HR professionals, recruiters, and employers often connect through professional networks and industry forums. Most of these interactions are perfectly legitimate. However, when organisations collude instead of competing—for example, by agreeing not to poach staff, fixing wages, or coordinating on working conditions—it can lead to reduced employee pay, restricted career choices and mobility, and limited opportunities for businesses to grow. The consequences for this type of activity can be serious – a recent case saw businesses handed £4.2 million in fines following freelancer pay investigation .
To help employers navigate these challenges, the next CIPD/ Northern Ireland Reward Network event — delivered in partnership with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) — will focus on how to remain compliant with competition law in recruitment and employment practices. Join us on Wednesday 22 October 2025, 10:00–11:30am at the Ewart Building (hosted by MCS Group).
We are delighted to welcome Lucilia Falsarella Pereira, Senior Director of Antitrust and Cartels at the CMA, who will share key insights from the CMA’s ‘Competing for Talent’ guide and answer your questions.
This event will help you:
- Understand how competition law applies to recruitment, wage setting and hiring practices
- Spot and avoid anti-competitive behaviours — including no-poaching, wage-fixing, and the exchange of sensitive information and recognise where collective bargaining fits within legal boundaries
- Learn best practices for internal policy, compliance, and training to reduce legal risk
- What to do if you encounter a candidate that has been the victim of wage fixing/ or made you aware of anti-competitive activity in past role
- Discover how to report suspected anti-competitive behaviour to the CMA
Who should attend ?
- HR & Talent Acquisition Professionals
- Legal & Compliance Teams
- Business Leaders & People Managers
- Recruitment Consultants & Agencies
When and where
- 10am – 11.30am, Wednesday 22 October 2025 (networking until noon)
- Ewart Building (hosted by MCS Group)
