INSIGHTS STAGES AND EVIDENCE LAB LIVE AGENDAS

The Insights stages and Evidence Lab Live are your chance to hear real-world success stories. From reflections on new adoptions to experience of operational processes and methodologies. The insight sessions share exclusive access to case studies from organisations you already know and academia from trusted CIPD partners.


Insights stages and Evidence lab live day 1

Nov 5

Stage

10:00 - 11:00

10:15 - 10:45

From vision to values: Building a culture of engagement

Employee engagement

See how visioning, employee engagement and co-created values transformed an organisation into...

See how visioning, employee engagement and co-created values transformed an organisation into a culture grounded in accountability, integrity, support and respect. Take away a clear roadmap you can apply.

10:15 - 10:45

Change made human: How HR can power meaningful transformation

Leadership and learning

Change is constant – and HR leaders must manage it with limited...

Change is constant – and HR leaders must manage it with limited resources, while supporting others and themselves. This masterclass offers practical, people-first strategies to lead change with empathy, clarity, and confidence.

10:15 - 10:45

Wellbeing that works: How to engage and support employees in a changing world

Future workforce

How to engage and support employees in a changing world. Using gamification...

How to engage and support employees in a changing world. Using gamification and behavioural science to increase engagement with benefits, and supporting them to build long term daily health habits.

11:00 - 12:00

11:00 - 11:30

The critical conversation - why Menopause can no longer be missing from the workplace agenda

Employee engagement

Menopause is a hot topic. It’s also a completely natural life stage...

Menopause is a hot topic. It’s also a completely natural life stage affecting millions of working women - yet it remains one of the least understood and most stigmatised workplace experiences. This presentation presents key findings from Benenden Health’s “Missing From the Workplace” research, which recently surveyed 2,000 UK women aged 40–65, and 500 HR professionals, to gain an understanding of women's experiences, and compare to employer understanding and the support they offer.

11:00 - 11:30

Managing the surge: Leadership in rapid growth environments

Leadership and learning

In the world of fast-scaling businesses, growth brings both opportunities and challenges....

In the world of fast-scaling businesses, growth brings both opportunities and challenges. Leaders must navigate the complexities of rapidly increasing headcount, shifting priorities and the need for both speed and stability. This session explores practical strategies to harness the full potential of your team.

11:00 - 11:30

Agile by design: Using data and AI to stay ahead of what’s next

Future workforce

In a world where disruption is constant, agility isn’t just a competitive...

In a world where disruption is constant, agility isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s a survival skill. This fireside chat brings together leaders from Amdaris and HiBob to explore how data and AI are reshaping the future workforce—and how HR can lead the charge. Amdaris will share how they’ve built an agile organisation by design: one that uses people data as a compass for decision-making, embeds adaptability into culture, and empowers teams to thrive through change. From reorganisations and M&A to talent mobility and leadership development, their story illustrates what agility looks like in action.

11:45 - 12:15

Mental Health at Work: Strategies for Driving Employee Engagement

Employee engagement

With rates of stress and burnout at an all-time high, and mental...

With rates of stress and burnout at an all-time high, and mental health concerns on the rise, it's clear there is a disconnect between the goals of workforce well-being programs and the impact they're making. It's one thing to offer solutions--but how can organizations emphasize mental health support in a way that enhances engagement and reflects shifting workforce needs?  Join this session to hear practical strategies for leverage digital tools to improve employee wellbeing and productivity.

11:45 - 12:15

Driving gender equality in leadership

Leadership and learning

11:45 - 12:15

More than just a cost centre: HR’s role in future workforce success

Future workforce

Too often hidden in finance or merged into IT, HR is still...

Too often hidden in finance or merged into IT, HR is still seen as admin-heavy and a burden on decision-making. This session will challenge that perception, showing how HR can reposition itself as a strategic growth partner by communicating its value to leaders and harnessing data and technology to remove admin and drive business success.

11:05 - 12:00

Workshop: Bridging the evidence-based gap for EDI policy and practice

Evidence lab live

Within organisational policy and practice there has been an emphasis upon evidence-based...

Within organisational policy and practice there has been an emphasis upon evidence-based decision-making, but how can academics and practitioners come together to put research into practice? This interactive workshop with explore how EDI policy and practices can be informed by academic evidence. Bring your experience and questions, get ready to discuss how to make a business case for changing policies and discover what evidence is needed.

12:00 - 13:00

12:30 - 13:00

Coming soon

Employee engagement

12:30 - 13:00

AI, automation and the reskilling imperative

Leadership and learning

AI and automation are reshaping work across every sector, transforming processes and...

AI and automation are reshaping work across every sector, transforming processes and redefining the skills organisations need. For people professionals, the challenge is no longer recognising these shifts but acting on them — developing your workforce now to succeed in tomorrow’s roles.

This session gives you a clear view of the AI landscape and its impact on workforce planning. Drawing on frameworks such as the Alan Turing Institute’s AI Skills for Business Competency Framework, we’ll explore which technical and human capabilities are in highest demand and how to assess and plan for your organisation’s future skills needs.

12:30 - 13:00

Future-Focused and AI-Ready: Making Your Skills Strategy Work

Future workforce

Many organisations struggle to build an AI-ready, future-focused workforce by relying on...

Many organisations struggle to build an AI-ready, future-focused workforce by relying on short-term skills fixes. We share how to be purposeful and skills-powered with a ‘whole person’ approach.

12:15 - 13:00

Knowledge Exchange World Cafe

Evidence lab live

For the HR profession to be evidence-based, it needs to connect research...

For the HR profession to be evidence-based, it needs to connect research insights with practitioner expertise. Join us to be part of that two-way conversation! Topic by topic, academic experts will outline what's known in the body of research and people professionals will have space to question, probe and relate to their experience. 

You'll have the chance to hear about two topics, with topics including: 

  • Understanding algorithmic inequalities

Dr Emily Yarrow, Senior Lecturer in Management and Organisations, University of Newcastle

  • The wellbeing of people professionals in implementing wellbeing strategies or initiatives

Dr Laura Byrne, Lecturer in HRM and OB, Aston University

  • Creating healthy jobs

Professor Kevin Daniels, Professor in Organisational Behaviour, University of East Anglia

  • Does the Equality Act sufficiently protect fathers from discrimination?

Dr Jasmine Kelland, Associate Professor in HRM, University of Plymouth 

  • Supporting disabled people in(to) employment using agentic AI: Evidence from the AI-EMPOWERED research project

Dr Daniel Wheatley, Reader, Department of Management, University of Birmingham

  • Dementia at work

Professor Valerie Egdell, Professor of Work and Employment, Northumbria University

  • Ecological sustainability and democracy in organisations – lessons from Employee-ownership organizations

Professor Carole Elliott, Professor of Leadership Development, University of St Andrews

Dr Charles Barthold, Senior Lecturer in HRM and Organisation Studies, Open University 

13:00 - 14:00

13:15 - 14:45

The Great Value Exodus: Tackling the Looming Retention Crisis

Employee engagement

Over half of undervalued employees plan to leave in 2026. Join our...

Over half of undervalued employees plan to leave in 2026. Join our expert panel as we unpack what’s driving this crisis and share proven strategies to strengthen EVP, boost retention, and learn from organisations leading the way.

13:15 - 13:45

Active bystander': How to challenge poor behaviour at work

Leadership and learning

An energetic and memorable session packed with tips on how to keep...

An energetic and memorable session packed with tips on how to keep a cool head, make good decisions - and use assertive language - to challenge poor behaviour in the workplace

13:15 - 13:45

Coming soon

Future workforce

14:00 - 15:00

14:00 - 14:30

Health and absence strategies to protect wellbeing and boost engagement

Employee engagement

New CIPD/Simplyhealth research has revealed sickness absence is at record highs, hitting...

New CIPD/Simplyhealth research has revealed sickness absence is at record highs, hitting productivity, morale, and organisational performance. For people professionals, the challenge is clear: how do you reduce avoidable illness while supporting employees who do experience ill health? This session will give you practical strategies to get ahead of rising absence. We’ll explore proactive wellbeing initiatives, fair and compassionate absence management processes, and how to support sustainable reintegration into work. Join us to learn how to protect your workforce’s wellbeing while safeguarding organisational performance — balancing care, consistency, and impact.

14:00 - 14:30

Coming soon

Leadership and learning

14:00 - 14:30

Payroll, people and penalties: The compliance risks no leader sees coming

Future workforce

If Nike, Uber, and Microsoft can miss compliance risks, what about you?...

If Nike, Uber, and Microsoft can miss compliance risks, what about you? Discover the unseen payroll and people pitfalls threatening growth - and how leaders can stay ahead.

14:45 - 15:15

Pay Transparency & Employee Engagement: From Compliance to Connection

Employee engagement

Explore how pay transparency can drive employee engagement, strengthen EVP, and build...

Explore how pay transparency can drive employee engagement, strengthen EVP, and build trust—turning regulatory compliance into a strategic opportunity for connection, inclusion, and purpose-led leadership.

14:45 - 15:15

How leaders can balance future growth inclusively and sustainably

Leadership and learning

Most leaders are targeted with growing their business – but what is...

Most leaders are targeted with growing their business – but what is the cost? The Open University explores how skills development can ease tensions between business goals, inclusion, and sustainability.

14:45 - 15:15

AI for innovation in complex organisations- upskilling and culture change

Future workforce

Supercharge AI projects with the University of Manchester. Explore health and industry...

Supercharge AI projects with the University of Manchester. Explore health and industry case studies, develop pitch-ready solutions, foster collaboration, and equip teams to drive real organisational change through ethical, human-centred AI.

14:00 - 14:45

Exploring the impact of barriers to work on performance

Evidence lab live

The environments in which employees work, as well as external challenges they...

The environments in which employees work, as well as external challenges they face, can have a big impact on productivity, wellbeing and work-life balance. Hear from Professor Kevin Daniels on strategic approaches for implementing Return to Work (RTW) and Stay at Work (SAW) interventions for workers with health conditions. With further thought on the impact this can have on performance. You'll then hear from Dr Juliet Hassard on the impact of mental health training for line managers on driving organisational outcomes.

15:00 - 16:00

15:30 - 16:00

Preventing, managing, and resolving conflict amongst a neurodiverse workforce

Employee engagement

With an increasingly neurodivergent UK workforce, employers now need to embrace neurodiversity...

With an increasingly neurodivergent UK workforce, employers now need to embrace neurodiversity when managing and resolving interpersonal conflict and grievance-type issues. This session tells you how.

15:30 - 16:00

Day one rights: Building strong foundations from the start

Leadership and learning

With day one rights transforming employment, this session explores how HR can...

With day one rights transforming employment, this session explores how HR can strengthen recruitment, onboarding, and performance foundations to support compliance, engagement, and long-term retention.

15:30 - 16:00

Employment Rights Bill: What you need to know

Future workforce

The UK Government’s Make Work Pay plan and the forthcoming Employment Rights...

The UK Government’s Make Work Pay plan and the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill mark a landmark shift in employment law. With reforms rolling out from 2026 onwards - covering trade union relations, unfair dismissal and zero-hour contracts - HR professionals need to be ready.

Join this session for a clear, practical overview of what’s changing, what it means for your organisation and how to prepare at each stage. We’ll also outline the CIPD’s role in influencing on behalf of the profession and supporting members to navigate the Bill, so you can better support your organisation through this transition.

15:20 - 16:05

The power of your people - amplifying employee voice to drive engagement

Evidence lab live

Your employees are talking - but are you truly listening? In a...

Your employees are talking - but are you truly listening? In a world of endless touchpoints and data, the most valuable insights can often remain unheard, having an effect on productivity and engagement - but how can organisations ensure they are responding to the here and now? Hear from Professor Stewart Johnstone on the impact of line managers in supporting employees to resolve workplace issues, and what needs to be done to train line managers to be skilled in this area - including how to pre-empt issues within their teams. You'll then hear from Dr Emma Hughes on the role line managers can play in facilitating individual and collective employee voice and how this can reduce the burden on the people profession, while decreasing stress and burnout across the organisation. You will hear from Nike Alabi on the role of people professionals and line managers in promotiong psychological safety by providing safe spaces and proactive employee relations initiatives, especially in a global 


16:20 - 17:05

16:20 - 17:05

HR's wellbeing playbook - tactics for thriving, not just surviving

Evidence lab live

Discover insights about the ways in which managing your own health and...

Discover insights about the ways in which managing your own health and well-being as a well-being practitioner or expert can be challenging. Sarah​ will share her work about understanding the ‘practice what we preach’ ethos and leading by example for those working to look after the health of others at work. We will discover that knowledge and education about well-being is on its own not enough to ensure we look after our own wellbeing. The session will also explore the importance of this for workplace identities, the​ creation of role models, and healthy ​organisational cultures and climates. It will encourage self- reflection and introspection about the interplay between our own well-being and those we seek to​ help in our work.

Insights stages and Evidence lab live day 2

Nov 6

10:00 - 11:00

10:15 - 10:45

More than compliance: How vetting shapes a culture of trust and engagement

Employee engagement

Screening and rescreening aren’t just compliance - they’re tools to build trust,...

Screening and rescreening aren’t just compliance - they’re tools to build trust, fairness, and psychological safety, shaping a culture of engagement and integrity across the employee lifecycle.

10:15 - 10:45

Coming soon

Leadership and learning

10:15 - 10:45

How Center Parcs engage their team to build lifelong memories

Future workforce

10:55 - 11:40

Navigating the evolving labour market: from green skills to youth transitions

Evidence lab live

The world of work is constantly evolving, and the labour market is...

The world of work is constantly evolving, and the labour market is no exception to this. With areas such as technology and sustainability now becoming a core focus within job design, how can the workforce truly be equipped to tackle this? Whilst many employees need to upskill and reskill, how can young people navigate the world of work in these circumstances? Hear from Edward Yates on the challenges young people face during labour market transitions. Peter Dickinson will then explore how green skills and jobs are evolving and what this will mean for the future demand of green jobs.

11:00 - 12:00

11:00 - 11:30

Investing in employee experience with colleague-first tech: A deep dive with Ascot Lloyd

Employee engagement

Ascot Lloyd has transformed digital employee experience with a central hub for...

Ascot Lloyd has transformed digital employee experience with a central hub for communication, culture and compliance, reaching hard-to-reach colleagues, improving productivity and streamlining processes, crucial in a highly regulated industry.

11:00 - 11:30

Clarity, creativity, confidence, culture: Building the future of leadership

Leadership and learning

Discover how a Growth Mindset fuels innovation, culture, and performance. Mark shares...

Discover how a Growth Mindset fuels innovation, culture, and performance. Mark shares proven strategies to unlock potential, strengthen teams, and inspire leaders to achieve lasting impact in any organisation.

11:00 - 11:30

Personalisation at scale: How conversational AI transforms learning

Future workforce

Learn how healthcare, pharmaceuticals, HR, and higher education use AI-powered learning interventions...

Learn how healthcare, pharmaceuticals, HR, and higher education use AI-powered learning interventions to scale across workforces, specialise to individual needs, stimulate reflection and engagement, and stick in practice.

11:45 - 12:15

Giving your benefits charisma in a digital world

Employee engagement

This talk explores turning employee benefits into a compelling story across the...

This talk explores turning employee benefits into a compelling story across the employee lifecycle – using digital tools and human connection to make benefits clearer, more engaging, and valued as part of workplace culture.

11:45 - 12:15

From 'Oh No!' to 'Let's Go!': Driving successful change

Leadership and learning

Change rarely feels easy. Explore why our brains see it as a...

Change rarely feels easy. Explore why our brains see it as a threat, how this shows up in daily behaviours, and what you can do to drive successful change.

11:45 - 12:15

From Gut Feelings to Good Decisions: Breaking Bad Habits Around Data in Organizations

Future workforce

Many organisations collect data but few use it effectively. This session explores...

Many organisations collect data but few use it effectively. This session explores why data gets ignored or misused, how cognitive biases create “anti-data” cultures, and how HR can lead the shift from gut feelings to confident, data-informed decisions that drive real change

12:00 - 13:00

12:30 - 13:00

Coming soon

Employee engagement

12:30 - 13:00

Coming soon

Leadership and learning

12:30 - 13:00

The evolution of HR: What’s the next chapter?

Future workforce

The world of work is evolving rapidly – and so is HR....

The world of work is evolving rapidly – and so is HR. Once seen as a transactional function, the people profession now plays a central role in navigating societal shifts, leading through crises, and driving transformation in digital capability, wellbeing and flexible working.

But what do these shifts actually mean for the profession itself? Join us as we explore possible scenarios for HR’s next chapter and examine the implications for roles, skills, influence and impact. Gain a fresh perspective on how the profession can respond and how you, can help shape the next era of work.

12:00 - 12:45

Sustaining action in EDI - from intent to impact in recruitment and beyond

Evidence lab live

How can organisations make the business case for EDI? This session will...

How can organisations make the business case for EDI? This session will explore beyond the 'why' and will dive into the 'how' when it comes to building resilient and effective EDI initiatives that can contribute to better organisational performance. Hear from Dr Claire Tyler on how bias can impact recruitment practices and what is needed to design fairer hiring practices. Join this session to discover how to drive innovation, diversify perspectives, and improve productivity.


13:00 - 14:00

13:15 - 13:45

From compliance to collaboration: working effectively with Trade Unions

Employee engagement

The Employment Rights Bill is set to transform industrial relations — and...

The Employment Rights Bill is set to transform industrial relations — and many HR practitioners will be navigating union engagement for the first time. Strengthened access rights, simpler recognition processes and enhanced protections for union activity will fundamentally change how organisations manage workforce relations.

This session will equip people professionals with the knowledge and confidence to respond as well as exploring top tips and practical advice on building productive relationships with trade unions. We’ll explore what constructive employer–union partnerships could look like in the future and how the CIPD is supporting members to navigate these changes.

13:15 - 13:45

The power of embedding experiential learning in a framework partnership

Leadership and learning

Enhancing employee awareness of organisational values and professional behaviours - how a...

Enhancing employee awareness of organisational values and professional behaviours - how a leading North West energy supplier formed an impactful training partnership to deliver a 3-year programme with experiential learning.

13:15 - 13:45

What will your talent team look like in 2028?

Future workforce

This session will look at trends, emerging technology, speed of adoption and...

This session will look at trends, emerging technology, speed of adoption and evolving place of talent teams in organisations - then working with the group to construct what 2028 will realistically look like for you and your teams.

13:40 - 14:25

From engagement to action - powering workplace productivity for organisational success

Evidence lab live

Developing productivity in the workplace isn't always easy, with many factors coming...

Developing productivity in the workplace isn't always easy, with many factors coming into play. So what truly needs to be done to create an engaged workforce that strives for organisational success? Hear from Dr Joanne Gray on how to encourage proactivity at work, including how to create environments that encourage everyone to contribute, adapt and improve to drive engagement and productivity. You'll then hear from Duncan Jackson on how to get the most out of competency-based assessments to influence decision-making and drive productivity.  


14:00 - 15:00

14:00 - 14:30

Coming soon

Employee engagement

14:00 - 14:30

From skill gaps to capability: L&D’s role in the age of AI

Leadership and learning

How can learning professionals support the reskilling imperative in response to AI?...

How can learning professionals support the reskilling imperative in response to AI? AI is rapidly reshaping jobs and skills, creating new demands for technical and human capabilities. Learning functions have a pivotal role in helping organisations respond — designing approaches that equip employees with the skills they need while supporting broader organisational adaptation.

This session explores how learning professionals are accelerating capability and embedding continuous, collaborative learning — from in-person training to peer networks and social collaboration. Drawing on insights from leading businesses, we’ll show how targeted learning interventions can upskill existing employees, overcome resistance to AI-driven change, and help you design practical approaches to meet your organisation’s future workforce needs.

14:00 - 14:30

Coming soon

Future workforce

14:45 - 15:15

Unafraid: How to speak up in crucial moments

Employee engagement

In today's world, divisive topics and high emotions are common. In this...

In today's world, divisive topics and high emotions are common. In this session, you'll learn skills to have candid AND respectful crucial conversations that build relationships and get results.

14:45 - 15:15

Building the business case for learning when budgets don't exist

Leadership and learning

In a budget sensitive world, we look at how to build a...

In a budget sensitive world, we look at how to build a bulletproof business case that wins executive buy-in, drives performance, and positions HR as a strategic growth engine.

14:45 - 15:15

Coming soon

Future workforce