Annual HR Directors’ Retreat: What should HR’s priorities be in the year ahead?

This event will consider HR’s key priorities for the year ahead. Having navigated the darkest days of the pandemic and managed the abrupt shift to different and new ways of working, HR has a whole set of new challenges and priorities to address in the coming year to shape a better world of work. From responding to the cost of living crisis, adjusting to the tightest labour market in years and the challenges that brings in recruitment and retention, increasing employee activism, alongside the continuing challenges of enhancing workplace health, creating inclusive and sustainable work environments and being prepared for the future world of work.

Join us to actively debate these issues in a supportive and collaborative environment with contributions by leading thinkers, practitioners and opinion-formers in HR.

Key questions we will be addressing are:

• What should the modern workplace look like and how can HR foster its development?

• How can HR best respond and adapt to the recruitment challenges posed by the current labour market?

• What is HR’s role in responding to the cost of living crisis and the financial stresses it poses for the workforce?

• How should HR and organisations respond to increased workforce activism and what is the role of employee voice

• What is its role of HR in leading the Net Zero agenda? What is its role in the Green skills agenda?

Programme Thursday (day one)

Dinner speaker: Perry Timms, Founder and Chief Energy Officer, People and Transformational HR Ltd.

Perry’s 2017 book Transformational HR was an Amazon.com Top 30 HR seller shortly after its release. Perry is also the author of The Energised Workplace. Perry’s work is influenced by human-centred, design and systems thinking plus agile, inclusive and autonomous ways of working that enhance personal fulfilment and organisation effectiveness. Perry is Adjunct Professor at Hult International Business School and Ashridge Management School; a visiting fellow at Cranfield School of Management, and Sheffield Hallam University, and is a Fellow of the RSA. Perry is a proud Chartered member of the CIPD and is a regular member of HR Magazine’s HR Most Influential Thinkers making the top 10 in 2018 & 2019, and coming second in 2021.

17.30: Registration and unpacking

18.30: Drinks in the bar

18.50: Welcome and introductions
Claire Campbell, Director of HR Research and Consulting, IES

19.00: Pre-dinner speaker: Perry Timms

Perry will address the question of what he believes the modern workplace needs to look like and how HR professionals can foster its growth, in the context of the multiple contextual challenges faced by the profession.

19.30 to 21.30: Dinner

Programme Friday (day two)

07.00 to 08.30: Breakfast

09.15: Welcome & introductions: The current labour market context, key challenges and priorities for HR
Claire Campbell, Director of HR Research and Consulting, IES

09.30: What is HR’s role in responding to the cost of living crisis and the financial stresses it poses for the workforce?
Dr Duncan Brown, Principal IES Associate

10.15: Table Discussion: How can and should HR respond to the current economic environment, cost of living crisis and challenges it represents for the workforce?

10.45: Coffee/tea/checkout

11.00: How can HR best respond and adapt to the recruitment challenges posed  by the current labour market?
Tony Wilson, IES Director and Neil Carberry, Chief Executive, Recruitment and Employment Confederation

11.45: How should HR and organisations respond to increased workforce activism and what is the role of employee voice?
(Speaker TBC)

12.30: Lunch

13.15: What is its role of HR in leading the Net Zero agenda? What is its role in the Green skills agenda?
(Speaker TBC)

14.00: Table Discussion: How can HR drive Net Zero? What is doing well? Less well? What more can we do?

14.30: So what does all of this mean for the HR agenda in the year ahead? What are the opportunities HR can seize, and the challenges it will need to overcome?
Claire Campbell, Director HR Research and Consulting, IES

15.00: Depart

Reserving your place

This event is available exclusively to HR Network members. HR Network members are each entitled to a complimentary pass. Associate members are subject to a fee of £295.00 (inc VAT).  Please email the HR Network Manager Emma Stewart-Rigby to secure your place as soon as possible.