The People Agenda

Change is no longer an occasional business challenge. It is a constant reality. Organisations are facing difficult decisions at an unprecedented pace. The real test for leaders is not whether change happens, but how they guide people through it when the impact feels personal. In this The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard, Annette Frem, and Ed Sparkes, explore the practical strategies for managing restructures organisational change with empathy, transparency, and resilience. This topic was also explored in our blog, When change feels personal – navigating tough times, read it for more details. Change may be constant, but how organisations manage it remains a choice. This podcast provides practical guidance for leaders, HR professionals, and change practitioners who want to navigate difficult transitions with empathy, transparency, and confidence. Listen to the full People Agenda podcast to hear the real-world experiences, leadership lessons, and actionable advice from the LACE team.

HR leaders are being asked to deliver more strategic value at exactly the moment when uncertainty, cost pressure, and technology disruption are accelerating. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and fellow LACErs, Marcus Uzubalis, Gemma Ryall and Kayley Gaylor, discuss the strategic disruptors that the new HR ecosystem needs to adapt to. If you want to hear the nuance behind these disruptors, and how HR leaders can practically respond, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast. Want to know how you can rewire HR for the ever-changing business landscape of today join our campaign, Rewired HR - https://www.lacepartners.com/rewired-hr/

The latest episode of the People Agenda podcast dives into the evolving world of payroll and reward strategy, offering insights that every HR and payroll professional needs to hear. Hosted by Chris Howard from Lace Partners, this episode features two industry experts: Simon Puryer, Head of Payroll Practice at Lace Partners, and Vickie Graham, Managing Director of Reward Strategy. Together, they unpack the highlights from the recent Reward Strategy Summit, a flagship event attracting over 200 senior professionals from across sectors. The discussion begins with reflections on the summit’s purpose and audience, before moving into the key themes shaping payroll and reward today. One major topic is the challenge of building a compelling business case for investment in payroll technology and processes. Simon shares practical advice on how to engage stakeholders, tailor messaging for different audiences, and demonstrate value beyond simple cost comparisons. Vickie adds her perspective on common pitfalls, such as focusing solely on accuracy and timeliness without articulating the wider organisational benefits. Another hot topic is artificial intelligence. Both speakers explore how AI is influencing payroll operations, from real-time reporting to shifting roles towards more analytical and compliance-focused tasks. They emphasise that AI is not about replacing people but enhancing processes, and they caution against viewing it as a quick fix. Incremental change and understanding the legislative context remain critical. For HR and payroll leaders, this episode offers actionable insights on future-proofing operations, aligning strategies with employee expectations, and preparing for regulatory changes like the EU pay transparency directive. Whether you’re planning for 2026 or looking to optimise your current processes, this conversation provides clarity and inspiration. https://www.lacepartners.com/what-should-payroll-leaders-know-from-the-reward-strategy-summit-2025

Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) is no longer about spreadsheets and headcount forecasts. It’s about driving real business change. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by some of our people analytics team; Nancy Allen, Jo Clarke de Dromantin and Julian Holmes as they reflect on the SWP Conference London. During the conference it was acknowledged how SWP had shifted from cost control to business transformation. Today, SWP exists to tackle real business challenges including productivity, growth, skills shortages, and AI adoption, rather than simply managing numbers or budgets. SWP needs to account for all forms of work. That means looking beyond full-time employees to include contractors and contingent labour, as well as bots, automation systems, and AI agents. Workforce planning is evolving into workforce plus automation planning, reflecting how work is truly delivered today.

Welcome to the first episode of our new mini-series, What is a CPO? Hosted by Debbie Mitchell, Director at LACE Partners and lead of our CPO Network, this series explores the evolving role of the Chief People Officer (CPO). Through conversations with experienced CPOs, we’ll dive into how the function is changing, the challenges leaders face, and how collaboration is shaping the future of HR. In this mini-series, we’ll be speaking with leaders who have held or currently hold the role across different industries and sectors. In this episode, Debbie is joined by Nicky Bliss, People Director at Sainsbury’s and a member of our CPO Network. Together, they dive into the central question: What is a CPO?