Across Keynote sessions, panel discussions and exhibitor showcases, this year’s event explored the issues shaping modern organisations, from workplace trust and leadership transparency to employee experience, workforce inclusion and the growing role of AI.

A visitor from WPP said, “This is the only HR tech event - so there’s a great mix of professionals, industry-leading speakers and sessions that introduce you to the latest products and solutions.

It’s a really good place to learn about the latest tech and trends, especially around AI, which is a big focus for us. The show is a really meaningful and exciting event to be part of.”

Opening the event, speaker, researcher and author Christine Armstrong explored how declining trust and workplace disengagement are reshaping employee expectations. Highlighting research showing only 10% of UK employees are fully engaged at work, Armstrong stressed the importance of implementing technology in ways that support, rather than frustrate, employees.

A standout fireside chat followed with Alex Mahon, Former CEO of Channel 4 and current CEO of Superstruct Entertainment, who reflected on leadership, resilience and the growing demand for transparency from organisations. Mahon discussed how younger generations increasingly expect leaders to explain the reasoning behind their decisions to gain trust and loyalty, while emphasising that creativity and original thinking remain uniquely human strengths.

AI and organisational readiness were central themes throughout the event, particularly during a panel discussion with Dr Sven Elbert, Senior Analyst HCM & Talent at Fosway Group, Rosalyn Rudran, Head of HR Systems at The Salvation Army UK and Ireland, Rob Winson, Head of HR Excellence and People and Workplace PMO at UK Health Security Agency, and Aleksandar Lombard, Head of Data and AI Excellence at Swarovski International Holding AG. Collectively, they agreed that AI is now firmly embedded in day-to-day work, with organisations moving beyond chatbots towards tools capable of supporting end-to-end HR workflows. Alongside discussions around governance, trust and AI literacy, the panel also raised concerns around early-career development as automation increasingly takes on tasks traditionally used to build foundational skills. The overarching message was clear: AI should enhance human decision-making, not replace it.

Employee engagement and career development were also high on the agenda. In Choose your own adventure: How London Gatwick reimagined career pathways to engage the modern workforce, speakers Ben Gross, Strategy Director at Electric Circus and Sarah Porcelli, Head of Talent Experience at London Gatwick, explored the challenge of creating meaningful progression routes across large operational workforces. Using London Gatwick as a case study, the session highlighted a trend in HR strategy: moving away from systems-led design towards more intuitive, experience-led approaches that employees actively want to engage with.

Day two also featured a session from Joeli Brearley MBE, Founder & CEO of Pregnant Then Screwed and Growth Spurt, and Elliott Rae, Founder of Parenting Out Loud and Equal Parenting Week. The panel discussed the motherhood penalty, highlighting that 77% of working mothers experience discrimination and that around 74,000 women are pushed out of work each year due to pregnancy or maternity leave. The session also focused on practical action, championing better parental leave policies, stronger return-to-work support, improved childcare provision and using workforce data and technology to better track outcomes for working parents.

Start-Up Showdown spotlights the next generation of HR innovation

The Start-Up Zone once again provided a platform for emerging HR technology businesses to showcase new ideas and connect directly with industry leaders and potential customers.

A highlight of day one was the return of the Start-Up Showdown, hosted by industry expert and consultant Bill Boorman, where start-ups pitched their businesses live to a panel of judges for the chance to win a free stand at HR Technologies UK 2027 alongside advisory support from leading industry figures.

This year’s competition featured pitches from Workflex, Nartio, nCore HR, Skillvue, Performerly.ai, FairShot AI, Cayus AI, Omveo and Cooplay, showcasing innovations across workforce skills, employee experience and recruitment technology.

FairShot AI was crowned this year’s winner, recognised for its mission to make technology more human and accessible within the workplace.

Commenting on the win, FairShot AI said, “Taking part in the Start-Up Showdown has been an incredible experience. It’s a huge honour to present our mission on such a major stage alongside so many innovative businesses. The event created fantastic opportunities to connect with leaders across the industry, learn how the market is evolving, and continue our focus on making technology more human.”

Innovation & AI Competition returns

Following its successful debut last year, the Innovation & AI Competition returned to HR Technologies UK 2026, showcasing the latest solutions transforming HR and workforce management.

Taking place across both days of the event, the competition saw exhibitors present their technologies in a “Dragon’s Den”- style format to a panel of expert judges, with entries assessed on innovation, impact and practical application within the workplace.

This year’s finalists were WorkFlex, StaffCircle and Flip, with Flip ultimately taking the top prize for its people-focused approach to workplace communication and engagement technology.

Commenting on the win, Flip said, “The competition has been a great opportunity to share knowledge with others across the industry. The conversations and questions really made us reflect on how AI is evolving within HR and the importance of keeping innovation human-centric. There’s a real energy around the event, and it’s exciting to be part of those conversations happening across the industry.”

Recognition for HR Heroes

New for 2026, HR Technologies UK introduced the HR Heroes initiative, celebrating HR professionals making a meaningful impact within their organisations and wider workplace communities.

Recognised live on stage during the event, this year’s HR Heroes represented a broad range of organisations and industries, including Handelsbanken, St Mungo’s, MAN Truck & Bus SE and Epping Forest District Council, reflecting the growing influence of HR professionals in shaping more inclusive, supportive and effective workplaces.

Innovation across the show floor

Exhibitors across the show floor highlighted new approaches to workforce analytics, employee engagement and connected HR systems.

Workforce analytics and automation were major themes across the exhibition floor. Workday unveiled Sana from Workday, designed to automate HR and finance workflows across enterprise systems, while SAP highlighted new talent acquisition, workforce analytics and skills intelligence capabilities within SAP SuccessFactors.

Integrated HR ecosystems and organisational insight were another key focus. Clarity4D highlighted new integration capabilities enabling psychometric insights to sit directly within existing HR systems. First-time exhibitor Ingentis showcased its organisational analytics and strategic workforce planning platform following the launch of its new UK office.

Meanwhile, exhibitors continued to focus on personalisation and employee experience. Employment Hero launched HeroForce, a fully managed employment model designed to simplify hiring, payroll and compliance processes for growing businesses.

Zelt also launched its applicant tracking system, combining employee performance insights, contextual candidate analysis and configurable anonymisation to support more informed hiring decisions.

These innovations were supported by interactive stands across the entire show floor, which was packed with product showcases and demonstrations to help HR professionals better understand the technologies on display.

Nicki Morris, Event Director of HR Technologies UK, commented, “HR Technologies UK 2026 highlighted how quickly workplaces are evolving, and the importance of balancing innovation with trust, transparency and human connection. Across both days, we saw honest conversations around leadership, employee experience and emerging technologies, alongside practical solutions helping HR teams navigate change in real time.

“What makes the event so special is the people behind it, from the exhibitors and speakers to our partners and the wider HR community that brings such energy to every conversation across the show floor.

“It’s been fantastic to see so many HR and business leaders come together to share ideas and challenge thinking, and we look forward to welcoming the community back to Excel London next year for the fifth edition of HR Technologies UK.”

HR Technologies UK will return to Excel London from 5-6 May 2027. Click here to register your interest in attending.