HR on The Solway — Summer 2026 Networking & CPD Event

Beyond the Policy: A Women's Safety, Menopause and Workplace Wellbeing Perspective
About this Event

📅 Wednesday 19th August 2026

🕐12:00–2:00 PM

📍The Usual Place, Dumfries

⭐FREE

Join us for our Summer HR on The Solway networking and CPD session — and we think this one might be our most important yet.

We have two incredible speakers joining us for what promises to be a powerful, practical and thought-provoking afternoon covering two of the most important issues facing HR and People teams right now.

Sarah Schofield, Founder of The Safe Woman, will be exploring what it really means to create safer workplaces for women — moving beyond policy on paper into what would actually hold up under tribunal scrutiny.

Under the Worker Protection Act, if a claim of sexual harassment succeeds, the tribunal must consider whether the employer met their preventative duty. If they didn't, compensation can be increased by up to 25%. Having something written down is no longer enough. The question is whether what you have in place would survive scrutiny. That's a very different standard — and it requires a very different level of preparation.

Lindsay Thomson, CBT Therapist and Founder of CBT with Lindsay, will then be delivering a dedicated workplace menopause session using evidence-based CBT techniques — exploring how organisations can build genuinely supportive, inclusive environments for employees navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Schedule

• 12:00–12:30 PM: Complimentary tea, coffee and cakes & networking
• 12:30–1:15 PM: Guest speaker — Sarah Schofield, The Safe Woman
• 1:15–2:00 PM: Guest speaker — Lindsay Thomson, CBT with Lindsay

What you'll explore:

🔸The Worker Protection Act and your preventative duty as an employer.

🔸Moving beyond policy into real-world prevention strategies.

🔸VAWG policies, personal safety training and domestic abuse reporting mechanisms. 🔸Supporting female employees with the resources they actually need.

🔸Menopause in the workplace — awareness, practical strategies and creating a genuinely supportive culture.

🔸CBT tools for supporting employees through perimenopause and menopause

Meet our speakersSarah Schofield — Founder, The Safe Woman Specialist in women's safety training, workplace confidence and duty of care. Her accredited workshops draw on practical women's safety principles originally commissioned by the British Government in 1941, reimagined for modern workplaces, travel, lone working and everyday life. Has worked with organisations across the UK including Members of Parliament, Police and Crime Commissioners, public sector bodies and corporate teams. Winner: Best New Business of the Year 2025 and Best Emerging Business 2026, Trustee for Ask for Angela. Bi-monthly columnist for In Cumbria Magazine on women's safety

Lindsay Thomson — CBT Therapist, CBT with Lindsay Cognitive Behavioural Therapist based in Dumfries. Specialist in workplace mental health, stress management and emotional resilience. Delivers engaging, evidence-based menopause workshops for organisations covering awareness, open discussion and practical CBT strategies. Helps managers and teams build the confidence and tools to have meaningful conversations and create a healthier, more inclusive workplace culture

Places are limited — register now to secure your FREE spot!

What is HR on The Solway? An HR-specific networking group for HR professionals who live and/or work in South West Scotland.

⭐A collaborative, inclusive community for HR professionals at all levels. Bi-monthly lunchtime meetings with knowledge-sharing and networking.

⭐A friendly, informal space where you can connect with peers.

⭐CPD and learning opportunities and guest speakers

No CIPD membership required — all HR professionals welcome!Brought to you by Lyndsey Fitheridge from Foxgroves Recruitment & Jennie Griffiths from Foster Your People HR, two female HR and recruitment entrepreneurs serving South West Scotland.

Agenda

🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Complimentary tea, coffee and cakes & networking
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:15 PM
Guest speaker — Sarah Schofield, The Safe Woman
Host: Sarah Schofield
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Lindsay Thomson, CBT with Lindsay
Host: Lindsay Thomson