The HR Director

1. Preparing for pay equity: How employers can stay ahead

   With new UK gender pay gap requirements on the horizon, the EU Pay Transparency Directive taking effect in 2026, and growing international regulations, HR and Reward teams face a rapidly shifting landscape. Caroline Pryce looks at what’s coming, what data you’ll need, and how to prepare now - from collecting diversity data responsibly to building robust evaluation and pay frameworks that can stand up to scrutiny.

2. Why coaching is a compound interest strategy for talent

   In a tight economic climate, organisations can’t afford to think of coaching as a luxury. It’s a lever for retention, a catalyst for productivity and a driver of innovation. Viewed through the economic lens, coaching isn’t just an investment in people – it’s an investment in organisational resilience and competitive advantage.

3. Why AI and XR strengthens communication, empathy and leadership

   Each year, more work becomes automated. That trend isn’t slowing down, which explains the rising anxiety around job displacement. But instead of shrinking the need for people, automation is magnifying the importance of interpersonal capability. Reports from the World Economic Forum and McKinsey (among others) all point to the same conclusion: the fastest-growing skills are communication, leadership, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

4. Multigenerational workforce – bridging gaps, harnessing opportunity

   For the first time in history, we have five generations working side by side. That’s a remarkable pool of insight, creativity and lived experience. The key is moving from a mindset of “difference equals difficulty” to “difference equals depth”.

5. How to counteract the isolation of leadership

   There is a reason why senior managers are so often criticised for being out of touch -the bubble.