The Work Couch Live! – The workforce revolution

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

In our third live episode, recorded before a special audience of RPC clients, host Ellie Gelder is joined by three leading voices across academia, business and industry to explore the workforce revolution and how AI and emerging technologies fit into the future of work.

The panel, featuring Professor Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law and employment law at the University of Cambridge, Mark Goyder, Founder of Tomorrow's Company, and Jake Wall, Policy Manager - Skills and Future of Work at techUK, share their insights on:

• AI capability gaps and upskilling across the whole organisation on the responsible use of AI and technology at work;
• the limitations of UK legislation in regulating employment matters in respect of AI and how the EU approach compares;
• building workforce adaptability while also fostering a sense of belonging;
• opportunities and challenges in the skills and training landscape;
• what tomorrow's organisations will look like, including the increase in platform work;
• raising the visibility of pathways into work and practical shifts to apprenticeships, internships and graduate roles; and
• protecting the value of the individual and critical human skills in an increasingly tech-dominated world.

Please note: This episode was recorded on 7 October 2026 in front of a live audience at RPC's London offices as part of the Employment, Engagement and Equality team's panel event exploring AI, technology and the workforce revolution.

All information is correct at the time of recording. The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

References

1. Research by the Chartered Management Institute Artificial Intelligence; Real Leadership: The Management Imperative in AI Adoption (June 2026)
2. Government research Skills for AI: What works for AI upskilling in the UK and the Primes framework (10 June 2026)
3. Review by the Institute for Future of Work Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing
4. Government AI Skills Boost Programme
5. Government interim report on Young people and work (May 2026)
6. Early Careers Jobs Alliance