About this event
Join us at EmpowerHR for a day of brainstorming, networking, and learning how to grow your small HR business to new heights!
Join us in Birmingham on Monday 1 December 2025 for a full day of learning, connection, and practical inspiration designed specifically for independent HR consultants and solo HR professionals.
As the year draws to a close, this event is your opportunity to reflect, recharge, and get ready for 2026 with confidence. Whether you’re running your own consultancy or managing HR in a small business, this event will equip you with expert insight, new tools, and real-world strategies to support your clients—and your own business—more effectively.
What to Expect:
- Essential employment law updates
- Strategic Business Planning for 2026
- Boosting Your Productivity with AI
- Networking & Community
Event Details:
Date: Monday 1 December 2025
Time: Full-day event
Refreshments: Tea, coffee and light snacks will be provided throughout the day. Please note: lunch is not included, but an on site restaurant and local options are available nearby.
Whether you're wrapping up a successful year or looking to reboot your approach for 2026, this event will leave you with fresh ideas, practical takeaways, and renewed motivation.
Event agenda:
09:30 - Arrival & Coffee
10.00 - Employment Law Update from Mills & Reeve - an update on the latest case law and employment law developments, including the up-to-date position on the ERB. (Jameel Mann)
11:00 - Break
11:15 - Being more productive using AI
In this intuitive and energising session with Liz Hardwick, we’ll explore time-saving productivity systems and smart digital tools that help you harness the power of your personal productivity to automate routine tasks, and simplify your day-to-day operations, so you can spend more time on the work that matters most!
You'll takeaway *Proven systems to streamline your workflow, *A selection of apps and tools to boost efficiency, *Real-world strategies for using automation without losing the human touch
(Liz Hardwick)
12:00 - DEI by Design: Making Every HR Project Inclusive
Your HR projects might be unintentionally excluding people - and costing clients' engagement, retention, and trust. In this session you will learn simple, actionable ways to embed DEI into every project, delight clients, and stand out as a forward-thinking HR consultant and lead. (Zoe Holland)
12:45 - Lunch
13:45 - Supporting People with the Big C - gain the confidence to support people through cancer journeys without second-guessing what to say or fearing you’ll get it wrong. This fast-paced, interactive session is designed for HR professionals, managers, and wellbeing leads who are expected to have all the answers but rarely get the support they need. You’ll leave with practical tips on what to say (and what not to), real-life scenarios and scripts for tricky moments, and the clarity to lead conversations that truly matter with empathy, not awkwardness. Jackie Slora
14.15 - Business Partner or Order Taker? Maintaining long-term client relationships is important to all consultants, and in this session, Noo Jones will show us how to elevate our importance in the eyes of our clients. (Noo Jones)
15:00 - Break
15:15 - An Introduction to Core Values Index Assessment - When you connect with who you really are, everything shifts - your decisions feel easier, your relationships grow stronger and your work becomes more fulfilling. Anne uses the CVI to create space to explore your values, unlock your potential and move forward with confidence'.
(Anne Wallis)
16:00 - Close
Please note:
1. Reminder emails will be sent to you the day before, with a further reminder on the day of the event.
2. Photography and video production may be taking place at the event, and these images may be used in the CIPD newsletters.
3. By attending the event, you are giving your consent for your image to be used on any CIPD promotional materials.
4. As we are supplying refreshments, if you can no longer attend, please cancel your place either on Eventbrite, responding to this email.
5. This event may include an external speaker who has prepared their own presentation. Any views or opinions expressed by the speaker are their own and do not reflect those of the CIPD.
6. If you require any reasonable adjustments to enhance your experience, please get in contact with us by responding to this email and we will do our best to accommodate.
