Competing for talent: Keep yourself on the right side of the law

Staying compliant as competition for talent heats up

With pay transparency on the rise and organisations competing harder than ever for top people, the line between collaboration and collusion can get blurry.

That’s why we’re hosting the next CIPD Northern Ireland Reward Network event here at MCS Group — an essential session designed to help HR, legal, and recruitment professionals understand how competition law applies to hiring and pay practices.

What the session covers

Delivered by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), this event will unpack what it really means to compete fairly for talent — and the serious risks of getting it wrong.

You’ll gain insight into:

• How competition law applies to recruitment, wage setting, and hiring practices
• What constitutes anti-competitive behaviour (e.g. no-poaching or wage-fixing agreements)
• Where collective bargaining fits within legal boundaries
• Best practice for compliance, training, and reporting suspected activity
• How to respond if a candidate discloses anti-competitive behaviour

Guest Speaker

Lucilia Falsarella Pereira
Senior Director of Antitrust and Cartels, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

Lucilia will share insights from the CMA’s Competing for Talent guide and answer audience questions on compliance, reporting, and employer responsibilities.

Who should attend

This event is ideal for:

• HR and Talent Acquisition professionals
• Legal and Compliance teams
• Business leaders and people managers
• Recruitment consultants and agencies

Event details

Date: Wednesday 22 October 2025
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am (Networking until 12:00pm)
Venue: The Ewart, 3 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7EP (Hosted by MCS Group)
Cost: Free (registration required)

[Register on Eventbrite]