IDR's Annual Pay Planning Conference
Discover plans and implications for reward in 2026 at IDR's upcoming annual conference this September. Gain valuable insights from the results of IDR's survey of pay planning and reward intentions for the year ahead.
Discover plans and implications for reward in 2026
What might be the outlook for reward decisions in 2026? Find out at our forthcoming annual online conference. Speakers will present findings from our survey of employers’ pay intentions and discuss the economic and labour market backdrop.
With the Employment Rights Bill making its way through parliament, you’ll also hear about the changing legal and industrial relations context for pay-setting. There’ll be case study speakers, something on the value of collaboration, and we will examine the dos and don’ts of pay clubs and transparency.
Join us via Teams on Thursday, 11 September 2025, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Our panel of IDR and guest speakers will broadcast live, and there will be ample opportunities to ask questions and share challenges with peers. Don't miss out on enhancing your knowledge and preparing for 2026 – book your place now!
The conference is priced at £120+VAT.
Subscribers to IDR services and participants of our Pay Planning survey will receive a £20 discount (maximum discount of £20 per ticket)
Conference Agenda
Draft agenda (Exact times and details to be confirmed nearer the conference date)
09.50 Welcome slides
10.00 Chair’s opening remarks (Nicola Allison, Office of the Pay Review Bodies)
10.05 Findings from IDR survey of employers’ plans for reward in 2026 (Zoe Woolacott, IDR)
10.40 The economic and labour market context for reward decisions (Ken Mulkearn, IDR)
11.15 10-minute break
11.25 Avoiding wage fixing and other anti-competitive employment practices (Daniel Rawling, Competition Enforcement at the Competition and Markets Authority, CMA)
12.00 The benefits of collaboration when it comes to reward (Angela da Silva, independent consultant)
12.35 Lunch break (30 minutes)
13.05 Pay benchmarking, transparency and industrial relations (Steve Walsh, Gatwick Airport)
13.40 Communicating variable pay increases and dealing with gender pay gaps (Toni Smith, Ricoh)
14.15 The Government’s new employment rights legislation – what it will mean for reward (Darren Newman, Darren Newman Employment Law Ltd)
15.00 Chair’s closing remarks
(Speakers and timings may be subject to change)
Guest speaker spotlight
Dan Rawling is a Director in the Competition Enforcement team at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and led its investigation into anti-competitive behaviour relating to freelance labour in sports production and broadcasting. Dan has worked in competition enforcement, consumer protection and economic regulation for 17 years, including at the Office of Fair Trading, the Payment Systems Regulator and the Bank of England. Dan was formerly Director of Policy & International at the CMA and a Director in the CMA’s Covid-19 Taskforce.
Guest speaker spotlight
Angela Da Silva has over 15 years of HR leadership experience in the hospitality sector working across a number of brands such as Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge. This year she has joined the Brave-People team as an HR consultant. She is dedicated to working with businesses that are dedicated to getting the most out of their people and is passionate about making HR ‘no-nonsense' and 'jargon-free' for the businesses she works with! She is also the chair of the Hospitality Salary Group.
Guest speaker spotlight
Darren Newman has been an employment lawyer in a variety of roles for over 30 years. He has worked extensively for IDS and LexisNexis and is the former Head of Employment Law and Social Affairs for the Chemical Industries Association. He now runs his own training and consultancy business and has provided training, research and advice for a wide range of public and private sector organisations including the UK Government and the International Labour Organisation. He is also the author of the Range of Reasonable Responses blog which explains employment law issues making the news.
Guest speaker spotlight
Toni Smith is a seasoned HR and Reward professional with over two decades of experience driving strategic people initiatives across diverse sectors. A CIPD and CMI-qualified leader, Toni leads transformative projects in compensation, benefits, and recognition, aligning people strategy with business goals for c.1900 employees at Ricoh UK. Toni is also a passionate advocate for well-being & inclusion, founding Ricoh’s menopause support group and championing flexible benefits to enhance employee experience. Her data-driven approach and collaborative leadership style make her a trusted voice in shaping future-focused reward strategies. She is delighted to be able to join the panel at the IDR conference this year to highlight how she has overcome some challenges on pay and reward.
