Shaping the future workplace: insights on people, AI, leadership and flexibility In the latest episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2025, Lucy Lewis speaks with Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD. Lucy and Peter revisit their 2021 conversation, exploring how the workplace focus has evolved since the pandemic. They discuss the importance of people in organisations, evolving employee expectations, and the critical role of leadership and culture. They touch on the ongoing debate about the future of office work, hybrid models, and the impact of economic and geopolitical unce ..read more

Strategic Workforce Priorities for 2025 and Beyond – What matters most? In the first episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2025, Lucy delves into the findings of our recent survey and report, "Strategic Workforce Priorities – What Matters Most?". Lucy explores the major shifts shaping workforce planning and HR strategy, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges businesses will face in the coming years.  Lucy discusses how businesses are navigating the pressures of resourcing constraints, the impact of AI and technology advancements, and the evolving needs of a dive ..read more

Over the course of this year, we’ve hosted conversations with leading experts and thinkers to explore their perspectives on the future of work and consider the opportunities and challenges ahead for employers and their people as the world of work continues to evolve rapidly. In this final episode of 2024, our podcast host, Lucy Lewis, Employment Partner at Lewis Silkin, reflects on the conversations she has had this year and draws together a range of insightful perspectives shared by her guests. Lucy spotlights the key themes that emerged across her conversations: Trust in the Workplace: agai ..read more

Welcome to this month’s podcast, where we reflect on the impact of recent global elections on the future of workplace regulation. Join Lucy and partners James Davies and David Hopper as they explore emerging global trends and their implications for the UK. Discover how political shifts are reshaping the employer-employee relationships and union influence in an increasingly volatile and uncertain landscape ..read more

In the latest episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2024, Lucy speaks with Dr Vivienne Ming, a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Socos Labs, a company dedicated to leveraging AI-driven research to maximise human potential. In this conversation, Lucy and Vivienne explore the evolving relationship between AI and the workforce, discussing how technology can enhance our capabilities rather than merely focus on productivity gains. Vivienne emphasises the concept of “productive friction” and how AI can challenge us to become better at our jobs. They also delv ..read more

In the seventh episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2024, Lucy speaks to Simon Roberts, anthropologist, author and co-founder of Stripe Partners, a consultancy firm which incorporates social and data science to give companies a deep understanding of the world, their customers and their organisation. In this conversation, Lucy and Simon discuss anthropology and why, in a tech and data driven world, it is increasingly being used by organisations to better understand the behaviours and culture of their workforces. In particular, Simon highlights the importance of embodied knowled ..read more

In the sixth episode of our “In Conversation..” podcast series for 2024, Lucy speaks to Giles Gibbons, co-founder and CEO of Good Business, a strategy consultancy firm with almost 30 years of experience advising organisations on purpose, behaviour change, sustainability and responsible business strategies. While many organisations are taking positive steps to manage their social and environmental impact, the sustainability agenda continues to move faster than business’s rate of change. In this conversation, Giles explains how having a sustainability and responsible business strategy is good f ..read more

In this fifth episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2024, Lucy is joined by fellow Lewis Silkin partners and co-heads of the Data, Privacy and Cyber Group, Alexander Milner-Smith and Bryony Long.  In this fascinating conversation, Alex and Bryony discuss a variety of emerging technologies, their use cases in the workplace and the potential legal and people-related risks that might arise. Some of these technologies are ones that many businesses are already exploring, such as the metaverse and ChatGPT. But Alex and Bryony also look ahead to evolving technologies such as neuro ..read more

In this fourth episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2024, Lucy revisits a fascinating conversation she had on navigating and managing workplace conflict with David Liddle, founder and CEO of TCM Group.  Recorded in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, this conversation from 2022 resonates with many of the challenges businesses are experiencing today. Growing societal divisions and tensions are increasingly spilling into the workplace, such that navigating and managing workplace conflict is emerging as a key business priority. “Conflict is unavoidable, inescapable. In ..read more

In the third episode of our “In Conversation with…” podcast series for 2024 Lucy is joined by Ben Willmott, Head of Public Policy in the CIPD.  The relationship between employer and employee is changing and the “social contract” is evolving. There’s a growing focus on ethical behaviour, on people’s individual needs and on “good work”. In this episode, Lucy and Ben explore what “good work” is and why it should matter to employers and their people. They consider the key drivers shaping the good work agenda and the role employers and the government have to play in promoting good work practic ..read more