The 2025 programme

REGISTRATION & NETWORKING

Morning chair's welcome and opening comments

Darren Sanderson-Williams, General Manager, Specsavers

Retail HR Scene Setter: The importance of brand and vision in a cultural transition - HR as ‘culture agents’

Transforming culture needs to start with HR.

• Creating a culture where colleagues belong
• Embedding change - role of strategic HR partnering in retail
• The organisation understanding the value of HR - adding to the bottom line
• How HR can influence the top table/board - buy-in from leadership

Sarah Eglin, Director of People & Culture, Barnardo's

Perry Timms, Founder & Chief Energy Officer, People & Transformational HR

NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK

Retail HR Insights Panel: Recruitment and retention - the war on talent in a competitive retail job market

In today’s competitive market a strong talent acquisition process is a must. Regardless of the size or scope of your business, talent acquisition must always be approached strategically to attract the talent you are looking for. With a speaial introduction from David Nottage, Head of Talent Attraction & Acquisition at Footasylum on strategies to attract the best talent in a competitive marketplace, this panel will discuss the key ingredients for a robust talent management strategy.

• Different methods of recruitment - sourcing the best talent; driving retention
• Young demographic workforce - what do they want out of a company?
• Engaging a multi-generational workforce
• Flexible / hybrid working
• Social mobility

Rhianon Plews, Head of HRBPs & Talent, Watches of Switzerland Group

Leeanne Hedley, Recruitment & Talent Lead, ScS - Sofa Carpet Specialist

David Anderson, Head of People UK, Rough Trade

Alice Gaydon, Talent Acquisition & People Lead, PZ Cussons UK & US

Sarah Cunningham, Group Talent Acquisition Manager, Watches of Switzerland Group

Spotlight on compensation and benefits

How to attract/retain employees when pay is the most pressing factor to candidates.

• Benefits – how can retail access if not on email
• Being competitive with your benefits offering / package

Positively disrupting the workforce to ignite and motivate your employees

Retail needs to truly step change and deliver a people experience that excites employees, so they can further engage customers. Today’s retailers are competing with the gig economy for talent as employees increasingly seek perks such as flexible scheduling, instant salary access, and other modern tools. Our speaker will illustrate how an AI-driven workforce management can empower and engage employees.

• Benefits to attract and retain talent while maintaining workforce efficiency
•  What does the future of flexible work look like across the retail sector
• Time and attendance - new clocking -in

Sanish Mondkar, Founder & CEO, Legion 
 

Retail HR Perspectives: A new landscape - what does AI mean for HR?

AI brings data and insight, analytical superpowers and productivity gains. No leader can ignore the power of AI in our future, nor the burden of deploying it responsibly. This session explores how every leader can maximise its potential without compromising the role of humanity in business.

• How to optimise tech – why good programme management and project design is required
• What tech is coming through that is new and exciting
• Operational and people services – navigating change with tech as part of the role

Liz Jewitt-Cross, Founder, Future HR

NETWORKING LUNCH BREAK

HR Retail Learning Lab: Upskilling / reskilling the ‘magic middle’ management - how to stimulate and re-energise employees through effective L&D

Innovative and scalable strategies that will redefine the role of L&D now and in the future. Navigating skills to build resilience to drive change.

• Upskilling capabilities of colleagues through business transformation - developing all internal talent to be leaders
• Re-training managers for the inevitable challenges of the new world of work
• Benefits of L&D - new initiatives to support your workforce through their employee lifecycle
• L&D training / coaching – the need for more internal mobility to fill roles
• Utilising new technology to personalise/prescribe and improve the learning experience
• How to engage time-poor colleagues with L&D initiatives

Faye Ryder-Humphries, Head of People, Wingstop UK

Laura-May Nardella, Talent Acquisition & Development Partner (Food), Co-op

Navigating political change - the implications for HR of the recent employment law changes

This informative session will explore some of the reforms to employment law that will impact businesses and their employees. Providing insights into these reforms, their practical implications and how businesses need to adapt.

 
Elaine Huttley, Partner & National Head of Employment, Irwin Mitchell

NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK

Retail Strategy Perspectives - Building and achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace - refocusing on purpose and values for engagement

How to identify the right issues to address in different workplaces, with their own unique culture, purpose and strategy. This session will feature a varied line-up of retail DE&I professionals to share their experiences.

• How a diverse workforce can help enterprises boost business performance and reduce succession risks
• DE&I - networks and how to develop them
• Attraction, retention - realistic goals and actions around DE&I
• How do you support inclusivity through engagement?
• The role of HR supporting neurodiversity within the workplace

Alyson Fadil, Chief People Officer, Matalan
Ebony Quow, People Partner - Commercial & Insurance, Post Office
Anne-Marie Lister, Consultant, Spirited People & Change Consultancy; former Chief People Officer, Atom bank
Nick Singh, Deputy Market Manager, IKEA

Spotlight on: Effective workplace mental health and physical wellbeing support - creating a culture of connection and engagement

Your staff are your superpower, looking after their mental health and wellbeing is paramount for them and your organisation to thrive - learn how retail HR leaders are proactively addressing employees’ wellbeing needs now and in the future.

Dave Scholes, Conversation Starter, Six Connections

Chair's closing comments