The full picture, in plain English
What is already in force, what lands on 30th October and what is coming in 2027.
Free lunch & learn · Hazel Grove, Stockport
Employment Rights Act 2025: a free lunch & learn for Stockport businesses
90 minutes with our HR experts to get clear on what has changed under the Employment Rights Act (ERA) so far this year, what is coming next, and exactly what your business needs to have in place. Lunch is on us.
- Wednesday 21st October 2026
- 12:00–13:30
- IN Accountancy, Hazel Grove
- Free lunch included
Why attend
Clarity, not chaos
For business owners, MDs, directors and senior leaders of SMEs in Stockport, Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Marple, Cheadle and across Greater Manchester — especially if you don't have an in-house HR team.
A practical action list
Leave knowing what to check, update or introduce in your contracts, policies and processes, with realistic deadlines.
Time for your questions
Bring the situations you're unsure about. We'll answer them for your context, whether you're a commercial business or charity.
Meet local business leaders
Lunch and networking with owners and senior leaders from across Stockport and Greater Manchester.
No panic, no fear-mongering, no sales pitch. Just free, professional advice from Senior HR Consultants on how to stay compliant with ERA 2025.
What we'll cover
Where ERA 2025 stands and where it's going
So far in 2026
The first wave of changes took effect from 6th April 2026. We will recap what they mean in practice and check you have the basics covered:
- Statutory Sick Pay reforms — SSP from day one and for lower earners
- Day-one rights to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave
- Whistleblowing protections extended to cover reporting sexual harassment
- The Fair Work Agency — what it enforces and what it can ask you for
- New record-keeping requirements for annual leave and pay
Coming up
30th October 2026
Strengthened duty to prevent sexual harassment ("all reasonable steps") and liability for third-party harassment; phase two of the trade union reforms; employment tribunal time limits extended; tipping policy consultation requirements.
1st January 2027
Unfair dismissal qualifying period reduced; restrictions on fire and rehire.
2027
Zero-hours contract protections, bereavement leave (including pregnancy loss), flexible working reforms and limits on NDAs.
Dates reflect the government's published roadmap at the time of writing. We'll cover anything that changes before the event.
See the full ERA 2025 timelineAgenda
How the session runs
Lunch & networking
Arrive, grab lunch and meet other local business owners and leaders. Lunch is provided — tell us about any dietary requirements when you register.
ERA 2025: updates and actions to take
Rob and Nicci walk through what has changed, what is coming and what to do about it, followed by open Q&A. You'll leave with a clear checklist.
Close
Stay for a chat if you'd like to.
Your speakers
HR Consultants who do this every day
Rob and Nicci co-founded Cornerstone Resources in Stockport to support SMEs and charities across Greater Manchester with outsourced HR and leadership training.
Rob Birley
Co-founder & Senior HR Consultant
Rob is a co-founder and director of Cornerstone Resources. He specialises in employee relations, reward and benefits, and helping SME leaders put pragmatic people practices in place without the overhead of an in-house team.
Connect on LinkedIn
Nicci Birley
Co-founder, Senior HR Consultant & Leadership Coach
Nicci is a co-founder of Cornerstone Resources with more than 20 years' HR experience across professional services, charities and education. She works with senior teams on policy, change and compliance — translating legislation into what it actually means day-to-day.
Connect on LinkedInVenue
Hosted at IN Accountancy, Hazel Grove
IN Accountancy Ltd
Rhino Court, 2 Station View
Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5ER
Getting there
Rhino Court is next to Hazel Grove railway station (Manchester Piccadilly–Buxton line) and a short walk from the A6, with easy access from Stockport, Poynton, Bramhall and Marple.
Parking is available on-site.
Register
Reserve your free place
Places are limited, so register early. We'll confirm by email and send a calendar invite. Let us know any dietary requirements in the form.
Event summary
- Date
- Wednesday 21st October 2026
- Time
- 12:00–13:30
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Location
- IN Accountancy Ltd, Hazel Grove, Stockport
- Places
- Places are limited
PriceFree
Free to attend. If your plans change, please let us know so we can offer your place to someone else.
Loading registration form...
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Yes. There's no charge and no obligation, and lunch is included. We run it as part of supporting local businesses.
Business owners, MDs, directors and senior leaders — anyone responsible for people decisions in an SME. HR managers are welcome too.
Yes. Please register each person separately so we can cater properly.
No. There's no sales pitch. If you'd like to talk to us afterwards, we'll be around, but the session is purely about getting you clear on ERA 2025.
No. We start from the basics and build up to the practical actions.
Yes there is on-site parking. Rhino Court is next to Hazel Grove railway station if you'd rather come by train.
We run free online ERA update sessions throughout the year, and our ERA 2025 information page keeps the full timeline up to date.
Yes — we'll email a summary and action checklist to everyone who registers, whether or not you can attend on the day.
Have a question not answered here?
Contact usCan't make 21 October?
Our free online ERA update sessions run throughout the year, and our ERA 2025 guide keeps the full timeline up to date.