HR Insights: The truth about emloyee engagement

Employee engagement continues to be one of the most talked-about topics in HR, but also one of the most misunderstood. While many organisations measure it, far fewer truly understand what drives it or how to improve it in a meaningful way. In this episode of the HR Insights Podcast, Stuart Elliott sits down with industry experts Paul Knight, Group Chief People Officer at PA Media, and Rebecca Saunders Jones, Managing Director of Loopin, to explore what employee engagement really looks like today, why it may be stalling in many organisations, and what HR and business leaders can do differently. From leadership accountability to real-time data and shifting workforce expectations, the conversation offers a practical and honest view of where engagement stands today, and where it needs to go next. Key timestamps03:52 – What does employee engagement actually mean? 05:20 – Where is engagement today? 08:05 – What’s ‘job hugging’? 10:29 – Why traditional engagement surveys fall short 16:36 – Who really owns engagement?24:42 – Transparency vs psychological safety28:28 – The biggest risk to engagement35:12 – Can you over-measure engagement?41:43 – Embedding engagement into cultureYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

First and foremost, happy new year!We’re excited for you to see what we have in store for 2026. To start the year, we wanted to wrap up 2025 by showcasing the amazing guests and topics we had throughout the year with a special episode, and this time, our guest is a familiar voice and our usual host, Stuart Elliott.After a season packed with conversations on AI, resilience, global hiring, and leadership, today's host and our Marketing Intern, Lola Ojuri reflects with Stuart on the moments that stood out, the ideas that challenged him, and what these discussions reveal about the HR market right now.Across the season, one theme has been clear: HR is evolving faster than ever. Leaders are balancing transformation with wellbeing, skills with strategy, and technology with human connection. This episode brings those insights together, a look back at the conversations shaping HR today and the challenges that will define the year ahead.Key timestamps:01:39 - Surprising conversations02:50 - Interesting topics04:30 - Episodes that challenged thoughts06:41 - Trends of 202508:37 - Evolution of HR09:53 - The market now11:39 - Evolution of recruitment13:10 - Trends of HR looking forward15:18 - Favourite chats17:17 - Themes into 202619: 26 - Hopes of improvement in HR22:31 - Looking after ourselves in 2026You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

As the pace of work accelerates, wellbeing continues to decline across industries, making conversations about sustainable performance more important than ever.In this episode, our CEO and Host, Stuart Elliott, is joined by Bianca Errigo, global speaker, wellbeing expert, and founder of HumanOS, a platform redefining how organisations approach resilience and high performance.Off of the back of our Global HR resilience report, Bianca and Stuart discuss the state of workplace wellbeing today, why so many high performers are still burning out, how organisations can close the gap between wellbeing programmes and real wellbeing outcomes, and what it means to build a culture that supports both performance and recovery.Who is Bianca Errigo?Bianca Errigo is a global speaker, wellbeing expert, and Founder of HumanOS, a platform advancing sustainable high performance in the workplace. With a BSc in Psychology, a background in corporate sales, and over 13,000 hours of coaching with clients ranging from global CEOs to elite athletes, she blends science, strategy and lived experience to drive meaningful behaviour change.Named one of Startups Magazine’s 24 Most Influential Women of 2024 and recognised as American Express’s Top External Speaker, Bianca specialises in resilience, emotional intelligence, burnout prevention, and the future of work. She has delivered keynotes and workshops for organisations including American Express, Cisco, Barclays, Dell, Diageo, The NHS, Canva and the University of Cambridge. Known for her warm presence and practical approach, Bianca challenges outdated ideas of “wellbeing”, empowering leaders and teams to perform at a high level, sustainably.If you’d like to explore how HumanOS can help your team build resilience and sustainable performance, you can learn more [here].Key time stamps:1:36 - Introduction to Bianca Errigo3:37 - About HumanOS12:14 - Competitiveness fuels resilience19:00 – The current state of wellbeing22:00 - Sleep disappearing under pressure and stress30:00 - Tracking and monitoring health33:40 - Gender differences and the impact on HR’s resilience37:45 - Advice to companies for their HR team42:00 - Psychological safety46:45 - Advice for leaders of HR teamsYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

In this episode of HR Insights: The Podcast, our CEO Stuart Elliott sits down with Thierry Moschetti, Managing Partner at the Resilience Institute, to unpack the findings of the Global HR Resilience Report 2025,  the first global diagnostic snapshot of how HR professionals are really doing.Together, they explore what resilience truly means in the HR context and how the profession is holding up amidst constant transformation, complexity, and pressure. With only 32% of HR professionals categorised as resilient and just 1% thriving, the results of the report are a wake-up call. “Bounce”,  the ability to recover from stress, emerged as the weakest of the three resilience categories, highlighting just how much HR is being stretched.In this conversation, Thierry shares practical insights and draws on the Resilience Institute’s work with organisations like Google, Shell, and PwC. He and Stuart dive into why self-awareness isn’t enough, the warning signs HR teams need to recognise, and how leaders can build more sustainable ways to perform under pressure.Key Timestamps 02:58 - Introduction to Thierry Moschetti and Resilience Institute17:10 - What is the global resilience survey and why did we run it?21.50 - Key findings: The resilience spiral26.28 - Unpacking the key findings31:30 - Are HR leaders unsupported?33.30 - The vulnerabilities of HR37.00 - What needs to change?42:26 - Gender gaps in resilience47.40 - Age gaps in resilience52.40 - Aiding burnout56.40 - Advice for leaders wanting to strengthen their HR teams resilienceYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

Welcome back to another episode of HR Insights: The Podcast. Today, our CEO and Host, Stuart Elliott, is joined by Tony Davies, Director of Global Partners at Acumen International, to explore the rapidly growing world of global employment and the role of Employer of Record (EOR) in enabling organisations to scale across borders with confidence.Together, they discuss the evolution of Tony’s career, from military engineering to building high-performing recruitment businesses, to leading global partnership networks and advising organisations on compliant international workforce expansion. Tony breaks down what the EOR model really is, why demand is rising across regions such as the Middle East, Latin America, and India, and the common pitfalls organisations must avoid when hiring internationally.We hope you gain practical insights into when and how to use an EOR solution, how to mitigate risk in global hiring, and why choosing the right partner can determine both compliance and commercial success.About Tony Davies:Tony Davies is the Director of Global Partners at Acumen International, where he leads the development and execution of global partnership strategies to expand market presence and support business growth. With more than 25 years of experience in international recruitment and workforce solutions, Tony specialises in building strategic alliances, scaling operations across borders, and enabling organisations to globalise efficiently through Acumen’s extensive Global EOR network.Passionate about empowering organisations to unlock new market opportunities, Tony focuses on strategic collaboration, operational scalability, and sustainable growth in competitive, fast-changing environments.Key Timestamps:00:16 – About Tony’s Career path: military → engineering → recruitment01:03 – Building and selling a recruitment firm06:20 – Belcan UK turnaround to $60m and 35-country footprint09:04 – With James Caan: building global partner networks10:43 – Joining Acumen International: partnership vs referral models12:08 – What is EOR/PEO and why companies use it18:45 – Demand hotspots: Middle East, Northern LatAm, India21:50 – Pitfalls: “cheapest” ≠ safest; misclassification; penalties on global turnover26:56 – Before using EOR: three checks to run30:30 – When EOR is the right tool (SMBs, market tests, entity rationalisation)41:53 – Advice for HR & leaders: build a trusted EOR partnershipYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

Welcome back to another episode of HR Insights: The Podcast. Today, our CEO and Host, Stuart Elliott, is joined by Claire Butler, a strategic HR leader with extensive experience across global markets, to explore one of the most talked-about roles making a comeback in today’s market, the Chief of Staff.Together, they unpack what the Chief of Staff role really entails, why it’s re-emerging as a critical strategic function, and how it serves as a bridge between leadership, operations, and culture. Claire shares her personal journey transitioning from HR into the Chief of Staff role, offering honest reflections on both the opportunities and challenges that come with it.Listeners will gain valuable insights into the key skills that define a successful Chief of Staff, why demand for this position is rising again, and practical advice for both employers hiring for the role and professionals considering it as their next career step.About Claire Butler:Claire Butler is a strategic and results-driven HR leader with a strong commercial mindset and a proven track record in driving organisational transformation and HR excellence across global markets. With experience spanning the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia, Claire brings deep expertise in employment frameworks, cultural integration, and HR programme design and delivery.Passionate about innovation, people, and performance, she is driven by creating enthusiasm, inspiring others, and helping organisations achieve lasting results. Key Timestamps:01:40 – Introduction to Claire Butler04:40 – What is a Chief of Staff?07:31 – What skills make up the Chief of Staff role?09:48 – Key skills to excel as a Chief of Staff12:25 – Why Chief of Staff roles are back in trend17:48 – Pros & cons of being a Chief of Staff20:42 – Main challenges of the role26:54 – Hints and tips for success in the role28:32 – Strategic or operational?29:41 – Advice for those considering the roleYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

77% of companies are facing a skills crisis, a striking figure that highlights just how urgent the challenge has become.In this episode, Stuart is joined by Nick Shaw, Co-Founder of Spotted Zebra, to explore how HR leaders can leverage technology to bridge the widening skills gap.AI is on everyone’s agenda, but how can it really help HR teams reshape recruitment and performance? Stuart and Nick dive into how AI and skills science can work together to improve productivity, enhance decision-making, and transform how organisations identify and develop talent.They discuss why traditional recruitment models need disruption, how interview intelligence can help teams make faster, fairer decisions, and the importance of keeping human judgement at the heart of AI adoption.The conversation also uncovers the blind spots in how companies assess skills, the misconceptions surrounding AI, and practical advice for leaders preparing for the future of HR technology.Who is our guest?Nick Shaw is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Spotted Zebra, and industry-leading occupational psychology expert.Recognising that 77% of organisations face a widening skills crisis whilst AI floods recruitment pipelines, Nick co-founded Spotted Zebra - an award-winning Interview Intelligence and Assessment platform - alongside serial entrepreneur Ian Monk. Spotted Zebra combines skills science with AI to surface meaningful talent insights instantly and empower teams to make more objective, data-informed hiring decisions with confidence every time.As one of the UK's leading authorities in the assessment space, Nick is passionate about transforming how organisations build high-performing teams for now and the future through technology that enhances rather than replaces human judgement.Key timestamps01:30 – Introduction to Nick Shaw01:56 – The name “Spotted Zebra”07:29 - Explosion in AI and its impact13:13 - Discovering AI15:35 - Risks and uses of AI26:18 - The skills crisis32:31 - The misconceptions in AI38:54 - T-shaped professionals41:55 - Opportunities in HR tech46:14 - Advice to prepare for AI and changeYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

AI is on everyone’s agenda, but what does it really mean for businesses, productivity, and the future of work?In this episode, Stuart sits down with Daniel Snell, Co-Founder of Arrival, a management consultancy that has worked with leaders across the globe to deliver systemic change and sustainable performance. With a keen focus on AI, Daniel has seen first-hand how organisations are grappling with its rapid rise and potential. Stuart and Daniel explore the latest trends shaping AI adoption and its impact on productivity, the risks and challenges businesses face when integrating new technology, and the parallels between today’s AI revolution and the dawn of the internet. They also discuss whether AI can truly reduce workplace bias, how it might assess individual value and influence career progression, and what the future of AI in business could look like.About our guestFor more than 20 years, Daniel Snell has advised executive leaders worldwide—including those at Tesco, Investec, Sky, GSK, and Morgan Stanley—helping them drive growth, profit, and organisational performance. Known for bridging strategy, people, and organisational behaviour, he has delivered lasting change across industries and cultures. Alongside his consultancy work, Daniel leads Arrival’s Social Impact programmes, which have supported over 15,000 disadvantaged young people into successful careers. He also founded the Not in Our Name movement during the 2011 London riots and is a finalist in the 2025 Consultancy Awards for his pioneering approach to inclusion.Arrival is backed by some of the UK’s most recognised business and investment leaders, including figures from Pret, Tesco, Haleon, Artemis, Lansdowne Partners, Silverlake and ECI Partners.Key timestamps:01:50 – Introducing into Daniel Snell05:01 – Starting Arrival 14:01 - The impact of Covid on performance16:00 – Trends within AI18:52 – Risks when adopting AI 29:32 – AI breaking through to meritocracy 31:46 – AI’s ability to remove bias in the workplace38:57 – The data AI needs to understand someone’s value to an organisation41:09 – Technology compared to the human connection46:22 – AI impacting career progression49:29 – AI’s impact on inclusivity 59:11 – What will AI look like in 10 years?You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

On HR Insights, we strive to bring our listeners conversations they are asking for. Avid listeners of the show may remember that this summer, we have been running our HR Resilience Report in collaboration with The Resilience Institute. Initial results highlighted a recurring theme of mindful leadership. As HR continues to take on more responsibility in an ever-changing world of work, engaging with a leadership coach can provide invaluable support and shift your perspective to be more mindful during times of change.In this episode, our CEO and Host of the show, Stuart Elliott, is joined by Nina Donovan, Head of UK and Europe at OSC Leadership Development. Nina is an experienced executive coach who works with senior leaders and facilitates leadership teams through complex periods of change.Together, Stuart and Nina explore how high-stakes environments shape leadership behaviours, and the practical frameworks leaders can use when navigating career shifts. They discuss the reality of “loneliness at the top,” with senior executives often feeling pressure to have all the answers and why building the right support system is so important. Nina also shares her perspective on what to look for when beginning a coaching relationship, how to find the right coach, and how to approach coaching as a long-term journey rather than a quick fix.The conversation then turns to leading through uncertainty and how to pace change effectively, communicate with transparency, and maintain trust without creating unnecessary anxiety. Nina explains how she draws on both psychodynamic thinking and neuroscience to help leaders work with emotions rather than against them. The discussion concludes with a look at the growing role of AI in coaching, what it can offer today, and what it might mean for the future of leadership development.If you’d like to continue the conversation or explore coaching opportunities with Nina, you can connect with her on LinkedIn or reach her directly at [email protected] Timestamps:01:30 – An introduction to Nina05:05 – Navigating change through a career shift08:22 – Loneliness at the top 14:38 – Different leadership styles 15:42 – Beginning a relationship with executive coaching18:06 – Common blind spots seen with Senior Executives 21:19 – Executive coaching is not a quick fix26.14 – Balancing communication during times of uncertainty 29:40 – AI in executive coaching30:31 – Using neuroscience to complement change38:45 – Finding an Executive CoachYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen! 

73% of women leaders say they would change companies for menopause-related benefits.Earlier this year, in our episode with Maggie Lester, we explored how menopause is beginning to take its place on the benefits agenda, but with a lot of work still to do. To continue this conversation, Stuart welcomes back Fiona McKay, CEO of Lightbulb and Founder of The Menopause Maze, to unpack how menopause impacts leadership retention and the loss of female talent.Together, Stuart and Fiona discuss the critical point at which organisations lose their most experienced female leaders, often without even realising it. They explore what HR frequently overlooks in leadership pipeline gaps, and how HR leaders can start connecting menopause to the silent derailments that disrupt careers behind the scenes. The conversation also touches on the long-term value chain of addressing menopause in the workplace, covering governance, the great wealth transfer and the implications for HR and corporate services leaders.Finally, Fiona introduces the NOPAUSE™ Workplace Diagnostic, the world’s only data-driven tool designed to reveal where menopause is costing organisations their leadership layer, and what can be done to change that. For a limited time, you can access a personalised NOPAUSE™ diagnostic report in just five minutes, complimentary until 8th September 2025.Who is our guest?Fiona McKay is the CEO of Lightbulb Leadership Solutions, a strategic C-suite value creation advisory company that supports high-growth businesses, portfolio companies and private equity investors navigating critical moments of leadership, performance, and value creation. She’s also the founder of The Menopause Maze, a specialist firm within the Lightbulb group that focuses on retaining and accelerating the top 1% of female leaders navigating menopause. Key timestamps:02:03: Introducing Fiona McKay and The Menopause Maze10:06: When companies start to lose their most seasoned talent13:30: Showing up, even when you’re not visible17:04: Finding a good physician18:38: What HR commonly misses in the leadership layer gaps22:06: Approaching the topic of menopause23:38: Connecting the dots between menopause and the silent career derailment27:43: Benefits of medical plans and paying privately 29:33: Moving to a competitor if they offer menopause related benefits31:43: The great wealth transfer36:25: The NOPAUSE™ Workplace DiagnosticYou can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!