Watch the webinar
The UK workforce is in the midst of profound transformation. Economic volatility, evolving employee expectations, and widening digital skills gaps are reshaping hiring, retention, and workforce strategy. At the same time, AI is accelerating change, driving significant productivity gains while redefining job roles, merging responsibilities, and reshaping entry-level pathways.
Recent labour market data reinforces this shift. Increased automation and AI adoption are already replacing low-complexity, transactional tasks across UK businesses, contributing to workforce restructuring and concerns among workers about long-term job security. At the same time, it’s boosting efficiency: Reed research in 2025 revealed that 56% of employers believe AI holds the key to unlocking productivity.
Reed’s 2026 salary guides echo this reality. Entry-level roles are becoming harder to secure across sectors, and AI is beginning to reshape job architecture - enhancing productivity, but in many cases consolidating roles and automating day-to-day duties. These shifts are placing new pressures on both employers and professionals.
This webinar equips leaders with the clarity, frameworks, and real-world examples needed to plan their workforce for the AI-enabled economy ahead.
What we covered:
1. How AI is changing recruitment and workforce architecture
We explored how automation is replacing low-complexity, transactional tasks across UK organisations, and how AI-powered tools are reshaping sourcing, screening, and assessment. The session will also examined why entry-level roles are becoming harder to access and how organisations can adapt hiring models accordingly.
2. Retaining talent when career pathways are shrinking
As AI-driven efficiencies lead to role consolidation and the restructuring of job families, we looked at how businesses can create lateral development routes, build skills-focused cultures, and maintain employee engagement.
3. AI-driven efficiencies and their impact on organisational design
We unpacked how automation is merging responsibilities, reshaping job scopes, and driving the need for new capability frameworks and skill taxonomies.
4. Which skills are becoming critical
This section examined the decline of routine, process-driven roles in an AI-enabled economy, alongside the rise of hybrid skills that combine technical proficiency with communication, empathy, creativity, and critical thinking.
5. Risk, regulation & compliance
Finally, we discussed the growing compliance landscape surrounding AI adoption, including risks around bias, fairness, and transparency in hiring; GDPR considerations for automated decision-making; and the importance of responsible, well-governed AI use aligned with emerging UK regulatory guidance.
Our panellists spoke for 45 minutes on the topic, followed by an interactive Q&A session at the end of the event.
Our speakers
Lord Clement Jones, Co-founder and Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence
Lord Clement-Jones serves as the Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology, with a long-standing focus on artificial intelligence policy and governance. As former Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, he led the publication of the landmark reports 'AI in the UK: ready, willing and able?' (2018) and 'AI in the UK: No Room for Complacency' (2020), which helped shape the UK’s approach to AI strategy, ethics, and regulation.
In 2016, he co-founded and continues to co-chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI, providing a cross-party platform for engagement on emerging technologies. His parliamentary work has included initiating and contributing to the Select Committee on AI in Weapon Systems (2023–24) and scrutiny of the Draft Online Safety Bill, reflecting a broader commitment to responsible digital governance.
Internationally, he is a founding member of the OECD Parliamentary Group on AI and has advised the Council of Europe’s Ad-hoc Committee on AI (CAHAI). He is the author of 'Living with the Algorithm: Servant or Master?' (2024), which examines risks such as bias, discrimination, and job displacement, and proposes more effective regulatory approaches.
He is Chair of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and a consultant on AI policy and regulation at global law firm, DLA Piper. He previously served as Chair of Council at Queen Mary University of London (2017-25) and is now an Honorary Professor, with a continued focus on ethical AI and education.
Carlos Diaz, VP of People and Talent, Jasper
Carlos is VP of People and Talent at Jasper, a marketing agents platform built for enterprise teams that helps marketers orchestrate AI to execute work at scale. He brings 15+ years of experience leading people teams, including roles as head of people operations for Bridgewater’s technology teams and head of people at GlossGenius.
He has been an early adopter of AI in the workplace, spanning custom-built tools to today’s modern platforms, and focuses on building high-performing, efficient teams that combine exceptional talent with the right systems and technology to deliver against core business objectives.
Michele Smith, Managing Director (technology and future skills), Reed
Michele Smith is the Managing Director responsible for Reed’s technology recruitment division, the organisation’s future skills solutions offering, and its sister Microsoft accredited tech-training company, Code Nation. Her role brings together talent acquisition, skills development, and technology-focused workforce transformation - allowing her to champion end-to-end solutions that help individuals and businesses thrive in an increasingly digital world.
With more than 27 years of experience spanning business development, recruitment operations, and strategic account management, Michele has built a reputation for delivering excellence across large scale, complex workforce programmes. She was appointed to main board and director-level positions in 2008, reflecting her longstanding impact and leadership within the sector.
As a senior leader, she is committed to fostering high-performing teams, driving innovation, and ensuring Reed remains at the forefront of technology-led workforce solutions.
Keith Rosser, Director of Reed Screening
Keith is Founder and Director of Reed Screening, the UK’s only 24/7 UK-based screening company, and Chair of the Better Hiring Institute. Keith is a Non-Executive Board Member of the GLAA which is forming the new Fair Work Agency, and a Non-Executive with Disclosure Scotland. Keith is Honorary Fellow of Lancaster University and has been recognised with a Home Office Commendation Award for working on the digital right to work system, and as a Community Leader at Buckingham Palace. Keith is the winner of several industry awards including Recruiter Magazine, In House Recruiter, and the British HR Awards.