If you work in HR, employee experience, or internal communications, you probably know this challenge all too well: You’re committed to improving the employee experience (EX), but budgets are tight, buy-in is a battle, and strategic support is patchy at best.
The latest EX Report from The EX Space (2025) underscores just how widespread this issue is. More than a quarter of organisations surveyed reported EX budgets of less than £10,000, and 36% said they have to make a business case for every single spend. Only 19% felt their allocated budgets were actually enough to deliver on their plans.
This isn’t just about money. The lack of investment is a direct symptom of a bigger problem: many senior leaders still see EX as a nice-to-have, rather than a strategic priority. Without clear data on ROI and a focused strategy, EX teams struggle to get the resources they need to drive real impact.
And yet, we know that EX matters—because when done right, it transforms organisations.
Why it’s time to rethink engagement
Despite more than 20 years of organisations prioritising employee engagement, the results haven’t improved. In fact, some studies suggest that employees are less engaged now than ever before.
Why? Because many organisations have been trying to fix engagement itself, rather than designing experiences that actually drive it.
That’s exactly what we’ll be tackling in our keynote at the Employee Experience & Engagement Conference 2025. My EX Space co-founder, Lee Smith, and I will be sharing insights from over 15 years of People Lab research, answering the fundamental question: What does a great employee experience actually look and feel like?
We’ll also introduce a simple, practical, but powerful tool that will help you discover what truly makes a difference in your own organisation.
A conference for people professionals—without the price tag
Here’s the best part: This conference is completely free to attend.
With budgets under pressure and the need for smarter, more strategic approaches to EX, this is an opportunity to gain insights, tools, and inspiration without the usual financial hurdles. You’ll hear from leading experts in EX, connect with peers facing the same challenges, and leave with practical strategies you can apply immediately.
If you’re working to build the business case for EX, navigate budget constraints, or simply re-energise your approach, this event is for you.
Join us and be part of the EX revolution
Employee experience isn’t just about engagement scores or perks—it’s about intentionally designing workplaces that people truly want to be part of. If that sounds like something you want to be part of, then don’t miss this opportunity.
📅 Sign up for free here: https://employeexperience.co.uk
I’d love to see you there. Let’s start a revolution.
