VODG HR Directors' Professional Network Meeting | July 2025 | Face-to face

Booking for the next meeting of the HR Directors’ network is now open.

We are delighted to welcome Joshua Butt, Principal Consultant at Cordis Bright, to the network. Joshua will be speaking about organisation design and restructure, focusing on sustainability amid rising costs and workforce pressures. He will also be facilitating a discussion on strategies for adapting service models and workforce structures. This will be an in-depth session that will take us up to a complimentary networking lunch at 12.00.

After a 15-minute post-lunch energising session, the afternoon will be dedicated to employment law. We will begin with a overview of the latest changes to the law before drilling down into topics of particular interest. These sessions will include member discussions focussing on how the law is implemented in a practical way in member organisations.

Throughout the day there will be many opportunities to connect with peers, both in open networking and in sessions facilitated by the network co-chairs. Please come ready to talk about your own issues and to help others tackle theirs; this is a fabulous opportunity to connect with colleagues across the sector and to share experience and expertise.

This is a face-to-face meeting to be held at the offices of NCVO in central London. Our face-to-face events are always popular so we recommend you book early to secure your place.

Please note that to ensure that as many member organisations as possible can attend, places are limited to one per organisation.

Speakers

Emma Burrows

Emma Burrows

Partner, Trowers & Hamlins

Find out more

Joshua Butt

Joshua Butt

Principal Consultant, Cordis Bright

 

Draft Programme

09.30

Arrival, networking and refreshments

10.00

Welcome from VODG and housekeeping

Kerry Hamilton, Head of Membership and Operations at VODG

10.05

Introductions

VODG Co-chairs

10.15

Organisation design and restructure, including group discussions

Joshua Butt, Principal Consultant at Cordis Bright

11.00

Break

11.10

Organisation design and restructure, including group discussions continued

Joshua Butt, Principal Consultant at Cordis Bright and members

12.00

Networking lunch

12.45

Energiser

VODG Co-chairs

13.00

Employment Law update

Emma Burrows, Partner at Trowers and Hamilns

13.30

Break

13.40

Zero hours contracts, including member discussions

Emma Burrows, Partner at Trowers and Hamilns

14.00

Pension salary sacrifice, including member discussions

Trowers and Hamilns and members

14.20

Reflections, member discussions and connections

VODG Co-chairs

14.45

Ideas for the next sessions

VODG Co-chairs

14.55

Final round-up

Kerry Hamilton, Head of Membership and Operations at VODG

15.00

End

Accessibility  

Please note, should you have any accessibility requirements, we will do our best to make necessary arrangements to support you; however, we may require up to four weeks notice, so please list your requirements on the booking form. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Join the HR Directors' Professional Network

The HR directors' network provides colleagues a secure space to discuss pertinent issues and topics via our online forum, to upload documents and to view the lastest network events. 

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HR Directors

Members (187) Discussions (92)

The VODG HR directors' professional network welcomes senior HR professionals from amongst our membership.

VODG HR Directors' Network Co-chairs

Caroline Neal

Caroline Neal

Group Director of People & Organisational Development, Avenues Group

Kerry Demner

Kerry Demner

Head of HR, Hightown Housing Association

Jo Gouldthorpe

Jo Gouldthorpe

Director of People, Aspens