About this event
What should people practitioners in the North of Scotland & Islands expect from their two governments?
This event will include our annual meeting, student prize giving and branch event on Public Policy in Scotland
17. 00 - Refreshments & networking
17.30 - Welcome/student prize giving
17.50 - Annual meeting
- Reflect on the branch’s activity and impact over the past year
- Hear key updates and priorities for the year ahead
- Vote in the election of branch committee members
18.20 - Comfort break/refreshments
18.30 - Branch event:
Hosted by Marek Zemanik "Public policy in turbulent times - what should people practitioners in the North of Scotland & Islands expect from their two governments?"
Regardless of the election outcome, the direction of travel is already set by the Employment Rights Act 2025 and the Plan to Make Work Pay, with major changes landing through 2026–2027, with HR practitioners seeing a much stronger baseline of employment rights, greater exposure and risk in restructures and employee relations along with more enforcement, not just more law.
Employment law remains reserved to Westminster, but Scotland will continue to raise expectations through policy, funding, and procurement with a stronger pressure to demonstrate Fair Work in practice, tighter public‑sector workforce and pay constraints, as well as greater demands for Skills, AI, and workforce transformation.
The CIPD Scotland 2026 manifesto highlights skills, job quality, and innovation as central expectations for employers.
So what does this all mean in reality for HR teams across the North of Scotland? What steps will you need to take to survive and thrive during the turbulent times ahead? How can you become more strategic, more visible, and more accountable?
We hope you can join the discussion with Marek Zemanik, the CIPD’s Senior Public Policy Adviser (UK Nations) after our Annual Meeting
19.30 Close
Speaker:
Marek leads the CIPD's public policy work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, focusing primarily on fair work, skills and productivity. He writes the CIPD's annual job quality report, Working Lives Scotland, and has written several policy and research reports around skills and the labour market in the devolved UK nations. He provides evidence to Parliamentary and Assembly committees, responds to government and executive consultations and inquiries and engages with ministers and civil servants.
Please note:
1. Reminder emails will be sent to you the day before, with a further reminder on the morning of the event.
2. Photography and video production may take 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. Please cancel your ticket so someone else can take your place if your plans change and you can no longer make it – there is usually a waitlist for our events.
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.
