The future of early careers is being rewritten in real time. As AI reshapes entry-level work and application volumes surge, employers are rethinking what makes talent stand out and candidates need a new playbook to keep up. In this episode of The People Agenda...
Archive: People Planning and Strategy
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People Planning and Strategy:
What is a CPO? With Keniro Miller
“A Chief People Officer is a hybrid role of pretty much most of the exec roles that sit around the table.” The role of a Chief People Officer is evolving fast and it’s no longer just about HR. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris...
SWP Summit: Moving beyond the Bs in strategic workforce planning
In brief Why the ‘killer Bs’ of strategic workforce planning often create confusion rather than clarity How to refocus SWP on real business problems and outcomes Practical examples of SWP driving cost control, risk reduction and delivery ...
SWP Summit 2026 – all you need to know ahead of the conference
Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer a future-focused concept; it’s a present-day business imperative. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by Douglas Leach, Founder of People Strategy Hub and the driving force behind...
What does M&A get wrong about people and how can it be fixed?
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals fail less because of spreadsheets and more because of people. Most M&A promise growth, scale, or capability. Many underdeliver because leaders underestimate the human side of change. In this episode of The People Agenda...
Rewired HR in reality: Bringing the future operating model to life
Now you’ve had a chance to explore the new Rewired HR ecosystem, we imagine you have a lot of questions! Next, we will answer some of the key questions you may have when trying to consider how it will work in practice for your organisation and what it means for HR...
Intelligence and insights: the core of a responsive, insight-led HR function
The tiered shared-services model is dissolving. In its place: a responsive, intelligence-led HR function with an Intelligence and insights engine at its core - enabling AI, insight and experience in real time. Most HR models were built for service at scale, not...
SWP Conference 2025: Key insights
What were the main conclusions from the SWP Conference? Strategic workforce planning (SWP) is no longer about spreadsheets and headcount forecasts. It’s about driving real business change. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, host Chris Howard is joined by...
Unlocking HR value with AI: How Pathfinder turns ambition into action
AI is transforming HR operations, driving efficiency, and elevating employee experiences. At LACE, our HR AI team is at the forefront of this change, helping organisations move from experimentation to measurable impact. Building on our recent blog with...
Preparing for SWP: Choices, challenges, and change
This invitation-only executive roundtable was for senior HR leaders who are preparing to begin strategic workforce planning—or are already underway and want to benchmark, share lessons, and refine their approach. We focused on the early choices that matter—defining...
How to turn talent scarcity into strategic advantage
In brief Talent scarcity is driving organisations to expand global hiring, with digital skills in highest demand. Global hiring offers access to diverse talent, cost efficiencies, and greater organisational resilience, but brings complexity and cultural challenges. HR...
What is a CPO? With Danny Harmer
In brief The Chief People Officer (CPO) aligns people strategy with business goals, maximising organisational performance by maximising people performance. Effective CPOs are commercial, expert in HR levers, and future-focused—using data and insight to drive...
Welcome to The People Agenda Podcast
It’s an exciting day as we announce that our podcast - previously known as HR on the Offensive has had a refresh and will now be The People Agenda! New name, same faces and same great content. We believe this new identity better reflects how work, people, and...
Quiet cracking: The invisible threat to your workforce?
It seems there is always a different buzzword that emerges in the business world - from "burnout" to "quiet quitting" - we read about phenomena that, while challenging, often manifest in visible ways, such as reduced output, long absences, or a clear change in...
How can HR use strategic workforce planning to drive business impact?
Strategic workforce planning (SWP) at its heart is about answering a very human question: how can organisations ensure they have the right people, in the right roles, at the right time to deliver on their goals? That’s the compelling premise of The Strategic Workforce...















