A Jolly good show

Simon Kent gives a whistle-stop tour of this year’s CIPD conference and
exhibition

There is a diverse range of speakers and experts lined up for this year’s
conference, offering access to best practice and cutting-edge thinking for
training professionals. One of the most inspiring sessions will be given by
Bear Grylls, mountaineer and former member of the British Special Forces. His
masterclass on Wednesday at 13.45 (code A7) will provide the chance to learn
about effective, honest teamwork when it really matters – in an extreme
environment where it can mean the difference between life and death.

Arguably the most popular session will be Sven-Goran Eriksson’s masterclass
on How to Get the Best out of your People, on Thursday 14.15 (code D1).
Eriksson will explore his experience in building winning teams, particularly
looking at the psychological issues.

Away from the celebrity speakers, you’ll find the Strategies for Learning
seminar C6 on Thursday at 11.30. This session examines the shift from training
to learning, drawing from case studies presented by Kevin Hogarth, director of
International Resourcing at Capital One Bank, and Shelagh Preston, head of
training and development at the Crown Prosecution Service. Leadership
development also comes under the spotlight in session F5 on Friday, entitled
Grow Your Own Leaders, and the challenging Developing Women Leaders session,
which asks why women still account for less than 8 per cent of all FTSE board
directors (Thursday, 16.15, seminar code E7).

Exhibition

The exhibition features more than 350 different companies and organisations.
Here is a sample of some of them:

– CILT – The National Centre for Languages – Stand M70

With demand for multilingual workers always strong, CILT has launched a new
website, www.blis.org.uk, providing a
one-stop shop for language skills and advice.

– Delta Partnership – Stand C99

International coaching consultancy Delta Partnership will be launching
MapAhead, a new personal development and planning software, which assists
individuals and groups to clearly map out challenges and projects and to
identify the advice, resources and support they will require to successfully
achieve their objectives.

– Develop – stand A51

Live Interactive Learning (LIL), a new technology which delivers real-time
training across geographically diverse locations, will be on show at the
exhibition. Using Learnlinc software across an internet connection, Develop has
already conducted a seminar for more than 50 organisations at once, including
trainees in Rome, London and Manchester.

– Fusions Training (UK) – stand B64

Fusions is concerned with promoting cultural change, and the company uses
experiential development for this activity. Previous clients and case studies
include Network Rail, Taylors of Harrogate and Skipton Building Society.

– Infinite Possibilities – stand Q52

With a wide range of courses from telesales to facilitation skills, Infinite
Possibilities has introduced Buccaneers Island, an interactive training event,
designed to impact on how teams work together. See www.infinite-possibilities.co.uk

– Impact Development Training Group – stand B61

Impact has just launched a new five-day personal development programme,
which is structured to give a learning journey for individual participants.

– Skill Boosters – Stand C34

Teaming up with BBC learning, Skill Boosters has three new CD-Rom/ internet
editions of the RESPECT! video series, covering customer service, leadership
skills and diversity in teams.

– Reed Learning – stand B48

As well as showcasing its 150 short workplace courses, Reed Learning offers
its managed outsourcing of training services. This training solution provides
trainers, material, equipment and facilities, as well as tailored courses with
guaranteed built-in quality monitoring, which can transform fixed costs into
variable ones.

– Roffey Park – stand M83

The executive education and research organisation has published a new guide
to achieving high performance from senior managers, line managers, HR
practitioners and individual staff. Creating a High Performance Organisation: A
Manager’s Checklist includes insights and examples from leading organisations.
Linda Holbeche, author of the guide and Roffey Park’s director of research will
be speaking on work-life balance at the conference. Reed Executive will also be
launching new research on leadership, called Holding out for a Hero. See www.reed.co.uk

How to access CIPD

Plan your road journey at: www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp

Train timetables: 0345 484950, www.railtrack.co.uk

Booking: via the CIPD hotline: 020 8263 3434; e-mail [email protected]