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3:00pm - 5:00pm, 4 February 2026
(Europe/London)
(Europe/London)
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Legal & Compliance Forum: Opportunities & challenges with the Umbrella regulations and the ERA
Event Details
Legal & Compliance
Wednesday 4th February
Registrations and refreshments 2:30pm-3:00pm
Meeting: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Venue: Brabners, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester, M2 3BD
Networking drinks from 5:00pm
Kindly sponsored by
Key Takeaways
- Clearer understanding of what checks need to be made on umbrella companies being used
- Clearer understanding of JSL and what it means for contract recruiters
- Understanding the impact of the ERA for recruitment business owners, both for their own employees and for the clients they recruit for
Meeting Agenda
Welcome & Introduction
Dawn Ford, Head of Legal, Risk & Compliance, Opus Talent Solutions
APSCo Update
Shazia Imtiaz, General Counsel, APSCo UK
Legal Update - Navigating the umbrella regulations and the ERA
Simon Whitehead, Partner, Brabners
Hannah Morrison, Legal Director, Brabners
As the effects of the Employment Rights Act and the new umbrella regulations continue to be felt by recruiters, we ask how companies are adapting to the changes and how it is affecting their client’s hiring strategy. Is it prompting a shift to alternative hiring models and/or a more cautious approach to recruiting and what opportunities does it open to recruiters looking to maximise the value they offer.
Our speakers will explore these issues and offer lived experience of changes they are seeing and what best practice now looks like.
Panel Discussion - The key changes in legislation with the biggest impact in 2026
Shazia Imtiaz, General Counsel, APSCo UK
David Johnson, Head of Legal, Paystream
Simon Whitehead, Partner, Brabners
Hannah Morrison, Legal Director, Brabners
Our panelists will discuss the key changes in legislation with the biggest impact throughout 2026, in particular, The Employment Rights Act:
- What it means to you
- What it means to your clients
- What affect it is having on recruitment as a whole
They will explore the challenges for HR and recruitment inherent in the ERA and what potential opportunities these present for recruitment companies - for both perm and contract recruitment.
- Which parts of the ERA are having the most impact on the businesses you talk to?
- What changes are you seeing in the way companies are approaching their hiring strategy in light of the ERA? – are they more cautious?
- Are you seeing a preference for temp/contractor over perm?
- Has it affected the rebate period you offer clients?
Leader Exchange
Maximise your time at this meeting with our Leader Exchange session - this is designed to deliver tangible outcomes. Guided by experienced business professionals, this discussion will ensure you gain real value from your attendance. You’ll collaborate with sector peers to tackle key challenges and leave with clear, actionable strategies you can implement immediately. This session isn’t just a conversation, it’s designed to be a catalyst for measurable business impact.
Speakers
Shazia Imtiaz
APSCo, General Counsel
Shazia is General Counsel and manages the Legal and Compliance team, joining APSCo in 2021. Shazia is a UK qualified lawyer with over 15 years extensive international expertise gained in both private practice and in house. She has worked across diverse industries including the recruitment sector, overseeing corporate, commercial and employment law matters.
Shazia provides expert guidance to members and trusted partners on legal issues and regulatory changes affecting the industry, overseeing our members’ and trusted partners’ adherence to our codes of conduct, and delivering legal services to members including model documents, precedents, legal updates, and the legal helpdesk. She works alongside Tania Bowers on APSCo's public affairs, representing our members’ interests in consultations with the government and other bodies on regulatory change.
Simon Whitehead
Brabners, Partner
Simon is a Partner and Head of the Recruitment & Workforce Solutions Sector at Brabners. He has dedicated the last 20 years to the recruitment industry, working with national and international recruitment businesses, umbrella companies, trade bodies and recruitment business owners. Simon provides strategic legal advice about HR and regulatory issues, dispute resolution and commercial arrangements.
Hannah Morrison
Brabners, Legal Director
Hannah is a Legal Director at Brabners. She is in an employment lawyer and specialist adviser to businesses in the Recruitment & Workforce Solutions sector, from umbrella companies to staffing agencies and neutral vendors. Hannah’s work includes producing contracts and policies for agency workers and internal staff, defending employment Tribunal proceedings, and helping businesses to deal with regulatory issues including the AWR, NMW and IR35.
David Johnson
Paystream, Head of Legal
