The People Agenda

Well-designed incentives can transform organisational performance however, poorly designed ones can quietly undermine strategy, culture, and results. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and LACE reward specialists, Julie Elder and Mike Aldred as they explore how organisations can design incentives that genuinely drive the behaviours they want. They discuss why incentives matter, the most common structures companies use, and how leaders can align reward programmes with business strategy to maximise impact. Incentive design sits at the heart of an effective reward strategy. When done well, it aligns people, performance, and business outcomes in a powerful way. If you want to hear the full discussion and deeper insights from reward experts, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast for practical examples and real-world perspectives on designing incentives that work.

Great leadership does not start with a title. It starts with influence. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we explore one critical question: how can today’s Chief People Officer (CPO) move from having a seat at the table to genuinely shaping business transformation? Drawing on insights from our research “From implementer to influencer” host Chris Howard and fellow LACEr Debbie Mitchell speak to executive coach Hilary Gee, on how CPOs can build influence among the C-suite. The shift from implementer to influencer is not theoretical. It is behavioural, structural, and relational. If you are a CPO, CEO, or executive navigating transformation in 2026, this conversation offers practical insight you can apply immediately. Tune in to this episode of The People Agenda podcast to hear the full discussion and start redefining HR’s role in business transformation.

Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer a future-focused concept; it’s a present-day business imperative. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by Douglas Leach, Founder of People Strategy Hub and the driving force behind the SWP Summit, to explore what people can expect from the event and why SWP has become critical to business performance today. SWP is shifting from conceptual ambition to operational necessity. Listen now to hear the full conversation about the upcoming summit and dive deeper into these strategic workforce topics.

AI is flooding hiring pipelines with polished look-alike applications, and recruiters are struggling to tell real capability from well-written automation. Inspired by an article in The Economist titled “Job applicants are winning the AI arms race against recruiters”. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and fellow LACErs Gemma Ryall and Adele Reid break down how the job application is evolving, what signals are losing value, and how employers can redesign hiring to stay fair, fast, and human. To hear the full discussion on navigating the "AI arms race" in hiring and how your organisation can remain vigilant of recruitment fraud, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals fail less because of spreadsheets and more because of people. Most M&A promise growth, scale, or capability. Many underdeliver because leaders underestimate the human side of change. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard and LACEr Shivani Sasidharan speak to Andrew Philp, CFO at activpayroll, as they break down what actually matters before, during, and after an M&A. activpayroll helps companies manage global payroll and mobility in a secure and compliant way. If you want practical, experience-led insight into ensure a smooth adoption M&A on the people side, listen to this episode of The People Agenda podcast and hear directly from Andrew and Shivani who share their experiences.

In our recent podcast with Beth Scaysbrook from Addidat, a leading ESG data and advisory firm, and our very own Martin Colyer, Director of Digital and AI here at LACE. Together they explore why the intersection of AI and ESG matters, the myths that often hold organisations back, and the practical steps leaders need to take to navigate this evolving landscape. From workforce transformation to ethical governance and sustainability, we uncover the realities behind the headlines, and what it means for businesses preparing for the future.

AI is no longer a future concept. It is already reshaping how organisations lead, plan, and compete. The real question is not whether AI will change the world of work, but who will lead that change. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, we unpack Visier’s latest report, The Business Case for Humans in the AI Era, exploring five key trends that show why HR, powered by data and generative AI, is stepping into a central role in business transformation. Host Chris Howard is joined by Andrea Derler, Principal Researcher at Visier, and Dibyendu Sharma Mondal, Head of People Analytics at Unisys. Together, they discuss how organisations like Unisys are using generative AI to augment human capability and drive better business outcomes.

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/

Is it time to rewire HR? In this episode of The People Agenda podcast host Chris Howard talks to LACErs Kat Bernardes and Alice McCormack who are behind our latest campaign Rewired HR. This campaign explores our new HR operating model built to respond to rapid global change, moving beyond traditional structures to focus on business outcomes, agility, and integrating AI as a core part of the team rather than just a tool. Listen now as Kat and Alice give an overview of the model and why traditional operating model are no longer fit for purpose. As part of our Rewired series, we will be exploring each area in detail all content will be added to our Rewired hub as it’s released.

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

What changed in the UK Budget for pensions and salary sacrifice? From 2029, a £2,000 annual cap will be introduced on National Insurance (NI) savings through pension salary sacrifice. Any pension contributions made via salary sacrifice above this cap will become subject to NI. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by reward experts, Mike Aldred and Jeremy HIll, to discuss the impact of this change in the budget on employees and organisations. They also explore how organisations can prepare for the upcoming changes.

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.

A concise conversation with Danny Harmer, Chief People Officer at Aviva, exploring what makes a modern CPO effective. Discover how aligning people strategy with business goals, building trust-based relationships, and anticipating future workforce needs drive organisational success.

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?

As part of Black History Month in this episode of The People Agenda podcast we are raising awareness of how organisations can be more inclusive. Host Chris Howard and Christina Adeniyi from our DE&I team speak to Lildonia Lawrence, a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, as they discuss allyship, anti-racism, and bystander intervention as key skills for every HR leader.

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 feedback and development goals in seconds. AI is changing the way we manage and develop people. Real success depends on balance because even the smartest algorithms can’t replace human judgement.

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 from our latest whitepaper From implementer to influencer: Redefining HR’s role in business transformation.

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 a back-office function to a strategic driver of business success.

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. David joins the HR on the Offensive podcast to discuss the contents of his new book with host Chris Howard and LACE Executive Director Julian Holmes. If you like what you hear, you can pre-order David’s book here - https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/the-strategic-workforce-planning-handbook-9781398623590

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 modern workplace. This podcast aims to reframe payroll from an unseen process to a critical enabler of business success, one that’s evolving fast, and one that demands leaders, not just administrators, to take it forward.