and business growth-         How HR and the people profession can shape strategies that enhance productivity-         How to measure productivity effectively and meaningfully in your organisation — and the benefits of getting it right---Bart van Ark is a Professor of Productivity Studies at the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) at the University of Manchester, and Managing Director of The Productivity Institute, a UK-wide research organisation dedicated to advancing understanding of productivity. Bart is a co-author on the paper, Productivity Through People: New Opportunities for CHROs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can people make the best decisions when time is short and the stakes are high? Why is decentralising decision-making critical for organisations who want to move decisively? And how can the people profession strike the right balance between innovation and risk mitigation when adopting and implementing AI?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by science broadcaster, author and emergency medical doctor, Professor Kevin Fong, to explore the profession’s risk appetite and how it can lead effectively under pressure.Recorded: 5 November 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some consider annual reviews ‘irrelevant’ and a ‘burden’, but how would you feel about AI playing a role in the performance review process? As media scrutiny continues to question the impact and growing influence of HR, we reflect on the value the profession brings to workplaces. And finally, we ask: trick or treat, when it comes to the Employment Rights Bill?CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Transformation Leader and HR Consultant, Katherine Watkins, and Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive at NHS Employers.Recorded: 31 October 2025 CIPD members can keep up to date with what will change under the Employment Rights Bill, with our dedicated tracker.https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/employment-law/proposed-changes-under-labour-government/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.