Overview
Join hundreds of government and HR policy experts to discuss the future of employment relations.
Conflict at work is estimated to cost UK organisations £30 billion each year. How can we better prevent, manage and resolve it?
Niall Mackenzie, Acas's new Chief Executive, invites you to join him to unpack the biggest challenges facing growth and healthy workplace relations.
Meet leaders from government, business, trade unions and academia. Take part in a full day of talks, discussions and debates.
Tickets are £395.
Or call 0300 123 1150 to speak to our Customer Services team.
Programme
Breakfast and networking
9am
Arrive, enjoy breakfast and network with other experts, HR practitioners, policy makers and leaders.
Welcome
9:30am
The BBC's Chief Presenter on World News, Maryam Moshiri, will introduce the conference themes:
- increasing polarisation
- the impact of conflict at work on productivity, engagement and the economy
- how to better prevent, manage and resolve conflict
Maryam Moshiri
Chief Presenter, BBC
The state we are in
9:45am
Minister of State, Justin Madders, will discuss how improved employment rights will kickstart the UK economy.
The Minister will look at the cost of workforce conflict on businesses. And he will invite audience members to ask questions and to put forward ideas on ways we can collaborate to generate growth.
Justin Madders
Minister of State for Employment Rights, Competition & Markets
Healthier, more productive workplaces – what’s the new frontier?
10:15am
We've long known that treating workers well improves company performance. But national productivity and growth are currently stalled. What are the big ideas to enable growth, productivity and improved employment relations?
Acas Chair, Clare Chapman, will chair the discussion.
Clare Chapman
Chair, Acas
Sir Edward Braham
Chair, M&G plc
Professor Alex Edmans
London Business School
Nita Clarke OBE
Director, Involvement and Participation Association
Will Pomroy
Director, Impact Engagement & Sustainability, Federated Hermes Limited
Refreshment break
11:15am
Changing workplaces: future of world of work
11:35am
Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers ways to enhance work and improve the workplace experience. But fear surrounds change.
Two leading thinkers will discuss:
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the types of new roles and opportunities AI could create
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the risks employers should consider when introducing generative AI
- how to change your business model fairly
Maryam Moshiri will chair the discussion. The audience will be invited to participate.
Maryam Moshiri
Chief Presenter, BBC
Mike Clancy
General Secretary, Prospect Union
Anna Thomas MBE
Founding Co-Director, Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW)
Breakout sessions
12:20pm
Choose one of 3 sessions.
Meet Acas experts and other speakers for peer-to-peer networking. Discuss challenges and new ideas. Share your knowledge and expertise, learn new skills, and build relationships.
Sessions include:
- Is empowering and upskilling line managers the panacea to productive workplaces?
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The mental health epidemic – and what can be done
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Peer-to-peer networking and one to one ‘surgeries’ with Acas experts
Lunch and networking
1:15pm
Enjoy lunch and discuss the day so far.
Addressing economic inactivity – scale of the challenge and high impact solutions
2pm
In 2024, the ONS estimated that nearly 22% of the working age population was economically inactive. This is impacting individuals and employers as well as fiscal policy.
There are conflicting ideas on how to address this challenge.
The panel will unpack the challenges and solutions being offered in different sectors and by different sized employers. They'll look at the data and share creative solutions to attract talent, build engagement and keep people in work.
Acas's People Director, Dan Ellis, will chair the discussion.
Dan Ellis
People Director, Acas
Stephen Phipson CBE
Chief Executive, MakeUK
Clare McNeil
Chief Executive, Timewise
Sir Charlie Mayfield
Head of the Keep Britain Working Review and former Chair of John Lewis Partnership
Refreshment break
2:45pm
Depolarising the debate: growing the economy while improving jobs and living standards
3:05pm
Introducing the Make Work Pay Agenda at the same time as improving productivity and growing the economy will come with challenges and opportunities.
At a time of increasingly polarised views, the panel will explore the potential for positive, creative solutions. They will make the case for a social partnership between employers, trade unions and the public sector. And they will discuss a new Acas paper which proposes a framework for embedding good employment relations.
Acas's Chief Conciliator, Marina Glasgow, will chair the discussion.
Marina Glasgow
Chief Conciliator, Acas
Paul Nowak
General Secretary, Trades Union Congress
Rupert Soames OBE
Chair, Confederation of British Industry
Thinking differently about conflict
3:55pm
Taking the lessons from critical areas of conflict – hostage negotiation and relationship support – two experts will explore how we can rebuild respect and trust in the workplace.
Maryam Moshiri will chair the discussion.
Maryam Moshiri
Chief Presenter, BBC
Nicky Perfect
Hostage Negotiator
Anjula Mutanda
President of Relate, and TV relationship coach
Final reflections
4:40pm to 4:45pm
Maryam Moshiri will reflect on the day's discussions and close the conference.
Maryam Moshiri
Chief Presenter, BBC