Talent Download Podcast

Skills, AI & the Future of Talent Acquisition – Talent Download – Ep.9 ft. Spencer Hurley

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:00 +0100

Darren Lancaster (CEO, Amberjack) interviews Spencer Hurley (Spire Healthcare) about how talent acquisition has evolved from process-driven recruitment to a strategic function spanning assessment, workforce planning, employer branding, data and insight. Spencer outlines his career from agency to in-house roles (including Lloyd’s, ACE/Chubb, Nationwide, and DWF), describing building recruitment “hygiene” like ATS and supplier lists, and leading major change at Nationwide during a tech insourcing programme. He explains applying agile-style “swarming” to cut software engineering time-to-hire from 6–7 weeks to under five days by contracting with hiring managers, pre-planning interviews, and rapid iteration. They discuss skills-based hiring as a promising idea that’s hard to implement, arguing attitudes and soft skills matter most and hiring-manager biases persist. Both frame AI as a tool with uneven adoption, raising implications for assessment, education, recruiter tasks, and the need to invest in analytics to drive insight and D&I change.

00:00 AI Hype Reality Check
00:33 Podcast Welcome Guests
01:27 Spencer Career Origins
02:07 What Talent Acquisition Means
04:10 Agency To In House Shift
06:06 Economic Shocks Reshape Hiring
07:27 Building TA At Lloyds
09:31 Scaling Up Across Europe
10:49 Nationwide Transformation Years
16:43 Agile Recruiting Five Day Hire
18:15 Holding Hiring Managers Accountable
22:44 Skills Based Hiring Debate
27:27 Task Based Work With AI
29:21 AI Adoption Data Snapshot
29:52 AI Hype Versus Reality
31:01 Skills Barriers In Regulated Work
31:37 Corporate Blocks And Cheating Debate
32:59 Education Not Ready For Tools
34:06 Assessing AI Use In Hiring
36:26 Future Proof Careers Linchpin Mindset
38:16 DWF Transformation And RPO Reset
41:41 Recruiters Automation And Human Touch
46:12 TA Best Practices Data Analyst Hire
49:32 Advice And Quickfire Wrap Up

Recruiting for Purpose - Talent Download - Ep. 8 ft. Clare Power & Katryna Smyth

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of Talent Download, host Darren Lancaster sits down with Clare Power and Katryna Smyth from Police Now to explore the complexities of recruiting for a public service mission.

Celebrating a "Decade of Transformation," the team discusses how they have recruited over 3,000 diverse graduates into policing roles that many never previously considered - from neighborhood officers to specialists in counter-terrorism and economic crime. The conversation dives deep into demystifying policing myths, managing the trust gap in marginalized communities, and why Police Now takes the unusual step of closing applications early to remain "responsible recruiters".

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Darren introduces Clare and Katryna and the mission of Police Now.
[00:01:22] Who is Police Now?: A look at the government-funded charity transforming communities through diverse talent.
[00:04:00] Demystifying the Role: Moving beyond "blue lights and fast cars" to show the real impact of neighborhood policing.
[00:13:00] Addressing the Trust Gap: How to attract talent from communities where confidence in policing is historically low.
[00:24:00] Selection & Parity: Using data to ensure a fair and equitable journey for every candidate.
[00:28:00] Responsible Recruitment: Why more applications aren't always better and the ethics of graduate time.
[00:34:00] A Decade of Transformation: Reflecting on 10 years of saving lives and delivering justice.
[00:43:00] The Future of Policing: New specialisms in Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and fast-track leadership programs.
[00:56:00] Quick Fire Round: Rapid-fire takes on resilience, ambition, and the "stale pale male" myth.

Neurodiversity as a Superpower - Talent Download - Ep.7 ft. Sharon Wilson

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode of Talent Download, host Darren Lancaster is joined by Sharon Wilson, a leading expert in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), to discuss the intersection of inclusive design and high-volume recruitment.

Sharon shares her "Next Practice" philosophy: that designing recruitment processes for the 20% of neurodivergent or marginalized candidates ultimately creates a better experience for the entire 100%. The conversation explores the ethical implementation of AI, why "neurodiversity is a superpower," and how to maintain a human-centric approach when hiring at scale.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Darren introduces Sharon Wilson and her impact on the DEI landscape.

[00:04:15] Designing for the 20%: Why inclusive design is the key to unlocking potential for all candidates.

[00:12:30] Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Exploring the unique strengths neurodivergent talent brings to an organization.

[00:22:45] AI and the Moral Compass: Why technology requires human oversight to ensure fairness and equity.

[00:35:10] High-Volume Inclusion: Balancing speed and scale with a personalized candidate experience.

[00:45:20] Quick Fire Section: Sharon shares her personal reflections on leadership and the best advice she has ever received.

AI vs Human Productivity - Talent Download - Ep.6 ft. Christopher Hay

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100

In this episode of Talent Download, host Darren Lancaster sits down with Christopher Hay, Group Head of Talent Acquisition at Enstar Group, to explore the intersection of AI, productivity, and human potential in talent acquisition.

Christopher provides a deep-dive look at the shift toward skills-based hiring and why traditional CVs are being replaced by objective, data-driven assessments. The conversation explores the evolution of AI screening technology, the challenges of maintaining candidate transparency in a digital-first world, and why the workforce in 2026 requires a focus on "robustness" as a core competency.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Darren introduces Christopher Hay and the core theme of AI-driven productivity in recruitment.
[00:01:03] AI Productivity Evolution: How internal teams are reviewing where technology creates gains versus where lapses occur.
[00:02:40] The Move to Skills-Based Hiring: Why objective assessments are becoming more effective than traditional CVs.
[00:04:30] Candidate Experience: Ensuring technology provides a positive first impression and maintains transparency for talent.
[00:06:15] Auditing Your Process: Identifying where AI can add efficiency and where the "human touch" is still required.
[00:08:45] The Skill of Robustness: Why resilience and robustness will define the next generation of successful professionals.
[00:10:30] Quick Fire Section: Christopher shares his rapid-fire takes on his career journey and the best advice he has ever received.

Is Classroom Learning Dead? with Nick Fewkes Ep.5

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Talent Download, host Darren Lancaster sits down with Nick Fewkes, Head of Delivery for Development at Amberjack, to explore the shift from "Best Practice" to "Next Practice" in learning.

Nick provides a deep-dive look at why traditional classroom learning is dead and why Gen Z is actually craving more face-to-face connection. The conversation dives deep into the 70-20-10 model, the challenges of measuring ROI in L&D, and why early careers programs in 2026 require a personalized, "human-centered" approach.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Darren welcomes Nick Fewkes to discuss global L&D trends across APAC and the UK.
[00:02:20] From Zookeeper to Global L&D: Nick shares his unique career journey and the power of transferable soft skills.
[00:11:17] Best Practice vs. Next Practice: Why looking at the past is no longer enough to develop future leaders.
[00:15:51] The 70-20-10 Model: Why supporting leaders is the critical bridge for effective capability growth.
[00:31:30] The Death of the Classroom: Why face-to-face connection is surging and how it builds personal brand.
[00:36:24] Launchpads, Not Entry Points: Challenging the industry to rethink the purpose of graduate programs.
[00:42:42] Quick Fire Section: Nick’s rapid-fire takes on AI, classroom learning, and the future of talent.

Creating Opportunity for Everyone with Alison Guest - Ep. 4

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Talent Download, host and CEO of Amberjack, Darren Lancaster sits down with Alison Guest, Graduate & Apprenticeship Manager at Morrisons, to explore the powerful role of opportunity and ambition in early careers.

Alison provides an authentic look at the "anything is possible" culture within one of the UK’s largest retailers. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of degree apprenticeships, the challenges of navigating a career in a fast-paced commercial environment, and why leadership in 2026 requires a focus on social mobility and inclusive growth.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Darren welcomes Alison Guest to discuss the unique "opportunity culture" at Morrisons.

[00:05:12] The Power of Ambition: How Morrisons provides a platform for individuals to grow from entry-level roles into leadership.

[00:14:45] Apprenticeships as a Catalyst: A look at how degree apprenticeships are reshaping the retail talent landscape.

[00:26:30] Navigating High-Volume Retail: The challenges and rewards of managing talent at scale in a business that never sleeps.

[00:38:15] Building Inclusive Pathways: Why social mobility is at the heart of their early careers strategy.

[00:41:00] Quick Fire Section: Darren asks Alison about her own career reflections and the one piece of advice she would give to her younger self.

Hiring for Potential - Talent Download - Ep.3 ft. Kema Davies

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Talent Download, host Darren Lancaster sits down with Kema Davies, Manager and Recruitment at Hiscox, to explore why "potential is everywhere."

Kema provides an authentic and deep-dive look at the industry shift from performance-based hiring to potential-based hiring. The conversation dives deep into the role of AI in assessments, the challenges of scaling early careers across a global organization, and why recruitment in 2026 requires a "human wraparound" to ensure technology serves to enable, rather than just filter, diverse talent.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Darren introduces Kema Davies and her role at Microsoft.

[00:02:45] Scaling Global Talent: Insights into managing early career strategies across a massive global footprint.

[00:05:37] Potential vs. Performance: Why looking for what a candidate can do is more important than what they have already done.

[00:15:15] The "Human Wraparound": Balancing the efficiency of AI with the necessity of human empathy in the screening process.

[00:28:40] Leading for Diversity: How Microsoft builds inclusive pathways to find talent in every corner of the world.

[00:40:55] Quick Fire Section: Kema shares her personal career advice and answers rapid-fire questions on leadership and growth.

Is University Becoming Irrelevant? - Talent Download - Ep. 2 ft. Tom Rogers

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Talent Download, host Darren Lancaster sits down with Tom Rogers, Early Careers Practitioner, to explore the seismic shift in how young talent enters the workforce.

Tom provides a deep-dive look at the fading prestige of the traditional degree and why the "2:1 from a prestigious university" requirement is rapidly disappearing from the market. The conversation dives deep into the rise of skills-based hiring, the challenges of managing high-volume recruitment "black holes," and why successful hiring in 2026 requires prioritizing individual authenticity over academic brand names.

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Daren introduces Tom Rogers and the core debate: is the university degree losing its relevance?
[00:02:15] The Skills Revolution: Why major employers are pivoting away from academic filters toward practical skill sets.
[00:10:40] The Apprenticeship Surge: Understanding why 400,000 students are now choosing apprenticeships as their primary career path.
[00:22:15] Navigating the Black Hole: Strategies for managing industrial-scale recruitment while maintaining a human connection with candidates.
[00:35:50] The "Human" Advantage: How to help candidates show their true selves and why personal branding is the new "gold standard."
[00:41:00] Quick Fire Section: Daren puts Tom on the spot with questions about his career journey and his #1 message to every aspiring apprentice.

AI in Recruitment: Fair or Biased? - Talent Download Ep. 1 ft. Martin Kavanagh and Lauren Edge

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In the series premiere of Talent Download, Amberjack CEO Daren Lancaster sits down with occupational psychologists Martin Kavanagh (Head of Assessment) and Lauren Edge (Principal Consultant) to pull back the curtain on AI in the screening process.

As application rates surge from 35 to 145 per job, organizations are under immense pressure to process candidates quickly without losing the "human touch." We explore the science of fairness, the reality of human cognitive load, and why 90% of candidates are now opting into AI scoring.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Science of Quality Assurance: How rigorous training in line with British Psychological Society (BPS) standards ensures fairness.

The "Human Wraparound": Why Amberjack QAs a minimum of 30% of AI screens and how human experts intervene when technology is uncertain.

Transcript-Based Assessment: How focusing solely on words—rather than video or background—removes visual bias.

The Candidate Experience: Why AI can provide faster, more detailed feedback than traditional manual processes.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Talent Download

00:41 – The big question: Is AI screening fair?

02:10 – Defining the Quality Assurance (QA) process

03:20 – Calibration: Aligning human and machine screeners

04:42 – Why "good people" can make wrong decisions

07:34 – The surge in application rates (35 vs. 145 per job)

08:54 – Core principles of a robust QA process

10:17 – Why Amberjack introduced AI into the screening mix

11:51 – Avoiding "imperfect action" and risky AI adoption

14:04 – The "Human Wraparound": Keeping experts in the loop

15:37 – Transcript-based scoring vs. visual bias

18:10 – Monitoring for adverse impact and demographic bias

20:34 – Why 90% of candidates opt into AI screening

23:51 – Stopping bottlenecks and improving feedback speed

28:51 – Client reactions to AI tools: Trust vs. Skepticism

31:05 – How AI provides more detailed candidate feedback

36:02 – The future: AI coaching and positive action

40:46 – Rapid Fire: True or False on the future of AI