A few years ago, if someone had asked an HR professional what kept them awake at night, the answer might have been managing difficult employee relations cases, implementing organisational change or supporting leaders through transformation.
Today, the conversation is different.
Across LinkedIn, more familiar faces are displaying the green “Open to Work” banner. Colleagues who once led restructures are now finding themselves impacted by them. Experienced HR professionals with impressive careers, CIPD qualifications and years of expertise are competing against hundreds of applicants for a single role.
It’s a difficult reality.
Recent LinkedIn research found that more than half of professionals are looking for a new role, while 65% say finding a job has become more challenging, with competition being the biggest barrier. At the same time, organisations are hiring more selectively and increasingly looking for new skills alongside experience.
For those of us working in HR, this isn’t just something we read about.
We live it.
We support colleagues through redundancy consultations, restructuring programmes and organisational change, all while quietly wondering what we would do if our own role disappeared tomorrow.
The truth is that no career is immune to change.
That’s why investing in yourself has never been more important.
Not because you’re actively looking for your next opportunity, but because your next opportunity could arrive when you least expect it.
The BWHR 6th Annual Networking Conference isn’t just another HR event. It is a place to learn, reconnect with your profession and strengthen the relationships that often open doors long before a vacancy is advertised.
Some of the most valuable career opportunities don’t begin with an application. They begin with a conversation over coffee, a recommendation from someone who remembers your work, or a connection made with someone who says, “I know a role that would be perfect for you.”
This year, we’re delighted to welcome The Bukola Group as our Official Recruitment Partner.
On 24 September, their team will be at the conference offering practical, one-to-one career support to delegates.
Whether you’re actively searching for your next role, considering your next career move or simply want to future-proof your career, you’ll have the opportunity to receive practical guidance on today’s recruitment market, understand what employers are really looking for, gain insight into strengthening your professional profile and register directly with their recruitment team as a candidate for future opportunities.
So don’t wait until you need your network to start building one.
Invest in your learning. Invest in your relationships. Invest in yourself.
Your next opportunity could be one introduction away.
MEET OUR SPEAKER
Hannah Awonuga is the Founder & CEO of The Inclusive Foundations Programme, a culture consultancy helping high-growth organisations build inclusive workplaces that drive innovation, engagement, and business performance.
An award-winning cultural inclusion leader with over 20 years of experience, Hannah has held senior leadership roles at Barclays, Knight Frank, and Progress Together, where she has led large-scale culture and inclusion strategies. She is also a member of the Grants and Impact Committee at LandAid.
Recognised as one of HR Magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential DEI Practitioners and among the 2025 Top 20 DEI Experts in the UK, Hannah is a trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and facilitator.
Through her work, she helps leaders transform organisational culture into a strategic advantage while championing equity, representation, and inclusive leadership.
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