AI, Employment Law, and the Entry-Level Squeeze with Craig McCoy

AI is no longer a future concept—it’s embedded in day-to-day HR operations. But with adoption comes pressure: to prove ROI, manage new risks, and rethink workforce strategies.In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham speaks with Craig McCoy, Chair of the HR Connection Group and a trusted advisor to boards and C-suite leaders across the UK. With leadership experience at Sky, BT, BUPA, and The Crown Estate, Craig brings a front-row view into what senior HR leaders are really discussing behind closed doors.Together, they unpack the realities of AI in HR, from automation wins to unexpected workload increases, and explore how shifting employment laws and economic pressures are reshaping workforce planning.They also tackle one of the biggest emerging challenges: what happens to entry-level roles when AI begins to replace the work that traditionally starts careers?Key Topics Covered: AI in HR: From hype to real-world deployment  Proving ROI on AI investments  Automation vs. new workload: the hidden trade-off  Employees using AI for grievances and complaints  UK Employment Rights Act: risks and implications  Rising employment costs and cautious hiring strategies  Strategic workforce planning and skills prioritisation  Recruitment challenges in a volatile labour market  The growing threat to entry-level roles  Apprenticeships, work experience, and future talent pipelines Why This Episode Matters: HR leaders are navigating a perfect storm of AI disruption, regulatory change, and economic pressure. This conversation offers grounded insights into what’s working, what’s not, and what needs urgent attention.About Craig McCoy: Craig is Chair of the HR Connection Group and London HR Connection, a thriving community of senior HR professionals across the UK. A former Chief People Officer and experienced NED, Craig has held leadership roles at organisations including Sky, BT, BUPA, and The Crown Estate.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here.Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events