03 August 2021 
Martin Higgs, Communications Officer
Join us this Autumn for a learning season of webinars themed around some of the big challenges facing our university HR teams. Our AutumnWise* season brings together a programme of specialist sessions from some of our favourite sector voices.
Our speakers represent some of best legal practices including VWV, Shakespeare Martineau, Mills & Reeve, Browne Jacobson, Eversheds Sutherland and Pinsent Masons, and we know what to expect – the latest, smartest knowledge and advice to the university sector.
Click the Register link under each listing to reserve your FREE place.
Sexual violence and misconduct, relationships on campus
Jane Byford and Bob Fahy – VWV
In the light of the Everyone's Invited movement and recent press coverage calling for universities to do more to stop sexual misconduct on campus, this free webinar presented by VWV will look at the employment law implications including:
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Managing HR change in the education sector
In this stimulating and highly practical discussion Tom Long and Esther Maxwell from Shakespeare Martineau will look at what HE institutions need to consider when managing HR change in an education sector environment. HR professionals often play a critical role behind the scenes acting as ‘stage directors of change’. This session will give you the tools to successfully direct a change process and reduce the legal fallout.
Tom and Esther will provide you with an overview of the key legal aspects of restructures, redundancy, and changing terms and conditions of employment. They will also highlight common themes such as the legal implications of resistance to change, including what to do if Trade Unions are not on board with the proposals, as well as the importance of project management and communication.
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Returning to normality
Alex Russell and Nicola Brown – Mills & Reeve
The new ‘normal’ for teaching, research and professional support requirements in the post-pandemic world is a subject that all HEIs are currently considering. Where, when and how staff work will change and moving from a more traditional style of on-campus working to a mixed and more agile blend will generate many new challenges, including in relation to contracts of employment. This session will address from a practical perspective some of the key employment law issues, including:
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Free speech
Chris Mordue and Nicola Bennison – Eversheds Sutherland
No platforming, cancel culture, the NDA and academic freedom are just some of the topics which will be discussed, along with freedom of speech - including its interface with discrimination law (eg gender critical/trans rights issues and the challenges by the Free Speech Union to report and support and harassment policies) as well as seeing issues of academic freedom and free speech surfacing more routinely in casework.
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Inclusive Leadership
Clive Lewis OBE DL (founder and Chief Executive of Globis Mediation Group)
More than ever, leaders need to consider the boundaries, geographies and cultures we work across to make sure people are provided with an inclusive and respectful environment. It’s far more than just implementing policies and procedures. It’s about representation, tolerance and mutual support. In a world where many different genders, races, identities and sexual orientations are present, adopting an ethos of inclusive leadership has never been so important.
This workshop will provide a power refresh of the fundamentals of equality and then progress into deeper levels of understanding, resulting in awareness and skills building to encourage delegates to become inclusive leaders:
This session was not recorded, however, a copy of the slides can be downloaded here.
Black Lives Matter: one year on
In this session Bettina Rigg (Browne Jacobson) will review some of the approaches being adopted in the sector (including the Race Equality Charter award and decolonising the curriculum) and how they impact on the legal obligations of institutions and discuss legal developments in discrimination law (including positive action).
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Transgender issues and the campus
Geraldine Swanton and Esther Maxwell from Shakespeare Martineau will provide an overview of universities’ obligations towards transgender people under the Equality Act 2010 and the latest case law as it affects both students and staff.
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Brexit and immigration: 8 months on
Alexandra Orr and Louise Shaw (Pinsent Masons) will summarise the changes to the Immigration Rules introduced at the start of the year and also the closure of the EU Settlement Scheme at the end of June. The session will then focus on the impacts of those changes on recruitment, retention, right to work checks and student applications. They will highlight trends being seen across the sector, as well as invite delegates to provide their own comments and observations
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
Civility
Clive Lewis OBE DL (founder and Chief Executive of Globis Mediation Group)
The impact of high levels of mutual respect and civility in the workplace is vastly underestimated. Research demonstrates that these high levels of interpersonal qualities can boost wellbeing, engagement, and commitment to common objectives. On the other hand, incivility and a lack of respect can damage health, motivation, and performance. Based on the latest behavioural science research, this workshop explores focus on the individual, walking through what civility and respect means personally and in the context of others. It provides practical strategies and tactics to help colleagues enhance their places of work.
Members can now watch a recording of this session.
