Our next Sourcing & Social brings together senior HR and Talent leaders to explore the evolving world of hiring, onboarding and talent acquisition.

Through practical insights and real-world case studies, our speakers will share what’s working, what’s changing, and where talent teams should focus their efforts next.

From future-focused onboarding and data-driven TA, to tackling skills gaps and improving gender diversity in tech, this session is designed to spark discussion, share knowledge and connect peers across the talent community.

Speakers:

Alison Lambert, Andrew Akhurst, Georgina Stockdale, Rian Hoey, Simon Halkyard.

Alison Lambert – HR Consultant, The HR Guru
Talk: The future of onboarding
Alison will explore how onboarding is evolving, what great looks like today, and how organisations can create experiences that engage, retain and set new hires up for long-term success.

Andrew Akhurst – Talent Acquisition, Leeds Building Society
Talk: How LBS is bucking the trend by attracting more women in tech than the industry average
Andrew will share how Leeds Building Society has challenged industry norms, the strategies behind their success, and what other organisations can learn from their approach to diversity in tech hiring.

Georgina Stockdale – Talent Acquisition Manager, Redcentric
Talk: Employer skills gaps – Buy vs Build
Georgina will discuss how organisations can address growing skills gaps, weighing up when to hire externally versus investing in internal capability and development.

Rian Hoey – Talent Lead, Oakland Everything Data
Talk: Data-driven TA – what matters and what doesn’t
Rian will cut through the noise around data in talent acquisition, focusing on the metrics that truly add value and how TA teams can use data more effectively to drive better hiring decisions.

Simon Halkyard – Leading Talent Acquisition & Employer Brand, On the Beach
Talk: The 48-hour rule – what being a candidate taught me about recruitment
Simon will share candid insights from his own candidate experience, exploring what fast, human-centred recruitment really looks like and the lessons TA teams can apply immediately.

Why this matters:
Talent Acquisition is evolving fast, and success now depends on making smarter, more intentional decisions across the entire hiring lifecycle.

From onboarding and retention, to attracting diverse talent, closing critical skills gaps and using data effectively, TA teams are being asked to deliver more impact than ever before.

These talks go beyond theory, offering real-world insight into what is genuinely working today. They explore how organisations can build inclusive hiring strategies, balance buying versus building capability, and focus on the data that truly drives better outcomes – not just more reporting.

For TA and HR professionals navigating constant change, this session is about practical takeaways, learning from peers, and building sustainable, human-focused approaches fit for the future of work.