Articles
Your unbiased lens into the talent market's evolution. Discover why shifts are occurring, their significance, and how to navigate the changing landscape of total talent.
-
Who Is Orchestrating Your Workforce Ecosystem?
Most organisations have visibility into their workforce. Far fewer have a structure that turns that visibility into better decisions. This is where workforce orchestration becomes the missing layer between governance and outcomes.
Jools Barrow-Read
Founder & Workforce Governance Advisor
-
Foundation principles – where strategic extended workforce governance starts
These 10 principles are the non-negotiables for effective workforce governance. They matter as much for extended workforce management as they do for permanent workforce management. They apply regardless of your delivery model or programme maturity. You don't implement all 10 on day one. Start with the building blocks that address your current challenges, then evolve as you learn. Over-engineered governance fails as often as no governance. The goal is lean frameworks that grow with your programme.
Jools Barrow-Read
Founder & Workforce Governance Advisor
-
Seven systems. Zero visibility. One very expensive problem.
Most organisations can't answer basic questions about their extended workforce. Who's engaged, through what, at what cost, and who's accountable. That was always a problem. From April 2026, it becomes an expensive one.
Jools Barrow-Read
Founder & Workforce Governance Advisor
-
Umbrella company reform and why it matters for HR
When HMRC introduces joint and several liability for umbrella company tax failures in April 2026, many organisations will discover they have a significant blind spot. Nobody is actually accountable for their extended workforce. This article explores why this represents an opportunity for HR to lead, and how to start those conversations internally.
Jools Barrow-Read
Founder & Workforce Governance Advisor
-
Why vendor neutrality is the most valuable thing you’re not buying
Most organisations believe they're getting independent advice on their extended workforce. Many aren't. This article unpacks what genuine vendor neutrality means, how compromised independence shows up in practice, and why the April 2026 reforms make this conversation more urgent than it's ever been.
Jools Barrow-Read
Founder & Workforce Governance Advisor