This week saw the 2025 CIPP Annual Conference and Exhibition take place in the beautiful Celtic Manor Resort. A highlight of the HR and payroll industry calendar, the event spanned two days, culminating in celebration and networking at the Annual Excellence Awards.
For Zellis, it was more than just an event – it was an opportunity to live our brand narrative, Unlimit What’s Next, by showcasing how we power exceptional employee experiences and help organisations embrace smarter, more connected ways to work.
Our Speakers Shine: Delivering Insights on Key Workplace Topics
We were proud to see three Zellis experts take the stage throughout the conference to share their knowledge and bring innovation to their peers:
Neurodiversity for Employers – how to become more inclusive
Cybill Watkins MCIPP, Zellis Group Product Legislation Manager, Zellis
Michelle Hobson, HR Services Director, Moorepay Ltd
Cybill and Michelle delivered a fantastic session aiming to support employers in creating an environment that helps neurodivergent colleagues to thrive. A thorough examination of support, they covered:
- Understanding neurodiversity
- The power of a neurodiverse workplace
- Laws, practices, policies and reporting
- Supporting leaders in creating a neuroinclusive workplace
Artificial Intelligence Panel
Steve Elcock, Director of product AI, Zellis
Pete Taliakos, HR Tech Analyst & Strategic Advisor
Ian Hodson MSc ChFCIPPdip, Director of people and Culture, Housing 21
Ana Laiu MSc FCIPPdip, Director of Pay and Rewards, PPHE Hotel Group
This insightful panel session sought to answer the question; “The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be taking over payroll events worldwide! But what does AI mean in everyday payroll processing?”
Throughout their discussion, the panellists shared their experiencers using AI, the software advances they have implemented, and how AI can support employees – with real-world examples of the benefits AI has brought to their teams.
Bringing ZellisONE and ZellisONE Pay to life
At this year’s CIPP Annual Exhibition, our colleagues at Zellis introduced industry leaders from across the UK to ZellisONE – our all-in-one, AI-enabled platform built to remove friction across HR, talent, workforce management, pay, and benefits.
Unveiled under our new brand narrative, Unlimit What’s Next, ZellisONE represents how we’re helping organisations unlock smarter, faster, and more connected ways to work. Whether starting with ZellisONE Pay or HR, then scaling into talent, workforce management, or benefits, the platform adapts to the needs of every organisation – always with people at the heart.
This is how we bring our brand purpose to life: powering exceptional employee experiences. By connecting every stage of the employee lifecycle, ZellisONE goes beyond process efficiency to create meaningful, engaging experiences that drive both individual and organisational success.
Celebrating Excellence at the 2025 CIPP Awards
At the 2025 CIPP Annual Excellence Awards, we were delighted to sponsor the CIPP Leadership Awards, with our Chief Service Officer, David Crewe, presenting the trophy to Maria Mason ChMCIPPdip.
We were also proud to see our customers take home accolades, with Housing 21 scooping the Financial Wellbeing Award and Project of the Year, while Durham County Council were Highly commended for Payroll service provider of the year (20,001 – 75,000 payslips per month).
The 2025 CIPP Annual Conference once again proved to be an invaluable gathering for the HR and payroll community. From meaningful conversations about neurodiversity and AI to celebrating the outstanding achievements of our customers, the event highlighted the innovation and dedication that drives our industry forward. We’re already looking forward to continuing these important discussions and supporting excellence in payroll and HR throughout the year ahead.
