Coffee & Connect December

This month's guest speaker is Tamar HR, specialist in helping businesses across the South West to get the best from their employees. Event Details: • Date: Tuesday 15th December 2026 • Time: 08:30am – 09:30am • Location: The Atrium, Exeter Science Park Centre Tickets: Free for business based at Exeter Science Park, £5 for all other businesses Agenda: • 08:30 – Arrive for refreshments and light breakfast • 09:00 – Informal chat from Tamar HR • 09:20 – Final refreshments • 09:30 – Finish Join us and build your network at Coffee & Connect at Exeter Science Park, a monthly networking event designed for businesses on the park and the wider community to come together, connect, and grow over coffee and breakfast. Held on the third Tuesday of every month, this event is an opportunity to meet fellow professionals, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations in an informal setting. Each session features a special guest organisation bringing valuable business support. This month, we are pleased to welcome Tamar HR. Tamar HR Specialise in helping businesses across the South West to get the best from their employees, by providing expert support, advice and training. Established in 2005, Tamar HR has grown to be the trusted HR partner for several of the South West’s most successful and expanding businesses. Throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, we have helped local businesses to nurture and grow their people, enabling both employees and companies to develop and thrive. Topic: Unfair Dismissals and the Importance of Probation Periods The Employment Rights Act 2025, formerly known as the Employment Rights Bill, represents a key element of the Government’s commitment to its "Make Work Pay" agenda, aimed at supporting economic growth, increasing wages, and reducing insecure employment practices. Having received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, the Act will be introduced in phases over a two-year period. It brings forward a wide-ranging programme of employment law reforms that will significantly reshape the employment relationship across the UK. Key changes include enhanced protections for workers, such as the reduction of the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years’ continuous service to six months in January 2027. Emma and Danny from Tamar HR will guide you through the key legislative changes in connection with Unfair Dismissals, highlighting the importance of effective probationary periods, proactive performance management during the early stages of employment, and maintaining comprehensive employment records to support compliance and good employment practice. Parking Information: Please use the following address for your sat nav: Exeter Science Park, 6 Babbage Way, Clyst Honiton, Exeter EX5 2FN Visitors Car Park: (red dotted line on the map below) Turn into the Science Park from Old Honiton Road, enter through the barrier (which will automatically raise when you draw up to it), turn immediately left, then right and follow the road to the end where you will find the visitors car park on your left. If this car park is full please use the Park and Change carpark (quickest route from Visitor Car Park: follow the green dotted line on the attached map. Please note that it is an exit only barrier at the back of the Science Park and you will need to loop around onto Old Honiton Road to re-enter the Science Park by car). The Park and Change is located just off Anning Drive, north of Old Honiton Road and next to the Exeter Science Park. If you are approaching from the M5 or Old Honiton Road, take the junction to the Science Park just east of Junction 29 on the M5, drive past the main entrance and Hotel and take next left onto Tithebarn Way, turn left again onto Anning Drive and take the next left into the Park and Change.