The Employment Rights Act represents one of the most significant changes to UK employment law in a generation, and employers now face an important opportunity to strengthen their people practices alongside new legal duties.

In this episode of Good Employment Chatter, we’re joined by Niall Mackenzie, CEO of Acas — named Good Employment Awards 2025 Partner of the Year — to explore what the Employment Rights Act (referred to in this recording as the Employment Rights Bill) means in practice for employers.

Niall discusses how the legislation will be phased in, the implications for workplace relations, and why prevention, early conversations, and effective people management will be essential for employers looking to align with the Employment Rights Act and go beyond minimum compliance. From strengthened worker protections to the creation of a new Fair Work Agency, the conversation offers practical insight for employers in Greater Manchester who want to build fairer, more productive, and more resilient workplaces.

In this special International Women’s Day edition of Good Employment Chatter, we sit down with Helen Pankhurst — author, activist and descendant of the Pankhurst family whose legacy helped secure women’s right to vote. Today, she continues that mission through her work on gender equality, democracy and social justice, both in the UK and globally.

Helen explores why the work that holds our communities together — caring, early years, teaching and social care — remains some of the least valued in our economy, and how this gap in value affects women’s experiences at work. But more importantly, she highlights the opportunity this presents: when employers recognise and support the realities of caring responsibilities, they create fairer, stronger and more resilient workplaces.

From understanding the pressures people carry into work, to seeing how good employment and social justice reinforce one another, this conversation offers practical insight, encouragement and challenge for employers across Greater Manchester who want to make meaningful, positive change.

With International Women’s Day 2026 centred on “Give to Gain” and “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” this episode invites employers to reflect on what we value — and how valuing care can help everyone thrive.

In this special Good Employment Awards edition of Good Employment Chatter, we sit down with Jonathan Wood and Claire Wood from Datesand — the Manchester business that won Employer of the Year and Best for Financial Wellbeing (Small) at last year’s Good Employment Awards. They also won Best for Employee Engagement (2024) and Best for Health and Wellbeing (2023)!

They share how a family‑run organisation built a values‑led culture, embedded financial wellbeing into everyday practice and created a workplace where people genuinely thrive. From strengthening their people strategy to championing openness, trust and fair employment, their journey offers insight for employers across Greater Manchester who want to make positive change in their own organisations.

With nominations for the Good Employment Awards 2026 now open, this episode gives employers a real look at what “good” looks like - and why celebrating your people and your practices matters more than ever.