The Plumm Pod

Explore the five must‑watch HR trends for 2025 in this episode of The Plumm Pod, where host Georgia sits down with Chris Britton, People Experience Director at Reward Gateway. Together they unpack how HR teams can prioritise strategically, cultivate cultures of appreciation, embed genuine belonging, streamline employee experiences, and upskill line managers to thrive amid hybrid work, tighter budgets and shifting UK employment law.Chris shares data‑backed insights, including why organisations that foster employee appreciation report up to a 43 % productivity lift plus practical tips on low‑cost benefits, employee voice, ERGs, storytelling your EVP and preparing “accidental managers”. Whether you’re a Chief People Officer, HR Business Partner, Talent Lead or SME founder, you’ll gain actionable ways to boost engagement, retention and profitability while supporting mental health.Listen now to future‑proof your people strategy and build a workplace where every team member thrives.Chapters 00:00 Intro: Why HR Bears the Brunt of Fast‑Changing Business01:05 Chris Britton’s Journey: From Selling Phones to People Experience Director02:59 Trend 1 – Prioritisation: Doing Less With Less & Making It Count05:43 Creative Low‑Budget People Practices & Leveraging Employee Voice08:10 Riding Out the 2024/25 “Storm” & Preparing for Brighter Times11:11 Trend 2 – Appreciation: Moving Beyond “Thanks” to Human‑Centred Recognition18:00 The 43 % Productivity Boost & Designing Recognition Habits20:44 Trend 3 – Belonging: Tackling Workplace Loneliness & Building ERGs23:08 Remote‑First Belonging Tactics & Data‑Driven Employee Census27:32 Trend 4 – Make It Make Sense: Marketing Your EVP Internally30:12 Brand Consistency From Attraction to Onboarding & Retention35:49 Trend 5 – Leaders & Managers: From Admin Tasks to Human Skills40:51 Overcoming Resistance: Coaching Managers Through Vulnerability & Change43:35 Chris’s Advice to His Younger Self: “You Are Enough”44:56 Wrap‑Up & Next Episode Teaser

In this powerful episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia sits down with global L&D expert Rihanna Lindsay-Smith to explore what it really means to create inclusive, accessible learning environments in the workplace.From personal experience with dyslexia to leading major L&D programmes, Rihanna shares how neurodiversity often goes undeclared in organisations, and what HR and L&D leaders can do even without formal feedback to design learning that truly works for everyone.What you'll learn:Why many team members don’t disclose neurodiversity and how that impacts learningThe difference between training and L&D and why it matters How to start inclusive L&D design with limited dataRihanna’s go-to framework for evaluating learning effectiveness (yes, we’re talking Kirkpatrick!)The real impact of unconscious bias training and why it shouldn’t be a “one and done”How L&D and HR can collaborate to drive cultural changeBuilding a psychologically safe learning culture from the top downPower skills your workforce actually needs in 2025Whether you're in HR, talent, or learning & development, this episode is packed with practical insights, vulnerable stories, and powerful advice to help you rethink how we support every learner.Guest: Rihanna Lindsay-SmithFollow her on TikTok & Instagram: @rihannagallery00:00 Understanding Neurodiversity in the Workplace04:54 The Journey into Learning and Development09:58 Inclusive Learning Strategies14:57 Evaluating Training Effectiveness20:03 Collaboration Between L&D and HR24:45 Building a Learning Culture30:02 Continuous Learning and Professional Development

Megan Trotter, a Senior People Experience Partner with a unique background in architecture and UX design, discusses her transformative journey into creating people-centered workplaces. She highlights the shift from traditional HR to a more human, design-led approach to enhance engagement. The conversation reveals the importance of involving employees in the design process and addressing root causes of workplace issues. Megan also emphasizes the significance of effective communication and feedback in crafting meaningful work experiences.

AI is changing everything but is HR ready for it? In this episode of The Plumm Pod, Georgia sits down with Lorraine Hunt, a 35-year HR veteran turned AI educator, to explore how artificial intelligence can be a game-changing tool for workplace mental health when used right.We dive deep into:How HR can proactively use AI for early mental health interventionThe importance of privacy and data ethics in AI implementationReal examples of how AI is automating referrals, check-ins, and sentiment analysisWhy HR teams must evolve their mindset to lead AI-driven wellbeing strategiesLorraine shares her unconventional journey from legal secretary to tech-forward HR leader, and explains why now not later is the time for HR to get comfortable with AI.00:00 – Intro: AI + Mental Health in HR01:10 – Lorraine Hunt’s HR journey: From legal secretary to AI educator04:45 – Why HR needs to care about AI right now07:20 – First tip: Before anything else, think about data privacy09:15 – What AI can (and can't) do for mental health at work12:08 – Predictive insights: spotting problems before they escalate15:30 – How tools like Plum's Emma change early intervention17:42 – Should AI be analysing Slack or Teams messages?20:01 – The missing piece: AI strategy for mental health24:40 – Creating ethical, proactive wellbeing dashboards28:50 – Why HR pros often get no AI training30:14 – Practical prompts: Using AI to write referrals and scripts33:40 – The role of transparency and consent35:25 – Helping managers get comfortable with mental health conversations37:55 – Training AI to scan for mental health red flags41:10 – Using AI to automate nudges and check-ins43:50 – Will AI ever replace the human element?46:00 – What's next: AI agents, evolving job roles & the future of HR50:40 – Advice to HR pros: “Just try it. What’s the worst that can happen?”52:30 – Final thoughts: Relax, adapt, and grow with it

In this episode, Shoshana Davis discusses the importance of understanding and engaging early career professionals, particularly Gen Z. She shares her journey into HR and career development, emphasising the need for clear expectations, effective communication, and the impact of pre-boarding on new hires. The conversation highlights retention strategies, the generational disconnect in the workplace, and the significance of purpose in job roles. Shoshana advocates for empowering managers to better support young talent and addresses the challenges faced by new employees in today's job market.Chapters00:00 Understanding Gen Z's Desire for Purpose01:32 Shoshana's Journey into HR and Career Development07:40 Defining Early Careers and Their Challenges09:34 Retention Strategies for Young Talent12:47 Generational Disconnect in the Workplace17:06 Pre-boarding: Preparing Young Talent for Success23:02 Engagement Strategies for Early Career Professionals30:37 The Importance of Role Clarity and Expectations35:09 Communication as the Key to Retaining Talent

This isn’t your typical DEI conversation.In this episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia sits down with powerhouse inclusion strategist Maria Balogun to pull back the curtain on what real inclusion looks like in today’s workplace.They challenge surface-level diversity, unpack the real impact of employee resource groups, and go deep into why organisations that don’t embrace inclusive practices are already falling behind.Maria doesn’t hold back sharing bold insights on why “culture fit” is outdated, how “culture add” changes everything, and what it really takes to create workplaces where people belong.From personal stories to practical frameworks, this conversation is a call to action for leaders who say they care about inclusion… but need to prove it.Because in a world that’s finally listening, it’s not enough to look diverse. You need to be inclusive.Episode Chapters 00:00: The Essence of Diversity and Inclusion03:51: Understanding Inclusion: Beyond Diversity10:03: The Role of Employee Resource Groups13:59: The Impact of DEI on Organizational Success17:48: Culture Fit vs. Culture Add24:08: Hiring Practices: Shifting Perspectives30:07: Empowering Authenticity in the Workplace

In this episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia sits down with Kellie Nedelcoux, HR Parental Transition & Leadership Coach, to discuss how organisations can better support parents in the workplace.They unpack the real challenges faced by parental returners, the role of leaders in easing the transition back to work, and why inclusive policies need to reflect all family structures, not just the traditional ones. This is a powerful conversation about psychological safety, belonging, and what it takes to build truly supportive environments for working parents.Episode Chapters00:00: Setting the Scene for Parental Transition04:45: Challenges Faced by Parental Returners10:02: Strategies for Supporting Parental Returners14:48: The Role of Leaders in Parental Transition20:02: Creating Inclusive Policies for All Parents24:52: Best Practices for Supporting Working Parents30:02: The Importance of Psychological Safety in the Workplace

In this episode of Plumm Pod, Georgia Dixon chats with AI strategy expert Mary Kemp about what HR leaders need to know when introducing tools like ChatGPT and Gamma. They cover the real impact of AI at work, how it can free up time for more meaningful tasks, and what a people-first approach to tech adoption really looks like. They also unpack policies, change management, and the small shifts that make a big difference when rolling out AI across teams. Whether you’re new to HR or leading change in your organisation, this one’s full of ideas you can actually use. Episode Chapters:00:00 Intro: HR Leading the AI Revolution with Mary Kemp01:25 From Nursing to AI: Mary's Unique Career Journey03:20 Understanding GenAI: A Human-First Technology04:41 The Four Stages of AI Adoption in the Workplace06:37 Transforming Work Culture: The 80/20 AI Principle10:04 Getting Started: Practical Tips for AI Implementation15:41 Creating Safe Spaces for AI Culture Change19:33 People-First Approach: How AI Empowers HR Leaders23:28 Building an AI-Ready Organization Through Training26:57 Managing AI Compliance and GDPR Considerations28:16 Final Thoughts: Being Visible and Speaking Up in Tech

In this episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia Dixon welcomes Holly Leckenby Rye, Senior People Manager at Lottie, the UK Startup of the Year 2025. Together, they explore the key elements of building high-performing teams in startups. From innovative pre-boarding strategies to fostering psychological safety and effective feedback mechanisms, this conversation is packed with actionable insights. Whether you're an HR professional or a startup leader, tune in for expert advice on cultivating trust, enabling manager success, and creating a thriving workplace culture.Episode Chapters:00:00 Welcome to The Plumm Pod: Building High Performance Teams02:15 From Geography to HR: Holly's Journey to People Leadership05:59 Creating an Effective Pre-boarding & Onboarding Experience10:40 Manager Enablement: Supporting Leaders for Success16:57 Building a Culture of Feedback & Trust21:37 Managing High Performance During Emotional Challenges26:20 The Power of Psychological Safety & Trust in Teams28:52 Creating Purpose & Mission-Driven Culture at Lottie30:07 Key Takeaways & Career Advice for HR Professionals

In this episode of Plumm Pod, host Georgia Dixon chats with Chantal Cross, Founder and Director at Cross Check Consultancy Ltd . They discuss new legislation requiring employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. They cover practical steps for compliance, from conducting risk assessments to creating effective reporting systems. The episode emphasises the importance of building a culture of respect and psychological safety. Whether you're new to HR or an experienced leader, this episode offers valuable insights into preventing harassment and protecting your organisation.Episode Chapters:00:00 Intro: New Duty to Prevent Workplace Sexual Harassment04:24 Understanding the New Prevention Duty: Why It Matters09:18 Creating a Customized Approach: Risk Assessment Essentials11:36 Breaking the Silence: Why People Don't Report Harassment14:23 Modern Workplace Challenges: Digital Communication & Boundaries17:05 Building a Positive Reporting Culture: Best Practices20:14 The Business Case: Financial Impact of Prevention23:56 Case Studies: Real-World Examples & Lessons Learned26:28 Taking Action: Practical Steps for Implementation29:43 Final Thoughts: Creating Safer Workplaces Together