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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

CIPD 70th Annual Conference and Exhibition - supporting HR professionals to embrace the new world of work

The CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, has announced the programme for its 70th Annual Conference and Exhibition, taking place at Manchester Central on 8-9 November 2017.

As the major HR conference of the year, the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition attracts thousands of national and international attendees. The theme for this year is embracing the new world of work, and the conference will focus on the major shifts that are affecting organisations, the people profession, and the world of work at large. Leading commentators, academics and practitioners will share practical insights through keynotes, case studies and debates on how to modernise people practices to succeed in the changing realities of work, and shape a positive future that will benefit everyone. 

Conference sessions will be geared around five key streams:

  • Future of Work and HR – understanding the impact of the digital revolution of work, the rise of technology, the shifting socio-political landscape, and our economic and moral imperative to champion inclusion, fairness and good work
  • Business Effectiveness and Transformation – covering organisational change, new ways of working, the implications of using people data, analytics and the importance of strategic and evidence-based decisions
  • Talent, Skills and Capabilities – addressing leadership, line management skills, the importance of coaching and continuous learning, effective talent attraction and unbiased recruitment practices
  • Well-being, Engagement and Behaviours – focusing on holistic well-being strategies, flexible working, people engagement and behaviour, workspace design and the impact of multiple generations in the workplace
  • HR and People Management Essentials – covering new trends in performance management, reward, the latest developments in employment law, apprenticeships and the role of business partnering

Baroness Martha Lane-Fox, co-founder of Lastminute.com and former UK Digital Champion will deliver the opening keynote on creating a fair and inclusive digital world that works for everyone. She will address the responsibility of organisations in modernising practices to enable a digital future, the role of digital understanding and accountability, and the importance of ethical, sustainable, inclusive and responsible technology.

Professor Gernot Schulz, a conductor and former member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, will close the conference accompanied by a classical orchestra to demonstrate how leaders can enable optimal performance. Through a combination of musical performance and inspirational talk, the closing keynote will address the fine balance between guidance and autonomy, the conditions for seamless integration and collaboration, and the importance of leading through emotion and intuition. 

Running alongside the conference is the CIPD Exhibition, in which more than 180 leading HR and L&D suppliers will be showcasing their latest innovations and solutions. The exhibition features a free programme of bite-sized learning sessions and insight from suppliers, synchronised with the key themes of the conference agenda. CIPD experts and conference speakers will also be sharing their knowledge and expertise on how to understand and approach current and future challenges in work and working lives.

Peter Cheese, CIPD Chief Executive, comments: “We are already seeing many changes in the world of work from digitisation and the impact of rising automation, to the changing expectations and demographics of our workforces, and the ongoing change and uncertainty in the socio-political landscape. At the same time, we need to make real progress on the ongoing challenges of greater inclusion, well-being and engagement, fairness and opportunity, but also the business imperatives of improving productivity, innovation and agility. These will be key to how organisations respond and thrive in the future, and creating the environments, roles and support to get the best out of people really must be at the centre of the debate.

“So whilst this is a time of significant change, it also creates many new and exciting opportunities for organisations, and a big agenda for our profession to make a profound difference. Through smarter job design, inclusive workplaces, greater employee voice and more purposeful leadership, organisations will be able to innovate and make the most of their people, however they employ them and whatever the context. HR and L&D professionals are in a unique position to drive this change in their organisations, which is why this year’s event is all about establishing a greater understanding of the major changes that are affecting people at work. We’re excited to be bringing you new content streams, new formats, and insight and inspiration from some of the most influential experts and thought leaders. And through discussions, debates and workshops, we’ll be encouraging you to visualise and embrace the new world of work in your own organisational contexts.”

www2.cipd.co.uk/events/annual