Episode Introduction

In Episode 2 of In Pursuit of Talent, host Lorraine sits down with Neil Carberry — CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and incoming CEO of the CIPD — for a conversation that is candid, thought-provoking, and genuinely optimistic about the future of HR and work. If you care about where the people profession is heading, this one is essential listening.

What We Cover

The future of work — why AI and demographic change don’t spell the end of jobs, but do demand a fundamental rethink of how we create and fill them

The Luddite lesson — what history tells us about navigating big technological shifts — and why the real question isn’t whether work survives, but what kind of work we’re creating

Hybrid working, done properly — why the debate has been framed all wrong, and what employers really need to understand about productivity, connection, and mental health

AI: signal vs. noise — the dotcom bubble parallel, why no one truly knows where AI lands in 20 years, and how HR professionals can position themselves on the right side of that uncertainty

People as a strategic asset — why British business has a talent problem rooted in treating people like a cost to be squeezed rather than a capability to be grown

The paper clips problem — why HR must reclaim its seat at the table as a driver of performance and productivity, not compliance or social agenda

Neil’s move to the CIPD — what’s next for the profession, why this is a pivotal moment, and why an ex-recruiter leading the CIPD is exactly what the industry needs

Standout Quotes

“Be the signal amongst the noise.”— Neil Carberry

“Why do you procure people like paper clips?”— Neil Carberry

“HR is about performance and productivity.”— Neil Carberry

About Neil Carberry

Neil Carberry is the outgoing CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the professional body for the UK recruitment industry, where he has served for over eight years. A first-degree historian and experienced economist, Neil brings a sharp, evidence-based perspective to the future of work, labour markets, and the role of HR in driving business performance. In September, he takes on the role of CEO at the CIPD — the professional body for HR and people development — where he plans to champion the profession at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Find out more at rec.uk.com and cipd.org

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