VODG | VODG HR Directors' Professional Network Meeting July 2026

This in‑person HR Directors Network event brings together senior HR leaders for a strategic and practical exploration of the people challenges shaping organisations today, alongside the decisions needed to prepare for the next phase of change. Designed specifically for HR Directors, the programme blends expert insight with member‑led discussion, creating space to reflect on shared pressures, test emerging thinking, and learn from peers facing similar constraints.

The day begins with The Workforce Reality Check – Culture, Leadership and Engagement Today, led by Campbell Tickell, who will share perspectives on the current realities of HR leadership. This session will examine workforce trends and the challenges of sustaining culture, leadership capability, and employee engagement amid prolonged pressure. Drawing on data and practice‑based insight, Tracey will frame a discussion exploring what is becoming harder to sustain, where risk is emerging, and how organisations are adapting.

A dedicated policy and compliance session with Trowers & Hamlins will then provide a clear, forward‑looking overview of the Employment Rights Act and what HR Directors need to do now to prepare for 2027. This will be grounded in practical implications for workforce planning, employee relations and leadership capability, followed by peer discussion on readiness, capacity and shared areas of risk.

The afternoon turns to the role of central services, with Cordis Bright presenting headline benchmarking findings through an HR lens, highlighting what the data suggests about capacity, operating models and people‑related risk. Members will reflect together on what this means for HR strategy and collective priorities for future work.

The final theme looks ahead to the future of work, exploring how HR Directors can realistically respond to AI, future skills, reward and changing employee expectations in a low‑resource environment. Throughout the day, structured table discussions will enable members to share experience, challenge assumptions and identify practical next steps, ensuring the event delivers both insight and actionable value for HR leaders navigating an increasingly complex landscape.

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

Speakers

Programme

10.00 - 10.05	Start	Welcome and Housekeeping	Kerry Hamilton, VODG Director of Membership and Operations
10.05 - 10.15	Intro	Introductions and Programme Overview	Co-chair
10.15 - 11.15	Theme 1: The Here and Now	10.15 - 10.45 Insight Session: The Workforce Reality Check – Culture, Leadership and Engagement Today Current workforce trends shaping HR leaders’ day‑to‑day reality What data and practice tell us about: leadership capacity culture under pressure engagement and retention What is becoming harder to sustain – and where organisations are adapting successfully	Tracey McEachran, Senior Associate Consultant, Campbell Tickell
10.15 - 11.15	Theme 1: The Here and Now	10.45 - 11.15 Member‑Led Discussion: Leading People Through Sustained Pressure Table discussions Focused discussion on: Where culture and engagement are most at risk right now Leadership capability gaps HR Directors are seeing Practical approaches that are helping (or not helping) People‑related risks emerging over the next 12–18 months	Facilitated member discussion
11.15 - 11.25	Break (10 mins)
11:25 - 12:30	Theme 2: Policy and Compliance Focus	11.25 - 11.55 The Employment Rights Act: What HR Directors Need to Do Now to Prepare for 2027 This session will: Provide an overview of the key provisions and direction of travel of the Employment Rights Act Focus on practical implications for employers, including: workforce planning and resourcing contracts, policies and employee relations leadership and management capability Highlight what HR Directors should be doing now, versus what can wait Explore areas of risk, uncertainty and likely future developments as we approach 2027	Trowers & Hamlins
11:25 - 12:30	Theme 2: Policy and Compliance Focus	11.55 - 12.30 Member‑Led Discussion: Preparing for 2027 – Risks, Readiness and Practical Next Steps Table discussions Structured around: What HR Directors are already doing to prepare (or not yet doing) Areas of greatest concern or exposure Capacity and capability challenges in delivering compliance alongside day‑to‑day pressures What support HR Directors need (guidance, tools, collective approaches)	Facilitated member discussion
12:30 - 13:15	Lunch (45 minutes)
13:15 – 14:15	Theme 3: Central Services Lens	13.15 - 13.45 Central Services Benchmarking Overview – HR Perspectives Headline benchmarking findings What the data suggests for HR capacity, operating models and people risk Key implications for HR leadership and strategy	Joshua Butt, Cordis Bright
13:15 – 14:15	Theme 3: Central Services Lens	13.45 - 14.15 What the Benchmarking Means for HR Table discussions What resonated, surprised or challenged assumptions HR implications of different central services models Collective priorities and support needs for VODG’s programme	Facilitated member discussion
13.45 - 13.55	Break (10 mins)
13.55 - 14.25	Theme 4: The Future of Work	13.55 - 14.25 Insight Session: The Future of Work – What Should HR Focus on Now? AI and digital change: practical implications for HR Future skills and workforce planning in a low‑resource environment Reward, EVP and employee expectations: what evidence tells us employees really want what may matter less than we assume	Speaker TBC
14.25 - 14.50	Theme 4: The Future of Work	14:25 - 14.50 Member‑Led Discussion: Preparing for the Future with Fewer Resources Table discussions Where AI or technology could genuinely help HR (and where it won’t) Skills HR Directors believe will matter most in the next 3–5 years How organisations are rethinking reward, flexibility and EVP What HR leaders need to start, stop or do differently now	Facilitated member discussion
14:50 - 15:00	End	Wrap up and finish	Kerry Hamilton, VODG Director of Membership and Operations

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].

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