About this event
A fantastic opportunity to network and attend round table events covering a range of HR topics.
This event is for HR, people management and learning professionals working or living in Lancashire, as well as those interested in developing their careers, expanding their professional network, and engaging with CIPD activities, events and opportunities across the region.
Introductions from our Branch Chair Jo Sutcliffe and Professor Adrian Wright from University of Lancashire.
**Please note there will be 6 topics run during 3 time slots, 2 topics will run concurrently. Attendees will be asked to select one of two sessions in each time slot at registration.**
Session 1 :- 10:00 - 10:45
AI/Recruitment Session:
This roundtable will explore how HR and recruitment professionals perceive the ethical challenges posed by AI in hiring, with an emphasis on fairness, transparency and accountability in practice. Drawing on emerging insights, the discussion will examine how AI tools are understood, governed and experienced, and how HR teams navigate the tensions between innovation, bias, decision making and ethical responsibility.
Tax/ Benefits/ RSM:
A practical session on key tax considerations for employers. Covering areas such as employee benefits, equity incentives, national minimum wage and international assignments, Emily, alongside colleagues from RSM, will explore current issues that should be on every people professional’s radar.
Session 2 :- 11:00 - 11:45
L&D Session:
Graham will be delivering a session focused on developing manager capability, sharing practical insights on how organisations can equip managers with the skills, confidence, and behaviours needed to lead high-performing teams and support business growth.
Employment Law:
Session run by Katy Parkinson covering the upcoming Employment Law changes and how it impacts businesses.
Session 3 :- 12:00 - 12:45
Wellbeing Session:
Clear Thinking: Wellbeing and coaching solutions – "Workplace Wellbeing: More Thanks Just A Fruit Bowl"
Is a free fruit bowl in the staff room really what enables people to thrive at work? When we think about workplace wellbeing, it's easy to focus on what we can see; like the overripe bananas and shriveled up apples that have sat in the fruit bowl all week! While the fruit bowl may well have its place, it's only a small part of the picture. Real workplace wellbeing is shaped by much more. Join Fay in this session where you will explore what really supports wellbeing at work, challenge the idea that perks equal wellbeing, and explore the everyday factors that make the biggest difference to how people feel, perform and engage at work. Because workplace wellbeing is about much more than what's sitting in the fruit bowl.
Employee Benefits Session:
A practical session covering everything from understanding what your employees want, to ensuring they know what they have — and proving the business case for investing in it.
Speakers bio:
AI/Recruitment :-
Ron Smillie, Chartered MCIPD,
People Leader and Head of HR in the UK BPO sector
Ron Smillie , where he oversees complex organisational change, workforce planning and responsible people practices across large, distributed operations. Alongside his senior HR role, he is a part time PhD researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, specialising in the ethical implications of AI enabled recruitment and selection, with a particular focus on fairness, transparency and accountability.
Tax/ Benefits :-
Emily Marland , Associate CIPD
Associate Director in RSM’s Employer Solutions team, based in the North.
Emily brings has 10 years experience at RSM and advises clients on the design and implementation of reward and employee ownership strategies, helping to align people outcomes with wider business objectives.
She has a people-focused perspective to her work, supporting organisations to strengthen employee engagement, retention and performance through effective reward frameworks. She is also a Chartered Tax Adviser and has extensive experience advising businesses on employee share plans and incentive arrangements, including tax structuring, valuation and employee communications.
Learning and delivery :-
Graham Perkins
Director of Sales and Marketing for Dale Carnegie Northern England (Dale Carnegie NW- Graham Perkins)
Where he has been helping organisations improve leadership, sales performance, and employee development since 2008. Recognised as one of Dale Carnegie’s top-performing sales professionals globally, he works with organisations to design and deliver development programmes that drive measurable business results and strengthen leadership capability.
Employment Law :-
Katy Parkinson,
Partner, Forbes Solicitors, Commercial Employment team
Katy has extensive experience of working closely with clients and providing strategic advice on complex projects such as company restructuring, collective redundancy processes, outsourcing and TUPE. Katy also represents clients when disputes arise, dealing with settlement agreements, ACAS Early Conciliation and Employment Tribunal proceedings. Katy is listed in the Legal 500 as a “Recommended Lawyer”.
Wellbeing :-
Fay Winstanley, Chartered MCIPD
Founder of Clear Thinking Wellbeing and Coaching Solutions.
With over 25 years in the people profession, Fay brings a blend of compassion, clarity and practical insight to her work. An award‑winning wellbeing specialist, NLP practitioner and coach, she helps individuals and organisations think differently and approach challenges with confidence and calm.
Benefits :-
Steve Pemberton DipPFS,
Senior employee benefits consultant, Mattioli Woods
Steve specialises in employee benefits, with over 20 years’ experience in financial services. Having worked across pensions, benefits strategy, and financial education, he brings a rounded perspective on what genuinely makes benefits work – for employees and employers alike. Steve has advised businesses of all shapes and sizes, from early-stage start-ups to global household names.
CIPD Speakers and closing: -
Heather Lee, Chartered FCIPD
Heather currently serves on the CIPD's Professional Standards Committee and Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
A member of the CIPD Board with over 30 years' experience in HR leadership across FTSE 100 organisations and sectors including manufacturing, FMCG, utilities, retail and healthcare. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer for a large multi-site retail and healthcare organisation.
Heather has held a range of governance and board roles spanning education, local government, employment and skills, and charitable organisations. She holds an MBA from Leeds Business School and an Accelerated Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.
Closing:
Sophie Tothill, CIPD Engagement Lead
The Senior Engagement Lead for the CIPD UK Nations and Regions Engagement Team, where she works closely with members across the UK. She was previously Head of Membership at the Chartered Institute OF Export and International Trade and the North West UK Lead for ICAEW. With a background in HR, Sophie has also held Consultancy and standalone HR roles in the public sector, bringing a wealth of experience in member engagement and people strategy.
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.
