About this event
Explore conciliation, union recognition and the Employment Rights Act 2025 in a live, practical conversation with ACAS and CIPD members.
Phil Osborne and Louise Ramsey are Collective Conciliators in the ACAS East of England team, bringing extensive experience of working with organisations and trade unions to resolve complex disputes.
Join ACAS and fellow CIPD members for a practical and thought-provoking conversation that cuts through the complexity of today’s evolving dispute-resolution landscape. We’ll explore what’s changing, why it matters, and—crucially—how people professionals across all sectors can respond to new expectations with clarity, confidence and impact.
- Did you know the Employment Rights Act 2025 brings major changes to trade union access and recognition?
- Are you confident you understand what these shifts mean for your organisation and your HR practice?
- Do you know how to respond to a union who request 'right of access' to your workplace?
- Have you explored how collective conciliation is evolving — and what effective dispute resolution looks like in real cases?
If any of this feels unclear, or you want to deepen your understanding, this session is for you.
What to expect:
- ·A presentation from ACAS Conciliators on collective conciliation, trade union recognition and the Employment Rights Act 2025
- Case studies exploring right of access, recognition agreements and real‑world dispute resolution
- Interactive table discussions to unpack scenarios and share perspectives
- Space to network with other CIPD members, exchange experiences and apply the learning through conversation
What you’ll gain:
- Clear insight into the new right of access for trade unions
- Practical understanding of simplified recognition processes
- Confidence in managing collective disputes under the new framework
- A chance to learn directly from ACAS specialists and connect with peers navigating the same challenges
This is a rare opportunity to explore the upcoming changes with the experts who shape national guidance, and with a community of practitioners facing the same questions.
More about the speakers
Phil Osbourne
Phil Osborne is an experienced mediator and conciliator supporting parties towards better industrial relations. He has worked alongside trade unions and employers in the workplace from recognition through to post dispute project work.Previous roles have included managing the Individual Conciliation Team and the Helpline within Acas. Prior to joining Acas, Phil worked in private industry within the Retail, Manufacturing and Service Sectors.
Louise Ramsey
Louise Ramsey is a Collective Conciliator based in Suffolk. She has experience supporting parties through complex workplace disputes. Louise focuses on facilitating constructive dialogue, helping build understanding, and enabling fair and sustainable outcomes. With a professional background in education, Louise maintains a particular interest in this sector.
Timings
18:30 - 19:00 - Arrival, registration & refreshments
19:00 - 21:00 - Presentation
21:00 - Close and depart
Please note:
- Reminder emails will be sent to you the day before, with a further reminder on the day of the event.
- Photography and video production may be taking place at the event, and these images may be used in the CIPD newsletters.
- By attending the event, you are giving consent for your image to be used on any CIPD promotional materials.
- As we are supplying refreshments, if you can no longer attend, please cancel your place either on Eventbrite, or by responding to the confirmation email.
- 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.
- 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.
