Succession planning is the process of preparing the workplace in advance to ensure that individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience are in place to fill key roles when needed. It is a strategic HR practice used to identify critical positions and develop future leaders, helping ensure that your organisation is prepared for staff turnover, promotions, or unexpected departures.

Benefits of Succession Planning

Despite its importance, succession planning is often underutilised within businesses. However, it plays a vital role in workforce planning and talent management. Key benefits include:

• Preparing for future recruitment needs – allowing your business to be proactive rather than reactive
  
  
• Supporting employee career development and internal mobility
  
  
• Creating a clear career path for high-potential employees
  
  
• Maintaining business continuity and stability during transitions
  
  
• Improving employee retention and reducing turnover
  
  

Risks of Not Having a Succession Plan

Failing to implement a succession planning strategy can have serious consequences for business performance and employee morale. Risks include:

• Gaps in the organisational structure, leading to decreased productivity
  
  
• Loss of valuable clients and stakeholder confidence
  
  
• Decline in overall team performance
  
  
• Poor staff retention and increased recruitment costs
  
  
• Low employee engagement and motivation due to limited career progression opportunities
  
  

How to Create a Succession Plan

Many companies struggle with succession planning simply because they don’t know where to begin. However, it can be broken down into a few simple steps. When you consider the benefits—as well as the risks of not planning—it becomes clear why every organisation should have a plan in place.

1. Identify Business-Critical Roles

The first step is to identify business-critical positions—roles that are essential to the company’s success. For example, if you have only one accountant managing all finances, that is a key role. Losing that person could significantly impact your operations. In contrast, roles within a large team may be easier to cover temporarily.

2. Assess and Engage Current Employees

Next, assess your existing team. Regular performance reviews, career conversations, and employee engagement activities will help you understand their ambitions and future plans. For example, if someone in a critical position is planning to retire, start developing a successor early to reduce turnover.

Also, if an employee is looking for a new challenge, supporting their move can result in smoother transitions and better morale. Holding on to disengaged staff is counterproductive.

3. Promote Internal Recruitment and Talent Development

Before seeking external candidates, explore internal recruitment opportunities. Evaluate employee performance and goals to identify potential successors and provide appropriate training and development programmes. For example, an ambitious Accounts Assistant could be trained to become the next Accounts Director.

Internal succession planning not only builds leadership pipelines but also supports employee retention and loyalty.

4. Prepare for External Recruitment

If no suitable internal candidates exist, external recruitment may be necessary. Effective succession planning gives you time to prepare, define the job role, allocate a recruitment budget, and attract the right talent in advance.

Why Succession Planning Matters

Succession planning is not just a “nice to have”—it’s a critical element of strategic human resource management. It ensures that your business remains resilient, adaptable, and prepared for change. With the right plan in place, you can retain top talent, build internal capability, and avoid disruption when staff leave.

If you're looking for expert support in HR strategy, workforce planning, or succession planning, contact us today to find out how we can help.

We’ve had the Great Resignation, quiet quitting and now we’re firmly in the era of ‘job hugging.’ As the name would suggest, job hugging is a term used to describe holding onto your job, but it is more out of necessity, than a genuine desire to stay in the role. According to data from The UK Job and the Market Report from Adzuna around the UK job market, vacancies and average salaries are falling, with employees understandably concerned over the economic uncertainty they find themselves in. The economic uncertainty has resulted in the job hugging trend, which is apparent across the globe.

Is Job Hugging Beneficial?

On the surface, it might seem like job hugging is beneficial to employers, after all, it means they will naturally improve their employee retention levels. However, although this may be the case, it also results in employees remaining in their post because they have to, rather than because they want to. The consequences of this could include:

• Low Employee Productivity - just because someone is there in person, it does not necessarily mean they are engaged. Although employers want to improve employee retention levels, they are not much use to them if they are producing very little. It is not always easy to get rid of unproductive employees either, especially if they have been with the company for over two years. There are processes to follow and these can often be time consuming.
• Poor Attitude - negative attitudes in the workplace can be catastrophic for a business. Some people have the inability to continue doing their work to the best of their ability when they have already mentally checked out. If an employee feels like they are only staying in the job through job hugging, it is unlikely that they will have the best attitude.
• Resentment - employees may even feel resentful towards their employer, which could manifest in many different ways. None of which are beneficial to their employer.

Can You Re-Engage Employees?

If you believe that any of your employees are job hugging due to economic uncertainty, rather than a genuine desire to remain in the business, there are ways you can improve workforce engagement.

• Communicate - if you suspect that an employee would rather be anywhere else, whether it is through their productivity or attitude, speak to them. Take time to understand their needs and try to find a solution that benefits both parties. For example, do they want a more challenging role? Would they appreciate some additional training and development? Is their salary an issue for them? When you understand their desires more clearly, you can get a better idea of how to re-engage them.
• Open Door - make sure your employees feel comfortable to knock on your door about their concerns by creating an open door policy. In this way, you can nip issues in the bud before they become problematic.
• Set Goals - simply setting some goals can be enough to re-engage your workforce. Goals can help improve employee productivity and motivation. They don’t need to be massive, elaborate goals, simple daily goals can be enough to yield great results. 

Looking to stand out in today’s competitive job market? At Inspired CVs, we specialise in crafting professionally designed, high-impact CVs that help you land interviews and take the next step in your career. Our top-rated CV writing services are tailored to showcase your strengths and get results.

We also provide personalised HR advice for employees facing workplace challenges, along with CV workshops and interview preparation sessions designed to support both job seekers and employers. Whether you're navigating a career change, tackling job market uncertainty, or looking to empower your team, Inspired CVs is here to help.

When you're ready to start applying for jobs, it's tempting to just blast out the same CV to every company and hope something sticks. But trust me, that's not the best way to go about it. If you really want to stand out, taking the time to tailor your CV to each specific job is a game changer. While it might feel like extra work, the benefits are totally worth it.

Why Tailoring Your CV Is Worth the Effort

Every job is different, even if they seem similar on paper. Each role will have its own set of skills and qualities the employer is looking for, which is why it’s important to tweak your CV to match the job description. Customising your CV not only shows the employer that you’ve read their job spec carefully, but it also gives you a better shot at passing through the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that many companies use. Plus, a tailored CV helps you highlight the experience that’s most relevant to the job.

How to Tailor Your CV (Without Losing Your Mind)

Don’t worry, tailoring your CV during your job search doesn’t mean you have to spend hours reworking it. Most of the time, it’s just a few small tweaks here and there. But if you’re applying for two completely different types of roles, like a support worker and a position in the police force, it’s probably worth having separate CVs for each. Here’s how to do it:

1. Use the Job Description (It’s Your Best Friend)

To make sure your CV is spot-on, start by reading the job description carefully. Look for the specific skills and qualifications the employer is after—these are the key things to focus on. For example, if they’re looking for experience with a particular software, or if they’ve listed essential skills like communication or problem-solving, make sure those things are highlighted in your CV. Think of the job description as a cheat sheet for tailoring your CV to fit the role perfectly.

2. Do a Little Research on the Company

It’s not just about the job—company culture matters too! Take a few minutes to check out the company’s website and social media to get a sense of their values and what they’re all about. If you can show that your values align with theirs, your CV will stand out even more. Plus, it’s a good way to ensure you’re applying for a company that feels like the right fit for you.

3. Focus on Transferable Skills

Let’s say you’re applying for a role that’s a bit outside your usual area of expertise. This is where your transferable skills come in. Look back at the job description and think about how your existing skills can apply to the new role. For example, if you’ve worked in customer service before and are applying for a retail job, highlight your experience in handling customer enquiries, problem-solving, and working under pressure. Even if you don’t have direct experience, showing how your skills can transfer is a great way to convince the employer you’re a good fit.

4. Don’t Forget the Keywords

A lot of companies use ATS to filter through applications before a human ever sees them. So, if you want your CV to get noticed, you need to make sure it includes the right keywords from the job description. These keywords help your CV get past the ATS and into the hands of a recruiter. Scatter them throughout your CV—especially those that are listed as "essential"—to make sure your application has the best chance of getting through the system.

By spending a little time tailoring your CV for each job you apply to, you’re giving yourself a much better shot at landing an interview. It might take a bit longer upfront, but it will pay off in the long run.

At Inspired CVs, we help you land your dream job with our professional CV writing services. Our CVs are crafted by experienced UK-based writers and are fully ATS-friendly to increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters. Get in touch with us today to learn more or order your CV here.

Let’s face it—making redundancies is never easy. Whether you're running a small business or managing a large team, letting go of people is one of the toughest parts of the job. But sometimes, it’s unavoidable. Maybe you’re trying to cut costs, going through a restructure, or relocating the business. Whatever the reason, it’s important to handle the redundancy process the right way.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you stay on the right track.

What Is Redundancy (Really)?

Redundancy happens when a role is no longer needed in the business. It’s not about poor performance or someone’s behaviour at work—that’s a whole different process. Redundancy should always be about the job, not the person. If it's based on the individual, not the role, you could run into some serious legal trouble.

How to Communicate Redundancies to Your Team

If you’ve reached the point where redundancies are unavoidable, clear and timely communication is absolutely key. Your employees need to understand:

• Which roles are at risk
  
  
• Why the redundancies are happening
  
  
• How many people may be affected
  
  
• What the redundancy process will look like
  
  

Being open and honest throughout helps everyone feel a little more supported during a tough time.

Voluntary Redundancy – Is It an Option?

Before making any final decisions, consider offering voluntary redundancy. This gives employees the chance to put themselves forward, which can make the process less stressful all around.

Just be cautious—don’t single people out based on things like age, gender, or any other protected characteristics. That could be seen as discrimination. Instead, if you’ve got a group doing the same role, you could open the floor to those who might want to take the option, like less experienced team members.

Redundancy Selection – Keep It Fair

If you do need to make tough calls, the selection criteria must be fair and based on clear, factual data. While you can’t make someone redundant because of poor performance, you can include performance, attendance, or quality of work as part of your selection criteria—as long as it’s consistent and backed up with records.

Never make decisions based on personal characteristics like age, disability, race, religion, or gender. That’s not just unfair—it’s illegal.

Redundancy Consultations – What You Need to Know

Collective Consultation

If you’re planning to make 20 or more people redundant, you’ll need to carry out a collective consultation. This usually involves trade unions or employee reps, depending on how your business is set up. These meetings are a chance to:

• Explain the reasons for redundancy
  
  
• Talk through any possible alternatives
  
  
• Discuss how the selection process will work
  
  
• Explore ways to reduce the number of redundancies
  
  

Individual Consultation

If fewer than 20 roles are being made redundant, you’ll still need to hold individual consultations. This gives employees the chance to ask questions, share their concerns, and feel heard during what is often a very uncertain time.

Need HR Advice?

At Inspired CVs, we support businesses through tricky HR situations like redundancies. If you need tailored HR services such as CV workshops or interview workshops, we’re here to help. Contact us here or book a session to chat with one of our friendly consultants.

Being dismissed for gross misconduct is a serious matter. It typically means your employment has been terminated immediately, without notice or additional pay. Unlike dismissals due to performance issues or redundancy, gross misconduct involves behaviour so serious that it breaks the trust between you and your employer. Ultimately, it happens when an employer believes there is no way back for the employment relationship to succeed.

Before any action is taken, employers are required to carry out a thorough disciplinary process to determine whether the behaviour is, in fact, gross misconduct. It is important to understand your employee rights regarding gross misconduct, and you may wish to seek HR advice at this point.

What Is Gross Misconduct?

Employees are human, and as humans, we make mistakes. However, where a genuine mistake turns out to be gross misconduct is when it crosses a line. It is not a mistake but an action that undermines the employment relationship. When this occurs, it will usually end in a dismissal process.

Common Examples of Gross Misconduct

If you’ve been accused of gross misconduct, it’s important to understand how this differs from general poor conduct. Here are some examples that are often considered gross misconduct:

• Violence: Any act of physical assault or threatening behaviour towards a colleague, client, or customer is a serious breach and is likely to be treated as gross misconduct.
  
  
• Discrimination or Harassment: Making someone feel unsafe or intimidated through discriminatory or harassing behaviour is completely unacceptable and is typically classed as gross misconduct.
  
  
• Drugs and Alcohol: Being under the influence at work—particularly in safety-critical roles like driving or operating machinery—poses a significant risk. Many companies carry out routine or random testing to maintain a safe working environment. You should be aware of your employee rights when it comes to testing and refer to your employment handbook.
  
  
• Theft: Stealing from your employer, whether it's money, physical goods, or confidential information, is a clear violation of trust and will almost always result in immediate dismissal.

These are just a few examples—many other actions may also fall under gross misconduct depending on the situation and workplace policies.

What Happens If You’re Accused of Gross Misconduct?

If you’ve been accused of gross misconduct, your employer must follow a fair and reasonable dismissal process before reaching a conclusion. Here's what that typically involves:

1. Investigation

Your employer should carry out a full investigation to understand what happened. This might include reviewing CCTV footage, collecting witness statements, and gathering other relevant evidence. You might be suspended during this process (with full pay), especially if there’s a potential risk to others or the business.

2. Disciplinary Hearing

If the investigation suggests there’s a case to answer, you’ll be invited to a disciplinary hearing. You should receive proper notice and be given the chance to present your side of the story. You also have the right to bring someone with you—like a colleague or union representative. Your employer should record the discussion and provide copies of any evidence presented. You may also wish to seek HR advice at this point to understand your situation and employee rights.

3. Decision

After the disciplinary hearing, your employer will review the evidence and decide whether the allegations amount to gross misconduct and if dismissal is the appropriate outcome. You may wish to seek HR advice at this stage of even an employment tribunal if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

Need HR Support? We’re Here to Help

At Inspired CVs, we offer dedicated HR support to employees facing challenging workplace situations. Whether you’ve been accused of gross misconduct or need advice on your rights, we’re here to help. We provide one to one consultations to support you now and with your future career.

Contact us or book your HR consultation today to speak with a professional.

Overworked Employees

Underperforming Employees

Unable to Fulfil Needs

Business is Stagnant

Unhappy Customers

When considering your CV, it can be tempting to think that you can just use ChatGPT to do the heavy lifting for you. After all, when you enter some brief information about your career history, AI will generate content that sounds professional. However, although AI is a great tool to assist you with content, it should not be used to create a CV and these are some reasons why.

Inaccurate Content

AI doesn’t know anything about you as an individual or your professional career and skills. Therefore, when you enter some general content into platforms like ChatGPT, it will create a CV that may include inaccuracies. Although these may sound good on paper, if you are asked about these in an interview, you might cause yourself unnecessary stress.

Lack of Personality

Your CV is individual to you and therefore, it should reflect your personality. The reader is trying to get a better understanding of not only your professional experience and skills, but also your personality and what drives you. AI does not show personality and can come across as robotic. It is usually obvious when AI has been used throughout a CV and although it can be used as a tool to help, it should not be used to create an entire CV.

Inauthentic

When a recruiter looks at a CV and it has clearly been generated by AI, it can come across as unprofessional. There should be time and effort invested into a CV to ensure it reflects your personality as well as your skills and experience. Employers are becoming increasingly wise about AI generated CVs and they will be able to tell the difference between an AI CV and one where hard work and effort has been invested.

How to Use AI Effectively

AI can be a useful tool for supporting your efforts, rather than being the primary source of creating your CV content. Some ways to use AI effectively to support CV creation include refining your grammar and providing detail on structuring your CV and improving readability.

At Inspired CVs, we find that candidates prefer to outsource their CV, as it can often be difficult to sell yourself effectively. We provide professional CV writing services to candidates throughout the world. To find out more about online CV writing services, you can contact us or order your CV here.

Review Contract

Identify Issues

Speak to your Manager

Raise a Grievance