2024 LINE-UP

Daniel provides a radical new framework for thinking about AI, and discusses how organisations can practically adopt these technologies and avoid being seduced by the hype. He argues that whilst these technologies are incredible at creating growth and streamlining operations, for companies to stay innovative they need to also use AI to unlock the creative capacity of their workforce. Daniel also covers the macro impact these technologies may have over the coming decades.

Global healthcare company Bupa embarked on a mission to truly engage its employees all over the globe. With a multilingual workforce working in hospitals, nursing homes and offices, Bupa wanted a way to communicate and include everyone in its company culture. Fostering micro-communities and creating engaging internal campaigns, Bupa has reached record employee engagement levels. In this session, you’ll get an insight into how a global healthcare brand is creating a strong digital employee experience and bringing its culture to life.

• Mental health is the biggest driver of long term sickness absence, why are businesses not taking it seriously enough?
• Understanding how the political, financial and environmental climate can have an impact on employees' mental health.
• Increasing support for staff during periods of change and understanding how this might affect them in the workplace.
• Recognising that each individual will be facing unique challenges and implementing practical strategies to support employees.

• What strategies can be used to help support teams manage rising workloads? 
• Using diagnostic questions as a method to assess knowledge and understanding quickly and accurately.
•  Gain insight into how you can utilise performance consulting to create a learning impact.

Colleague retention is an ongoing theme, with companies across the country looking to improve their benefits offering to retain employees. Equally, for many HR professionals, supporting the decarbonisation journey by adapting current practices to meet the government’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050 is an inescapable priority.

One effective way of navigating these issues is by implementing an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, and one of the world’s largest professional services networks has successfully achieved this. With further discussion on:

• How an effective salary sacrifice scheme can positively impact colleague retention;
• Why companies are introducing a salary sacrifice schemes to achieve net zero goals;
• How PwC introduced their own salary sacrifice scheme more than 20 years ago, and the results they’ve seen since.

Join us for an illuminating fireside chat with Dr. Alex George, hosted by the CEO of Investors in People, Paul Devoy. Dive into the heart of workplace wellbeing as we explore how inspirational leadership and a supportive culture are the cornerstones of employee health and happiness. Discover actionable insights and strategies to foster an environment where wellbeing flourishes and productivity soars. Dr. Alex George, with his unique blend of medical expertise and passion for mental health advocacy, will share his vision on how leaders can become the architects of a positive organisational ethos. Don’t miss this opportunity to reshape the future of work and empower your team to reach their full potential.

• The significance of corporate values and role they play in creating a company culture
• How to embed and promote organisational values 
• How can we keep values alive and inspire people at work?
• How to build a relationship with your comms teams

Join expert physiologists and workplace scientists Dr Phill Bell & Dr Joe Kupusarevic as they explore how principles from high-performance sports can be applied to the workplace, the increased priority of wellbeing, and the crucial role of both organisations and employees in fostering a healthy work environment. 

Discover actionable insights, the importance of a holistic approach, and the latest strategies driving wellbeing prioritisation across industries. 

Leave with practical takeaways to enhance your organisation's wellbeing initiatives and create a happy, healthy and thriving workforce. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your workplace wellbeing for a new era!

Readily-accessible generative AI is poised to reshape job roles and skills. Future-proof your organisation with insights on what L&D strategies should be adopted to meet evolving skill demands and to harness AI for upskilling and reskilling.

• Defining AI and automation in business operations. 
• Demonstrating how AI can boost productivity, reduce costs, improve decision-making, and enhance customer experiences.
• Addressing ethical concerns such as job displacement, bias, privacy, and control in AI. 
• Examining real-world examples of AI. 
• Emphasising the need for updated frameworks to address emerging ethical issues and existing regulations. 
• Highlighting best practices such as ethical assessments, transparency, and ongoing employee training.
  

This session is designed to help you understand why culture matters and identify the top three priorities that are essential to build an intentional culture at scale.

• Defining diversity beyond traditional demographics
• Effective strategies for cultivating a more diverse workforce
• Attracting diverse talent through inclusive job descriptions and recruitment strategies
• What adjustments can be made to support everyone at work?

Television presenter, journalist, and media personality, Stacey specialises in social-issue-themed television documentaries and was appointed a MBE for services to broadcasting. She will speak on a variety of hard-hitting subjects including modern slavery, mental health, ESG and gender equality.

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt to change is paramount for organisational success. This presentation explores the contrasting approaches of companies that thrive by fostering a culture of change versus those relying solely on change programs. Attendees will gain insights into the dynamics of organisational culture, leadership strategies, and the role of change initiatives in driving sustainable transformation. By understanding these nuances, participants will be equipped to navigate their organisations through change effectively by cultivating adaptable cultures rather than one off change programs.

In today's rapidly evolving workplace, harnessing HR data can unlock rich insights into employee engagement and satisfaction. But how can you leverage this information to create targeted and enhanced internal communications, elevating the employee experience?  

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) is a critical initiative in many businesses today – not just for nurturing a culture of belonging – but for igniting innovation, enhancing morale and bolstering workplace culture. But how do you implement DE&I initiatives effectively and sensitively?  

The revolution of flexible working has enabled access to a global workforce, dismantling geographic limitations and championing diversity in work schedules and settings. Yet, the challenge looms large: how do you best communicate with a workforce that is both diverse and dispersed?

Join Kinsey Li, Stephanie Coward and Daniel Grace as they explore how technology and strategic communications can help cultivate a forward-thinking and inclusive workplace culture – and ultimately grow your business value.

We'll be diving deep into the dynamic shifts happening in the world of work and how both businesses and individuals are gearing up for the future amidst rapid technological advancements and societal changes.

Is it time to start practicing what we preach? HR practitioners are often busy ensuring employee health and wellbeing stays on the agenda, and developing strategies and interventions to address any issue. But should this be to the detriment of our own self-care? Our session explores how people professionals can prioritise and role model self-care, and the impact this has on overall employee wellbeing.

A thought-provoking discussion exploring the delicate dance between decision-making and information gathering and help us unravel the paradox that challenges us to navigate the fine line between decisive action and the pursuit of knowledge.

Deciding to hastily risks incomplete understanding, while excessive information seeking may lead to indecision. 

How does organisational culture, or the preferences of our leaders and people, potentially impact our ability to navigate this opportunity.

Join the CIPD Trust and their expert panel to learn more about supporting refugees to translate their skills to the UK and flourish in work.

• How successful allyship is interdependent, relying on allies and marginalised groups helping one another to create a more inclusive and equitable society 
•  Understanding the nature of intersectionality and how privilege comes in different forms 
•  Why accountability is important in order to define a baseline workforce demographic to work from 
•  How managers can have a greater impact on the world of work

• Are the human and people skills more important than ever to co work and manage generative AI?
• The people professionals role in managing AI —How will we guide responsibly and ethically as usage evolves?
• How can people professionals gain maximum advantage from AI?
• AI guidance and legislation – are guiding principles enough?

• What is the first step to measuring the correct KPIs?
• Exploring measures of engagement that are suitable for different goals
• What to do to improve employee engagement and reevaluate the impact of different initiatives
• What are the implications of a disengaged workforce and how to avoid them?

Long-standing career advice and axioms are fast losing validity in the workplace of 2024, as new technologies gain ground and people across the UK strive to redefine the place of work in their lives. What were once regarded as privileges are now priorities, and employees are increasingly emboldened to make their voices heard. All of which makes listening to their opinions imperative for HR and payroll leaders. 

In this session you will hear insights into a range of topics that matter to UK workers, including: 

• Job security and pay 
• Skill development and career progression 
• The developing role of DEI 
• Hybrid and remote work 
• Stress and mental health.

The Gender Health Gap, where women experience poorer health outcomes than men, is still prevalent across the UK. It is impacting women’s physical and mental health in their personal lives, but it is also having a significant effect on women in the workplace. This session will explore it’s impact on women’s professional development, the discriminations they are experiencing and how employers can better support their health and wellbeing, to close the Gap for good.

Scott explains why it’s so hard to challenge poor behaviour, shows you how to keep a cool head when someone takes you by surprise - and gives you tips on how to speak up.

AI is reshaping the world of work yet for many it is still shrouded in mystery. Join us to learn how organisations can embrace transparency to ensure AI integrations and their benefits are visible and understood. We’ll cover employee expectations, driving buy-in through transparency and the importance of responsible AI.

• Unlock innovation through neurodiversity
• Create inclusive policies and practices
• Fulfil DEI commitments with neurodiversity in mind
• Inclusive tools that maximise talent in the workplace

Want to explore how to revolutionise your traditional HR operations with a people-first approach? This session will reveal how to make your c-suite sit up, listen up, and truly understand the value of investing in people for better business outcomes. This isn’t about Human Resources, it’s about Human Success. Delve into inspirational insights to help you to become the change, energizing and motivating you to join the Human Success movement. Discover how to transform your approach to HR and ignite a new era of success.

As organizations navigate the evolving landscape of work, integrating advanced technology has become paramount. Join us for an interesting fireside chat led by Darwinbox, a global leading HCM platform, as we explore how AI is transforming HR. Learn about the seamless integration of AI in HR, from contextual intelligence and smart automation, to driving efficiency and enhancing employee experience. Learn about Darwinbox’s skills ontology and AI-backed talent management to ensure the right person is in the right job, fostering continuous learning and development. Gain actionable insights to prepare your organization for an AI-powered future and understand the tangible benefits of embracing next-gen HR technology.

Current and Future Trends in AI for HR: Gain insights into how AI is transforming and is expected to transform the HR landscape over the next five years, including emerging trends and technologies.

Practical Applications and Impact of AI in Talent: Learn how Darwinbox and PwC are helping organizations leverage AI to ensure the right person is in the right job, while optimizing workforce capabilities.

Measuring ROI on AI Investments: Learn how to effectively measure the ROI on AI initiatives in HR, ensuring that your technology investments deliver tangible business benefits.

Real-World Success Stories: Gain insights from real-world examples of organizations that have successfully transformed their HR operations with Darwinbox's next-gen technology.

• What key behaviours are associated with effective line management and how can they be learnt and refined?
• Increasing the prioritisation and capacity for organisations to supply learning and development initiatives to support the development of leadership.
• How can you be a good leader in a hybrid environment which has created more siloed working styles?

• Leading, supporting and improving a culture of wellbeing. 
• Why people are the biggest asset to every organisation. 
• Top tips for creating a healthy workplace culture. 
• Supportive management to ensure an organisation is ‘high performing’. 
• The work-life balance in the ever-changing workplace and how wellbeing feeds into this.

• Understand how AI is radically transforming learning and development, making traditional approaches obsolete. It's adapt or fall behind.
• Learn how to intentionally harness AI to meet the fast-changing skills needs of every employee.
• Discover strategies to leverage AI for creating more engaging, interactive, and effective learning environments.
• Walk away with actionable insights on integrating AI and automation into your learning and development strategies to stay relevant and competitive.

The Post Office/Horizon scandal showed how damaging over-trustfulness in technology can be. As AI becomes more embedded in digital HR solutions, how can people professionals use them responsibly? In this session we share AI governance and assurance approaches to derisk and build trust in AI in HR.

What adjustments can be made to ensure every mind is included? 

What benefits could neurodiversity bring to the workplace and what are the risks to businesses and individuals of not being neuro inclusive? 

How to better understand neurodivergent conditions and how they affect ways of working.

Training line managers on best practice and working alongside staff with neurodiversity to create an inclusive culture

Alex, the first female Chief Executive of a major UK broadcaster, has transformed Channel 4 into a digital-first public media company. In this fireside chat she will discuss the pressures of leadership, and why it's important to create an honest and open culture. She'll also discuss the key principles behind embedding diversity, inclusion and equity in your organisation.

Low engagement not only drains employee morale and productivity but also significantly affects retention – costing the global economy trillions. Despite the high priority many businesses place on employee engagement, the majority of solutions fail to address the specific needs of frontline workers. To get to the root of the problem, we spoke directly with frontline workers, gaining invaluable insights into their needs and perspectives. 

Join HR technology expert Luke Boshoff, as he explores these raw frontline perspectives and shares actionable insights for you, including: 

• Why engagement initiatives consistently fail frontline workers
• What frontline employees genuinely think, want, and need 
• Real-world success stories from global brands like McDonald's Germany, Bosch, and Porsche 
• How to pick engagement solutions that embrace the diversity of your frontline.

Do you know how best to use AI and HR analytics in your organisation? If you said no, you’re not alone. 

AI and analytics is a top concern for HR and business leaders right now. But how do you cut through the hype, and make sure it is truly driving business value?

The challenge for HR practitioners lies in understanding and harnessing the potential of the technology to enhance various aspects of HR functions. As AI revolutionises industries, HR professionals must understand how to leverage its capabilities to drive workforce efficiency, personalised employee experiences and exploring actionable insights to make better decisions. 

Join us for an insightful and engaging panel session, designed exclusively for HR practitioners keen to embrace the transformative power of AI and Analytics within their organisations. Continue the conversation as we delve into the granular and profound impact AI and Analytics can and will have in empowering people to do the best work of their lives.

• Removing taboos and creating open and honest conversations about mental health in the workplace.
• Normalising leaders talking about mental health and showing that vulnerability can be a strength, not a weakness.
•  Encouraging self-care across the people profession and communicating what support is available.
• Tackling stress and burnout and creating working environments where work-life balance is prioritised.

In a world where leaders are faced with mounting expectations and ever-expanding job roles, identifying those best placed for success is becoming more and more complex. Do success profiles really work? Should you focus on capability, skill, mindset or personality? How do you move past ‘words on a wall’ to create true value for the business? During this session, we’ll dig into the data and make sense of the noise to examine the foundations of effective leadership and simplify the complex world of success profiles.

• What does CSR mean for your organisation? 
•  How can you bring your employees along on your CSR journey?
• Intertwining your commitment to corporate social responsibility with company values to create purpose.
• Measuring and reporting on corporate social responsibility within your organisation and communicating the successes with stakeholders.

“DEI must DIE” according to one high-profile figure, but to what extent is a growing backlash toward equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) genuine, and what lies at the root cause of growing disengagement? Many of the disengaged would argue EDI has become too complex. But is there now an opportunity to take note, understand and learn from these challenges to simplify the focus of EDI to a set of equalities principles and measures?

By 2025, Gen Z will account for 27% of the workforce*. But how are their generational experiences moulding their work-life expectations? Can companies cater to multigenerational needs whilst balancing rising costs? And how should businesses adapt now to build future resilience? 

• The generational differences in wellbeing challenges and needs 
• How companies can embrace ‘quiet quitting’ in their people strategies 
• The influence of senior leadership support in driving wellbeing success 
• How companies can successfully engage a diverse workforce

This session will provide valuable insight on:

• The key drivers for change and how near and long-term workplace issues are shifting financial wellbeing strategies
• How employers can develop their financial wellbeing strategy to prepare for what’s coming next
• What will financial resilience and literacy support look like in the years ahead
• Practical examples to help employers understand what they need to do now to build strong financial habits among the employees of the future

Transparent and honest communication is fundamental to establishing a psychologically safe environment and culture. It’s also a critical component to building interpersonal trust and supporting a healthy functioning workplace. But what does it take to build psychological safety in organisations and why is it critical when it comes to delivering difficult conversations?

• The role employee appreciation and support plays in boosting morale and wellbeing 
• The power of a robust employee-first strategy to enhance the employee value proposition 
• Tips to align your total reward package with evolving employee demands.

• How can you build a positive organisational culture under a hybrid model? 
• Adopting mindful approaches to technology that focus on maintaining a work-life balance. 
• Building a sense of belonging through keeping teams connected when working flexibly. 
• The role of line managers in checking in on employees and creating safe spaces to raise concerns.

• Why we should focus on building a learning culture based on strengths.
• Strategies to ensure this is embedded effectively in a time-poor work environment.
• How to build this into a team environment to encourage peer support for development.

During this talk, we'll delve into how the victory of any of the three major political parties could impact Employment Law. We'll focus on key areas such as sick pay, flexible working arrangements, family-friendly leave policies, day-one rights, and more. With further discussion on: - Explore the Labour Party’s proposed employment law changes - Discuss how a new government could impact your HR policies and procedures - Compare the main parties and their promises for HR law - And try and answer any questions you have during Q&A, related to employment law changes.

• What are the potential biases involved in machine learning? 
• Avoiding biases in recruitment when using AI 
• How to use AI to promote diversity and revolutionise inclusive practices 
• What are the ethical implications of AI in the ED&I space?

Case study 1 The new HR playbook – HR transformation in the digital age 

The presentation will overview proven, practical frameworks to navigate a successful HR transformation that supports your organisation in remaining competitive in the digital era. Successful HR transformation requires a holistic approach that combines people, processes, and technology to create a more agile, efficient, and strategic HR function that aligns with the organisation's goals. 

• Setting the transformation roadmap - from What to What ? 
• Aligning with business strategy and key stakeholders 
• Leading and embedding cultural change 
• Talent management 
• Measuring success 

Case Study 2 - Building a digital community for employee engagement 

An HR-driven initiative with wide-ranging impact that changed how employees dispersed in time and space connect with each other and strengthened organisational belonging.

• Build your capacity to really listen and be confident in the moment 
• Learn how the improv mindset can spark creativity and lead to a more engaged workforce 
• Enhance rapport in person or virtually

• Discover what employees' expectations, needs and wants are throughout different stages of the life cycle and how you can manage them. 
• With geographically dispersed teams and employees having radically different expectations, how can you re-engage and retain employees? 
• How can you create a more connected employee experience that builds advocacy?

From widespread discrimination masked by abusive NDAs to the childcare crisis, mothers across the UK have had enough of being sidelined and stereotyped in the workplace. We’re demanding change. This session will explore the shocking (and to the working mothers amongst us, the shockingly familiar) reality of how the motherhood penalty affects women’s working lives, what we can do about it, and how you can help.

• The shift in creating an engaged and resilient workforce to make people and organisations agile.
• Investing in cross functional relationships for L&D teams.
• Developing L&D practices to support teams in bouncing back from step backs, adapting to change and being ready for what comes next.

• How do you get started with sustainability?
• What does it mean to instil sustainability at every level of the business?
• Boosting engagement amongst employees through clear communication and ensuring employees understand the wider benefits.
• Exploring the role of the people profession in getting employees on board with sustainable initiatives.

• With rapid technological advancements, environmental consciousness, and evolving workforce dynamics, how can skills reshape the landscape of employment? 
• What will the transformative impact of the skills agenda be on workforce planning? 
• How can organisations integrate green skills and digital skills into their workforce, contributing to both ecological sustainability and business success? 
• Strategies for fostering a digital-ready workforce, including the role of education, training, and continuous learning

• How can sustainability be a strategic lever in corporate communications?
• Overcoming challenges when bringing core sustainability values together under one roof
• Measuring the effect of corporate comms on sustainability impact 
• What are the benefits of integrating sustainability messaging into internal communications?

Continue the conversation with Matt Bourn who will be available to catch up with at Kogan Page’s stand C31.

We all have different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives, which mean that we often see the world in different ways. Perhaps more so at a time of heightened political and socio-economic tension. Even minor disagreements between people can fester and escalate if it’s not addressed and resolved at the earliest opportunity. So how should people professionals manage conflict in the modern workplace?

Successful learning delivery requires a laser-focus on the organisation’s skill and development gaps. Therefore, knowing how to cut through the noise of trending practices or perceived rather than actual needs will be essential for learning professionals. What steps should you take, to first diagnose then design the right solutions? Can asking the right questions and taking a performance consulting approach the key?

Presenteeism remains widespread in our workplaces, with more than 87% of people observing displays of presenteeism over the last year. Furthermore two-thirds have observed some sort of leavism. But are acts of presenteeism and leavism solely a wellbeing issue or are do they offer us a critical indicator of a wider organisational challenge?

Join the CIPD Trust and their expert panel to learn more about what we’re doing to support women with convictions enter and progress in the workplace.

While a Gallup survey suggests investments in ESG and D&I, many employees still report discrimination at work, believe they lack opportunities for advancement and don’t think their employers care for their well-being. This session will share practical ways organisations can approach their ESG strategies and find lasting success built on a trifecta of culture, data, and technology. Rather than pulling out, organisations must put the right systems in place to double down on building a sense of unity with social programs, increasing community involvement, and supporting a culture of belonging to execute these efforts. With further discussion on: - Aligning a culture of transparency - Collecting accurate data and improving reporting - Leveraging AI for situational assessment and improvements.

This session delves into why investing in the mental well-being of your managers, and in training to enable them to support their teams with mental well-being is crucial for organisational impact. 69% of people say their manager has the biggest impact on their mental well-being next to their partner, and 43% say their manager is the reason why they leave their job. We highlight strategies to foster mental well-being within organisations, emphasising the financial and organisational benefits of involving and empowering managers in this aspect.

How leaders show up – whether from a mindset of growth or survival and the climate they may create is key to enabling performance and fuelling engagement in operational delivery. In this interactive session we share why Virgin Atlantic are supporting Virgin Atlantic’s leaders to develop their mindset and self-awareness, enabling curiosity and personal growth. We will share research that illustrates how our mindset is critical to leadership effectiveness and a client story. We will encourage you also to reflect on how your mindset influences how you show up whether at work or at home because mindset really does matter!

This session explores the power of lifelong learning to unlock human potential and fuel personal and professional fulfilment. We'll discuss the importance of fostering a learning culture that keeps employees engaged and motivated to achieve their full potential. Join us and discover how you can empower your team to reach success!

• Disrupting the route to worker alienation by connecting employees with the fruit of their work. 
• Aligning creating, learning and developing skills with applying strengths and capabilities in order to support employees to progress towards their goals. 
• The role of managers in bridging the gap between the role of an employee and the organisation's purpose and objectives.

SEEDL surveyed 3,900 direct reports asking them to define their line manager’s communication style (Instructive through to Coaching) then mapping staff turnover to the managers results. The results showed there’s a direct link between the line manager’s communication style and their staff turnover. The results will give the audience a clearer understanding of which styles of communication they may wish to develop to help staff retention. The session will also look at creating a ‘human elastic band’ where we demonstrate the ‘tension’ pulling managers to their ‘preferred comfort zone style’ and the risk of doing so.

Elevate headcount planning from an afterthought to a fundamental part of your business and annual planning. In this session, we will discuss strategies to collaborate effectively with the C-suite, align headcount planning with broader business objectives, and set up your recruitment efforts for success.

69% of employees will go the extra mile if they feel their work is appreciated. Think about that for a moment. When employees are engaged, not only does morale improve, but companies see better retention, higher productivity, and even up to 21% higher profitability rates. Despite this, leaders frequently fall into the same traps when trying to boost engagement, particularly with frontline workers. 

This session will explore the mistakes and how you can avoid them to create an employee engagement strategy that gets results. By the end of this session, you will know: 

• How employee engagement affects business goals. 
• Why focusing on frontline staff is crucial. 
• The mistakes your peers and competitors make. 
• How to create a successful engagement strategy for all employees.

• Utilising reward analytics to ensure the rewards you offer are the right fit for your employees.
• Uncovering how reward changes affect employee behaviour and performance on the job.
• Finding the intersection that aligns what and how much you spend on total rewards with what your employees value most and least across what you offer.
• Bridging the gap between people analytics and reward analytics.

• Fostering a culture that prioritises date-driven learning and decision making for success.
• Transforming raw data into actionable insights to inform effective policy making.
• Navigating the complexities of decision making within uncertain and dynamic environments.

• What does having ‘good’ business ethics truly mean?
• How can the people profession ensure fair working practices?
• Developing and implementing a business code of ethics and what does this look like?
• How can integrity be instilled into every level of business-decision making?

• Why demographic and cognitive diversity are both important for team success 
• The links between cognitive diversity and psychological safety 
• Creating diverse, inclusive, safe teams 
• Action planning - identifying team habits and overcoming biases

There has been an upsurge in industrial action across some sectors over the last year as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and a challenging labour market. These tensions are unlikely to be resolved any time soon as businesses also seek to boost adoption of technology and new ways of working, which will place a greater onus on effective change management and employee consultation. So is it time for an employment relations reset with a greater focus on consultation and partnership between employers, workers and trade unions?

• How to create clarity around purpose to engage employees and encourage them to be an active part of a company mission
• How to set up an effective internal communications plan around a new process
• How to amplify your message across the business
• Ways to overcome challenges when keeping culture aligned to change

• Discover the power of employee surveys and feedback to gain insights into individual preferences, work styles, and aspirations.
• Maximise employee potential by offering personalised training and development opportunities.
• How to implement flexible work schedules and remote work options to increase productivity.
• Learn how to develop a recognition and rewards system that acknowledges individual achievements and contributions.
• Why established communication channels that cater to personal preferences will ensure effective communication between employees and management.

• Why a growing number of employers are choosing a financial wellbeing and education service for employees. 
• How can employers support employee retention and attraction with a financial wellbeing benefit. 
• How can employees benefit from a financial wellbeing benefit?

With the rapid evolution of technology, challenging market conditions and the shifts in workers’ expectations for a more flexible work-life fusion, embedding learning and development into organisation strategy has never been more challenging. 

You will gain insights on how staff training needs to be re-imagined as businesses must balance the skills they need in the ‘here and now’ and planning ahead for the future, with staff engagement at the heart of their approach. Join this interactive session for thought-provoking conversation and explore how to deliver greater impact through learning and upskilling, from technical skills to leadership and management.

If pay transparency is good for workplace fairness, why isn’t everyone doing it? The reality is that any move to increase transparency within organisations isn’t without trade-offs. So why should businesses consider it? Join our session to explore the case for pay transparency, the value it can bring and the practical implications that you need to consider.

• What can HR professionals do in the face of ED&I pushback?
• Future proofing ED&I by equipping ED&I professionals with the competencies needed to embed ED&I into general management operations
• What should you do if ED&I initiatives are not achieving positive strategic goals, especially when ROI is a key factor in today's times?
• What does ED&I success look like?

• Identify ways HR can draw clear and tangible lines between their employee engagement programme and business results
• Address the increasing need to provide ROI of your initiatives to secure leadership buy-in and drive future people projects 
• Measure the role of benefits and the impact of different programme structures in facilitating employee appreciation and driving organisational goals
• Compare the business impact of newer benefit solutions with more traditional, legacy packages.

• Empowering employees to thrive in any work environment, fostering a culture of resilience and adaptability.
• Embracing the power of meaningful dialogue to foster a sense of belonging and drive sustainable success for both employees and the organisation.
• Promoting neuro-inclusivity by raising awareness among leaders, managers, and colleagues. 
• Leveraging employee networks and resource groups to drive people-centric change within the organisation.

According to research, replacing an employee can be expensive, with costs potentially reaching six to nine months of the departed employee's salary. This covers recruitment, training and the salary of the new hire during their initial period. That’s why, creating a meaningful experience from the moment of hiring is crucial, not just for a company's success but for its very sustainability. 

Join Dania Lyons and Richard Youngman as they explore innovative HR strategies focused on creating an environment that empowers and values your staff. This approach not only encourages them to become passionate advocates for the brand but also drives cost savings and fosters a culture of innovation and loyalty. 

 Discover how integrating recruitment technology into your strategic planning can also help with this workplace transformation – attracting who you want and keeping who you have – and ensuring their growth and long-term commitment to your organisation.

• Embedding inclusive cultures within your organisation that are built upon fairness and equality.
• Creating open and honest conversations built upon trust where employees feel safe to express themselves.
• Recognising how psychological safety can aid the learning and development of your workforce.
• Demonstrating compassionate and inclusive leadership that encourages a growth mindset.

Growing a culture of learning in your organization is far easier said than done. Being able to build communities that share and grow knowledge organically is one of the benefits of having a strong learning culture. We will explore why if you’re not already thinking about your learning culture it is a must, tactics to cultivate a culture of learning, the role communities of learning play and how to set them up for success.

• How can we upskill the people profession to drive sustainability?
• Understanding where skills gaps exist across the business and aligning learning and development strategies with green skills. 
• Taking note of arising green job roles and requirements and how this could shape your workforce moving forward.
• Educating employees on how to enable change and how this can build capability and resilience into your workforce.

Is neurodiversity part of your equality, diversity and inclusion strategy? Research from CIPD/Uptimize suggests that just one-third of neurodivergent employees feel their organisation provides meaningful support to neurodivergent individuals. So, what does your organisation stand to gain by embracing neurodiversity and what support can people professionals play in making the workplace more neuroinclusive?

• What part does organisation design, change management, and the workplace play in transforming work?
• How can a transformed workplace drive productivity, innovation, and employee satisfaction?
• How can productivity be increased, and innovation and collaboration be fostered in more flexible, agile frameworks?
• How to get leadership buy-in, communication, and employee engagement?
• Fostering a change-ready culture and empowering employees to embrace new ways of working.

Crisis events like natural disasters, war or the COVID-19 pandemic have a serious impact on people’s lives and on organisations. So how can you best support and manage the workforce during times of crisis?

Attracting and retaining the right people can be challenging in today’s modern workforce. With talent shortages, changing expectations and new ways of working attraction, retention, and development are key. We will explore how technology can help you enhance your people processes to connect and engage with employees and recognise life events. Understanding the impact of the employee cycle means you can retain people through their journey.

Amid the nonstop turbulence of the past four years, employers have made big strides in supporting employee mental health. But according to Calm’s 2024 Voice of the Workplace Report, 69% of employees say their mental health stayed the same or got worse over the past year. Because mental health is the foundation of your workforce’s ability to be engaged, productive, and creative, mental health support is no longer a “nice-to-have” benefit–it is critical to an organization’s ability to succeed. It’s time to re-evaluate your wellness strategy and evolve not just benefits, but workplace culture. 

 This session will explore: 

• The latest research on the state of mental health in the workplace 
• Why developing mindful managers is imperative for a successful, thriving organization 
• Strategies for cultivating mentally healthy workforces that drive business results.

In this session we will take a look how the demand for instructor led training has changed since the pandemic. We will discuss where technology is today and where it is going, to deliver AI driven, hybrid learning in the workplace.

In this session, Tom will introduce a forward-thinking approach to tackle talent shortages and suggest innovative strategies for sustained growth. He will emphasise the importance of tapping into global talent pools while adapting to the rise of remote work. By embracing international hiring and leveraging AI, companies can streamline operations and encourage creativity among its workforce. Tom will also explore how these strategies could shape companies' futures, paving the way for long-term success.

• What are more nuanced alternatives to ‘cancel culture’ that balance safe spaces with open conversation around ED&I?
• The importance of inclusive language in creating a welcoming culture
• How can we challenge people’s mindset through exploring intent and impact of behaviour?
• How can we ensure people are accountable for their words and actions in an environment of learning?

• How HR and internal comms work together strategically
• Identifying complementary responsibilities between HR teams and internal comms
• How collaboration can enhance employee engagement and experience
• How to leverage internal communications to re-engage and encourage people back to the office

• Understanding how workplace wellbeing can impact business performance and productivity.
• Creating cultures where meaningful work is placed at the centre to ensure employees feel engaged and motivated.
• Fostering cultures of appreciation whereby employees feel valued for the work they do. 
•  Empowering employees to grow professionally by providing opportunities for continuous learning and development.

As the trend wave of DEI crests, the aftermath of high attrition, chronic stress burden and contracting investments indicate the need to rethink how we do DEI to protect returns on intention, efforts and investments.

The pattern of overburdening “diverse” individuals to do the emotional and mental labour of driving corporate initiatives is driving chronic-to-traumatic stress and accelerating burnout to the extent that it’s crippling recruitment, retention and investment. 

Attend this session to learn about why this is happening and what to do about it. Taking a trauma-informed approach, it is time to drive meaningful change while protecting sustained advocacy, and a robust business case.

In a career that encompasses the UN, Google, Facebook and SpaceX, as well as political speechwriting, Dex offers a rare insight into the intersection of governance, technology, leadership and society. Building on his experience working on some of the most challenging global issues of our time, he explores important questions of innovation, responsibility and values facing the leaders and organisations of the future.

At a time when demand for talent is high, pay equity can drive employee engagement and reduce talent turnover, while being transparent can build trust and loyalty. Find out how you can progress your data-led pay equity journey while adding real benefits to your organisation wherever you are in the process.

• Analyse the current concerns of employees and the growing responsibility on organisations to go above and beyond supporting the basic and physiological needs of their people. 
• Explore the role holistic wellbeing can play in creating a psychologically safe workplace, enabling individuals to bring their true selves to work. 
• Outline strategies and identify solutions for HR in launching or evolving a holistic approach to wellbeing that drives employee appreciation initiatives.

90% of middle managers agree that it is critical to have good front-line managers, and yet less than 5% of front-line managers report being developed as leaders. 

But you’ve invested in a great a leadership competency framework. What gives?

Insurance is one of the biggest industries in the world, yet 68% of consumers in the UK say they do not trust their insurer and there is no engagement or value delivered on a daily basis (Forbes & YouGov). Can that change? Absolutely. In this session, YuLife CTO and Co-Founder, Josh Hart unpacks the power and potential of gamified wellbeing - for both people and the planet. By turning wellness activities into rewards like tree planting, ocean cleaning, and helping with household bills, insurance can be more than simply protecting people when things go wrong... it can inspire life!

• Why most organisations don’t capture enough D&I data and how to get more applicants to trust you with sharing the diversity data. 
• How to compare your applicant diversity Vs the local population using the 37m adults who completed the 2021 census 
• Review of the key metrics that will highlight where bias might be affecting decision making 
• Benchmarking your organisation’s inclusive recruitment performance against the data from our 400 UK clients. 
• Examples of how AI can help to identify bias in your interview process, but is it ethical for AI to monitor your interviewers?

In this thought-provoking talk, Prudence Pitter will share relatable scenarios, highlight challenges leaders face, and emphasize ways leaders can shift their mindset from leadership survival to being a role model for thriving in the workplace. Learn ways to navigate the inevitable changes that occur in the workplace, build resilience, and focus on emotional intelligence and psychological safety. During the discussion, attendees will also learn ways to stay connected to and improve the organisation’s culture. Learn tips and tricks to: 

• Adapt while focusing on continuous learning 
• The best leaders balance change and continue to evolve 
• Keep Inclusion and two-way communication strong 
• Emotional intelligence and psychological safety go hand in hand and strengthen the organisation’s culture
• Balance and work and life 
• Being a role model in and out of the workplace is an admirable leadership trait

• Success depends on your people using their brains as well as possible. 
• You are looking for a way to approach performance enhancement that doesn’t result in employee burnout. 
• Value a science-based approach to people development. 
• Want a clear rationale for your approach that you can share with key stakeholders.

• Integrating automation into your onboarding process to maintain engagement.
• Showcasing your workplace culture post attraction to create a sense of belonging from the start.
• Hear about successful strategies implemented to prevent candidates taking counter offers during this stage.

• Work allocation is often the biggest driver of stress in the workplace - how do you build trust and allow employees to have a voice?
• Creating clear work-life boundaries that enable employees to ‘switch off’ at the end of the day.
• Developing organisational frameworks that focus on preventative approaches to address stress in the workplace. 
• Enabling supportive workplace cultures where employees feel safe to raise concerns amongst colleagues and managers.
• Ensuring that managers are confident and capable of taking action when an employee raises concerns.

• Identify the strategic skills learning leaders need to be catalysts for business change and growth. 
• Explore ways to craft learning programmes that promote learner-led development of skills needed for the future. 
• Get an injection of energy to build a culture of continuous learning based on curiosity and connection.

Today's world is constantly evolving and leaders face a myriad of emerging circumstances, this session will explore how leaders can navigate these issues responsibly, with focus on: 

• How today's leaders balance today's challenges and competing business priorities 
• Considering what it takes to build inclusive and diverse workplaces 
• Exploring latest findings on EDI and leadership

With a focus on racial diversty, this session will discuss: 

• What actions can you take to attract a diverse talent pool of senior leaders ? 
• Creating a culture of inclusion that empowers people to speak up and feel confident at work 
• Practising inclusive leadership as a means to establish and embed an inclusive environment 
• Considering how perceptions of personality act as a barrier to leadership