Getting our Reward Heads Together

Reward Philosophy

This is a shorter podcast than some others which is deliberate – we think the concept in fairly simple but the execution not always so.
In the latest episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, Victoria Milford and Hannah Armstrong explore why a clear Reward Philosophy is the foundation of effective pay, benefits and recognition.
 
They discuss:
What a Reward philosophy actually is
Why it links Reward to culture and business goals
The role it plays in transparency and fairness
How it supports attraction, retention and performance
Why many organisations still don’t have one
A short, practical conversation for HR and Reward professionals reviewing the foundations of their Reward strategy.

Addressing the Gender Pay Gap

 
In the latest episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, Reward Heads CEO Victoria Milford and Consulting Director Claire Williams discuss why just waiting for the gender pay gap to close gradually is not a strategy, and what meaningful action looks like for employers.
They explore:
Why the gender pay gap persists even where equal pay exists
The structural factors that drive pay gaps over time
The risks of relying on reporting without action
How regulation and transparency requirements are evolving
How to break down gender pay gap action planning
A practical conversation for HR and Reward leaders reviewing their gender pay gap strategy and the steps needed to drive real progress.
 
If you would like to explore how we can help with your gender pay gap strategy then please reach out to rewardsolutions@rewardheads.co.uk to arrange a chat.We also have e learning modules on both Gender Pay and Ethnicity Pay which guide you not only through how to calculate but, more importantly, how to understand what is going on to cause the gaps in the first place. You can purchase these on https://lnkd.in/e6pVeMmN

Understanding DC Pensions

What’s changing in DC pensions between now and 2030 — and what should employers be doing now?
In the latest episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, Victoria Milford is joined by Sophia Singleton, Head of Defined Contribution Pensions at XPS Group, to explore the major developments affecting DC schemes over the coming years.
They discuss:
?        The upcoming Pensions Act and new regulatory direction
?        Salary sacrifice changes from 2029 and employer cost implications
?        The launch of the Pensions Dashboard and what it means for employee engagement
?        The growing focus on pensions adequacy — and who is most at risk
?        New Value for Money assessments and scale requirements
?        Practical actions employers should be taking now
A practical conversation for HR and Reward professionals reviewing their DC pension strategy in light of regulatory and policy change.
 
We also run online coaching courses covering a wide range of reward topics, including our “Pensions Overview” module. For more information, please follow the link below:https://www.rewardheads.co.uk/coaching.html

Benchmarking & Key Pitfalls

In the latest episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together,  Christina Jones and Hannah Armstrong, Consulting Managers at Reward Heads, discuss how to benchmark pay effectively — and the common pitfalls organisations face.
 
They explore:
What pay benchmarking actually involves
Why methodology and data filters matter
The risks of benchmarking too narrowly
How to handle limited or conflicting data
Why pay is only one part of Total Reward
A practical conversation for HR and Reward professionals looking to strengthen their approach to pay decisions.
 
 

Pay for Performance & Pay Transparency

In the latest episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, Hannah Armstrong and Christina Jones, Consulting Managers at Reward Heads, explore whether pay for performance and pay transparency can genuinely work together — or whether tensions remain.
They discuss:
Why promotions and base pay are still stronger motivators than bonuses
What “fair” and “transparent” pay decisions look like in practice
The risks for organisations without clear, documented performance frameworks
How upcoming pay transparency requirements raise the bar for consistency and evidence
 
A short, practical listen for HR and Reward professionals reviewing performance, progression and pay decisions.

Reward in Contact Centres

In this episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, we explore how work in Contact Centres is evolving and what that means for Reward, wellbeing and workforce support.
 
Reward Heads CEO Victoria Milford is joined by Steve Morrell to discuss how technology, hybrid working and changing customer expectations are reshaping contact centre roles, and how HR and Reward teams can better support these workforces.
 
A short, practical conversation for HR and Reward professionals in the sector.

Generation Alpha and Reward

In this episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, we explore Generation Alpha and what their arrival in the workforce will mean for Reward and HR professionals.
Reward Heads CEO Victoria Milford is joined by Jannine Smith, Senior Consulting Manager at Reward Heads, to discuss how this next generation — born from 2010 onwards — is already reshaping expectations around work, Reward, wellbeing, and leadership.
They discuss:
Why Generation Alpha are true digital-first employees
Expectations around flexible and hybrid working
Control over work environment, benefits and personalisation
The growing importance of mental health and wellbeing support
Inclusive leadership and support for neurodiversity
Sustainability, ethics and purpose-driven work
How Total Reward goes far beyond pay for this generation
What employers should be doing now to prepare
Drawing on emerging research and real-world insight, this 15–16 minute episode provides Reward and HR leaders with a practical framework for preparing their organisations for the next generation of talent.

Preview of 2026

In this episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, we look ahead to 2026 and explore the trends that are expected to shape the Reward landscape over the coming year.
 
Reward Heads CEO Victoria Milford is joined by Jannine Smith, Senior Consulting Manager at Reward Heads, to discuss how economic pressures, regulation, and changing employee expectations will influence Reward strategy in 2026.
 
The episode covers:
The 2026 National Living Wage increase and continued pay compression
Expected stabilisation of pay awards amid ongoing inflation
Salary exchange and pensions planning ahead of the 2029 changes
Why employee recognition is becoming a critical retention lever
The growing importance of pay transparency, ahead of the EU Pay Transparency Directive
Wellbeing moving from an add-on to a core element of Reward
Data-driven personalisation of benefits and Total Reward
 
This forward-looking 10-minute episode offers Reward and HR leaders a clear view of what’s coming — and what they should be preparing for now.

Review of 2025

In this episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, we take a look back at 2025 — a year defined by rising costs, shifting employee expectations, pay compression, and fast-moving policy changes.
 
Reward Heads CEO Victoria Milford is joined by Jannine Smith, Senior Consulting Manager at Reward Heads, to reflect on the biggest trends shaping Reward this year.
 
They explore:
The impact of the National Living Wage increase and wider minimum wage rises
Ongoing pay compression and fairness challenges
The surprise employer National Insurance hike and its effect on pay review budgets
Increasing focus on low-cost and innovative benefits
The rise of Total Reward, flexibility, and personalised benefits
How AI and digital skill demands continue to reshape job design and pay
Growing expectations around pay transparency and fairness
The shift toward purpose-driven Reward
This 10 minute episode provides a clear snapshot of the forces shaping Reward in 2025 — and what they mean for the years ahead.

UK Budget 2025 Outcomes

In this episode of Getting Our Reward Heads Together, we explore what the recent UK Budget means for employees — with a particular focus on how the changes will impact women who are more often low-paid workers, and more risk averse in investment decisions.
Reward Heads CEO Victoria Milford is joined by Caroline Masterton, Client Relations Director at Parallel Employee Benefits, to break down how National Living Wage increases, tax thresholds, childcare support, pensions, salary exchange and ISA reforms will shape employee finances and organisational Reward strategies.
They discuss:
The 2025 and 2026 National Living Wage increases and their impacts
Rising minimum wage compliance risks
Frozen tax thresholds pulling millions into tax and higher bands
The gender pensions gap and long-term financial security
New limits on pensions salary sacrifice / exchange from 2029
Cash ISA changes and why investing confidence is still low for women in particular
What employers should prepare for now
 
This short episode offers clear, practical insight into how Budget outcomes will influence pay, benefits, and financial wellbeing.