LACE Partners @LACEPartners

Read the 2026 HR Shared Services Trends report here: hubs.la/Q04nxTyt0

"HR shared services is at an inflection point, shifting from a transactional delivery model to becoming the operating engine that drives intelligence, experience and execution for the broader people function. The real question now is less about what HR Shared Services does, and more about how effectively it enables better decisions, faster outcomes and a more intuitive employee experience at scale." Head of People Operations, Global Software Company It sums up what we saw across the whole survey. The mandate is changing. The real question is whether the foundations are ready for it. The HR Shared Services Trends Report 2026 is out now. Download link in the comments. 👇 #HRSharedServices #HRSS #HRTransformation #PeopleStrategy #LACEPartners

Level 3: AI as a change agent. Interacting directly with individuals. Adapting in real time. Responding to each person going through a change programme. Coming soon, stay tuned!

Level 2: AI supports transformation thinking. Analysing adoption data. Mapping resistance by role. Stress-testing personas. Spotting blind spots a busy change lead might miss. Interesting - and risky: lacepartners.com/bringing-ai-to…

There's a version of #AI in change that most teams have tried. Faster comms, quicker templates, better visuals. That's Level 1, and it's a good starting point; however, it's the floor, not the ceiling. We've been mapping all the levels on this journey. Here's what each one actually means🧵 #ChangeManagement #AIinHR #HRTransformation

The EU Pay Transparency Directive took effect 7 June. UK employers with EU operations are in scope now. Those without are watching closely. The quiet question for #payroll and #HR: can your systems actually extract the data you'd need to report? A lot of organisations are finding out the answer later than they'd like. Where are you with this? #PayTransparency

Download the guide lacepartners.com/business-restr… ?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=45448511-LACE%20service%20-%20Business%20restructuring&utm_content=whitepaper-cta-v1

Restructuring is accelerating for a lot of organisations right now. The strategic case is usually clear. The execution - where org design meets real teams, real pay, real timelines - is where it gets harder. Different organisations feel that pressure in different ways. Where does it tend to get most complex for you? #Restructuring #HRleadership #WorkforcePlanning

Change expert Annette Frem wrote about exactly this. Worth a read if it's on your radar. lacepartners.com/bringing-ai-to…

Most #AI in #Change conversations focus on speed. The more useful question is whether it's sharpening the thinking behind the programme, or just making you faster at the same work. What are you actually using it for? #AIinHR #ChangeManagement #HRTransformation

Strategic workforce planning should do more than produce a slide deck – it should shape real business outcomes. Our upcoming session “From plans to impact: making SWP count” explores how to turn insight into action, connect SWP to business strategy and build leadership commitment. How are you currently measuring the impact of your workforce planning? Register for the webinar on 15th July using the below link. hubs.la/Q04kwWGx0

Today’s Chief People Officer is a strategic business partner and cultural architect. In this episode of The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell speak to Jonny Friedman, Senior Vice President of People and Talent at Acumetis as he shares how people leaders can balance commercial performance, organisational transformation, and employee experience while navigating rapid growth and change. If you’re interested in the future of people leadership, organisational culture, and the evolving role of the CPO listen to this podcast episode and hear Jonny Friedman’s insights first-hand - hubs.la/Q04k2yph0

Read now: [link] If you missed Part 1, it's worth starting there: lacepartners.com/bringing-ai-to…

There's a difference between AI that helps you do more, and AI that helps you think better. Most organisations are at the first stage. In part 2 of our three-part series on bringing AI to change without making change less human, #Change and #AI experts Annette Frem and Clara Sanchez explore what level 2 AI use actually looks like in practice. That means AI as a co-creator and thinking partner, strengthening the quality of #transformation work, not just the speed of it. Practical, honest, and worth 10 minutes of your time. Read now: hubs.la/Q04jVlQS0

Great leadership roles are rarely defined by job titles alone. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, Chris Howard and Debbie Mitchell sit down with Neil Morrison as he explains why the modern CPO is no longer just an HR leader. The role has evolved into a business-critical position focused on organisational performance, culture, trust, and commercial impact. Neil shares practical insights on what separates high-performing executive teams from disconnected leadership groups. If you want actionable insights on organisational performance, executive leadership, and the intersection of people and business strategy, this is a podcast worth listening to. hubs.la/Q04j8_zv0

Are we designing #earlycareers roles for the world that no longer exists? When 60 to 70 percent of traditional entry-level tasks can be automated, what actually makes candidates stand out, and how do employers assess fairly at scale? In this episode of The People Agenda, Chris Howard speaks with Emma Johnson and Talia Pavell from LACE Partners and Emily Goodyear, Head of Early Careers at the Financial Conduct Authority. They explore why judgement and critical thinking are rising in importance, how strengths-based assessment supports fairness at scale, and what organisations risk when they remove entry-level roles entirely. If you are hiring early talent, designing programmes, or applying for roles, this conversation is packed with practical insight: hubs.la/Q04fMtfs0 #lacepartners

"Change is ever present. Leaders need to recognise that their role is as much about leading and enabling change as it is about managing organisational performance. You can't decouple those two things." As Annette Frem highlights, effective leaders don’t just react to change, they proactively enable it, weaving adaptability into the fabric of organisational culture. This means being visible, communicating openly, and supporting teams emotionally and practically through uncertainty. With Gemma Ryall and host Chris Howard, they discuss the concept of leading through change hubs.la/Q04fbFYG0

Who actually “owns” AI inside an organisation today? In this episode of The People Agenda podcast Chris Howard and LACE Director of AI Data and Technology, Martin Colyer, speak with Chris Cherry from Eightfold. They cut through the noise and explore how HR, IT, and business leaders are navigating agentic AI, and real-world adoption. If you want to hear the full discussion, including real examples and practical insights from industry experts and listen to this podcast. hubs.la/Q04d9C4S0

Over the past weeks, we have explored the real shifts reshaping HR, from the AI–human network to insight-led decision making and experience-led operating models. Our latest blog brings it back to a critical question: 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲? Alice McCormack and Charmaine Burton introduce the 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡‑𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐑 and a readiness assessment designed to help you identify where change will create the most value. Understand how your HR function really operates today. Take the ten traits test: hubs.la/Q04cYTww0 #futureofwork #hr #hrtrends #hrtransformation