The 2026 Programme

REGISTRATION & NETWORKING

Chair's welcome and opening comments

Darren Sanderson-Williams, General Manager, Specsavers

Retail Opening Perspective: How retailers are supporting reorganisation, redundancy and re-engagement through difficult change

Across the retail sector, cost pressure and transformation programmes are driving an unprecedented wave of restructures and redundancies. This highly interactive, Chatham House Rules panel brings together experienced HR leaders to share insight, practical ideas and honest reflection on how retailers can support people well and innovatively - while still protecting performance, reputation and long-term value - alongside supporting the emotional and organisational toil on their own teams. The session will explore:

• How organisations are supporting people at risk or leaving - the role of EAPs, career transition, outplacement and technology
• How to care for and re-engage remaining employees, rebuild confidence and sustain performance with smaller teams
• Why employee experience must be treated with the same discipline as customer experience
• How organisations are reframing roles, re-prioritising work and redesigning ways of working for the next phase of retail
• The work of the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust supporting employers and employees through these periods of change

Liz Jewitt-Cross, Founder & Advisory Partner, Future HR & The Coaching Solution

Simon Wells, former People / Human Resources Director, Poundland & Dealz

Retail HR Insights: Talent retention succession planning - engagement to thrive at work

• Retention - meeting the expectations of new and great talent
• Decreasing the level of staff turnover - particularly at store level
• Incentives and benefits packages fit for an entire workforce
• How can we drive a more flexible workforce?
• Upskilling the workforce - driving internal mobility through re-skilling and continuous learning
• What specific strategies can organisations implement to retain staff?
• Identifying current and future skill gaps across the organisation

Nicky Bliss, People Director, Sainsbury's

Thom Smith, Head of People & Operations, Bound

Katrina Quarton, Senior Engagement & Culture Advisor, AllSaints

NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK

Retail HR Panel: Putting your own oxygen mask on first - HR in retail in challenging times

The economic headwinds of increasing costs in a flat/declining market means that retail organisations are facing challenges without necessarily communicating them affectively to teams. How can we support leaders to deliver high performance in an era when employees are not always engaged as they fear the unknown with the current economic climate and inevitable job uncertainty.

• Motivating teams in a business where’s there’s limited growth
• Managing change, both rapid growth and down-sizing
• Developing good culture when budgets are being cut
• Engaging your teams with little or no budget
• Ensuring the HR agenda is relevant, current and supported by the SLT
• The importance of brand and vision in a cultural transition - HR as ‘culture agents

Jane Clifford, People Director, Brewers Decorator Centres

Emma Cater-Elliot, HR Business Partner, Watches of Switzerland Group

Carrie Westwell, Chief People & Culture Officer, Bensons for Beds

Gemma Davies, Head of HR Business Partnering, Card Factory

Retail HR Fireside Chat: From decision to delivery - bringing salary sacrifice cars to Popeyes

What does it really take to introduce a salary sacrifice car scheme in a retail environment and make it resonate with employees. In this fireside chat, Tusker and Popeyes share their journey from initial decision through to launch, engagement and early impact. The session will explore:

• The key drivers behind introducing the scheme - from financial wellbeing to wider business goals
• How the scheme fits into a broader reward, wellbeing and employee experience strategy
• Navigating real-world challenges and eligibility across a diverse workforce
• Creative approaches to launch and engagement
• Early results and employee feedback, and the value delivered to the business

Phil Gillespie, Head of Commercial Partnerships, Tusker
Laura Mannick, People & Culture Manager, Popeyes UK

NETWORKING LUNCH BREAK

Retail Innovation Fireside Chat: The future of retail digital transformation - use of AI with the HR function

Streamlined workforce planning, prediction and management are just a few benefits that can be unlocked by clever strategic tools and technology, enabling HR to have the agility to quickly realign as priorities change. With the increase in technology how can we ensure we retain the ‘people / human’ part of the business.

• Utilising technologies to streamline certain functions and ensuring successful roll out
• Why data integrity is crucial - how to ensure AI-driven workforce planning delivers real value
• Implementing a new HR system in a business which isn’t tech savvy
• Engagement with HR / ATS systems
• Effective workforce management and talent development - how can HR utilise AI?
• How to harness your HCM data and enhance the employee experience
• How AI can help enrich retail jobs and act as a staff retention driver

Ebony Quow, Organisational Design Partner - Technology, Tesco

HR Retail Legal Spotlight: The Employment Rights Act - the impact on retail

This session will delve into the details and provide insights into the recent reforms, their practical implications and how businesses need to adapt.

• A quick overview as to what has changed, what is about to change and what will change
• Key focus areas for retailers including:
  • TU reform
  • Collective consultation
  • Harassment
  • Unfair dismissal – qualifying periods
  • Changes to ET time limits
• Practical advice on what retailers should be doing now

Stuart Lawrenson, Partner & Head of Solent Office, Shoosmiths

NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK

Retail Strategy Perspectives: From shop floor to c-suite - recognising the importance of belonging in the workplace

• Aligning with industry standards around DEI / ERG’s with minimal resource
• Managing and developing a multi-generational workforce
• Adapting training and development to meet neurodivergent needs
• How do we remove barriers around disability for employees?
• How can HR leaders create a culture which transcends intergenerational differences
• The power of authenticity and representation

Jade Gibbons, People & Culture Business Partner, Bravissimo
Sarah Wheatley, HR & ESG Director, ProCook
Jo Regan-Iles, Group Human Resources Director, Kwalee

HR Retail Learning Lab: Lazy or liberated - the hidden human cost of AI in retail

Employees increasingly turn to AI for efficiency and endless ideas. But in our retail teams it carries hidden costs. Emails start to sound generic. Relationships feel thinner. Confidence in our own ability to think, write, and decide has already started to erode.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the impact of AI on human connection and creative confidence, and all this really matters in retail - an industry built on people. Our speaker will focus on where AI helps and where it doesn’t - to co-create a manifesto for using AI in a way that protects and enhances our organisation’s creativity and culture.

 
Rob Savin, former Marketing Director, Alpkit; Co-founder, Super Infinite

Chair's closing comments