Inspired HR Roundup - ERA Timeline Update, Free Webinar & More!

What The New Employment Rights Act Means For Employers... 

The Government has released an updated timeline for implementing the Employment Rights Act, replacing the original July 2025 roadmap.

Several key changes have now been pushed back or clarified. Fire and rehire provisions, previously expected in October 2026, are now scheduled for 2027. Changes to employment tribunal time limits may also slip beyond October 2026. Electronic and workplace balloting for trade unions is now expected no earlier than August 2026.

More significantly, the reduction in the unfair dismissal qualifying period to six months and the removal of the compensatory award cap are both shown as January 2027. The Fair Work Agency now has a confirmed establishment date of 7th April 2026.

Moving timelines can cause uncertainty for employers.

That’s why Inspired HR and Richard Reed Solicitors are hosting a free webinar on Tuesday 3rd March. Kat Moody will explain the legal updates clearly, while Nikki Masterman will focus on what employers should actually be doing now and what can wait.

Register for the free webinar here.

Compliance For SMEs…

When people hear ‘HR compliance’ it often sounds bigger and scarier than it needs to be!

For small and growing businesses, HR compliance simply means having the right basics in place. Clear contracts. Up to date policies. Accurate records. Fair processes.

The risk comes when HR lives in inboxes, spreadsheets and memory. That is when things get missed.

Breathe HR helps SMEs stay compliant by keeping everything in one place. Employee records, policies, holiday, training and key documents are all organised and easy to access.

The best part? We don’t just give you the software. We build your Breathe HR platform for free so you can start the year organised without the hassle - saving you a massive £1,500!

If you want to learn more then reach out to the team today.

Happy Birthday…

It’s birthday season at Inspired HR!

A huge happy birthday to Jamie, Mark, Nicola and Jenny.

We genuinely love celebrating our people and this month we’ve had plenty of cake-worthy moments. Each of them plays such an important role in what we do. From supporting our clients through complex matters, to keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, their hard work, energy and commitment never go unnoticed.

We are incredibly proud of the team we’re building and even prouder of the people within it. Thank you for everything you do and we hope you’ve all had brilliant birthdays!

Online Training With Inspired HR…

Our masterclass series is well underway and it has been fantastic to see so many of you joining us live.

Our recent session focused on the upcoming Statutory Sick Pay changes and sickness absence management. With the changes on the horizon, it was a timely reminder of why having clear, consistent absence processes in place really matters.

If you were unable to attend, don’t worry. A recording will be made available to our retained clients very soon so you can catch up in your own time.

Next up in the series:

18th March – Family Leave

Full details and booking information will be released shortly, so keep an eye on your inbox and our events page.

An Exciting Next Chapter... 

Later this month, Nikki will be starting something she's wanted to do for a long time… co-authoring the first book in a series of four with Jannine Perryman! 

The first title will be Neurodiversity for HR Professionals, followed by Neurodiversity for Line Managers.

These books are designed to be practical, honest and rooted in real workplace experience. No fluff. No jargon. Just clear guidance to help HR professionals and leaders feel confident supporting neurodiverse colleagues.

We know there is still so much misunderstanding around neurodiversity at work. This series is about changing that.

The first book will be available for pre-sale in the coming months and we’ll of course keep you updated as we make progress.

Watch this space. It’s going to be a busy year!

New Episodes... 

Two brilliant recent episodes of The HR Business Blueprint are now available!

First up, Jamie Pell joins Nikki for a conversation focused on business development done properly. They explore how authenticity, sharing your story and building genuine relationships can win clients for your HR consultancy. Jamie talks openly about how mental health, burnout and ADHD have shaped the way he leads and builds credibility. A must-listen if you want growth without the hard sell.

Then, Nikki is joined by the newest member of the Inspired HR team, Aaron Windrum!

Aaron dives into GDPR, data protection and ethical AI implementation, explaining why SARs are rising, what employees are and are not entitled to, and the practical steps employers should already have in place.

They also unpack how AI is changing employee relations, from longer AI-written grievances to the risks of misinformation, and why every organisation needs a clear AI policy even if they think AI is not being used.

Aaron shares what is coming next too, including corporate workshops, future-ready workforce planning and how roles are likely to evolve over the coming years.

Head over to our website to catch up on both episodes now.