Were you there? Have you been following the press reporting? What did you like? What interested you? What provoked you? What turned you off?
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We'll be publishing our own reactions within the next few days.
6 Responses
Cost of entry
Having been a member of the institute for a number of years, and now being self-employed, this was the first opportunity I had to visit the conference.
I would very much like to have attended some of the main events, however I could not justify paying the asking price even for such august speakers.
Looking at the prices charged at this conference, and others, I begin to wonder if we have lost sight of what the words “value for money mean.” For example, in one hour of sitting down to listen to a key speaker at a cost of say £100 will I learn more than an equivalent hour reading a book published by the same speaker for say £25? Within the book I may actually have purchased around 15 hours of contact time (reading) and a much wider range of concepts that might potentially trigger personal insights.
I could afford the petrol to get to Harrogate (although I became “directionally challenged” near Wetherby, along with many others according to a local workman) and walked and finally staggered (as the number of bags increased) around the exhibition halls becoming increasingly dazzled by the range of products and services on offer.
It was interesting to talk to a number of the providers and hear the range of costs for their services. In several cases the rhetorical question “is this value for money?” sprang to mind.
Having had 20 years experience of work in the cash restricted public sector perhaps my expectations have been distorted and what appear to be high costs are actually fair, reasonable and indeed essential. I’ve been told by friends not to ask too low a price for my services as people won’t feel you’re credible.
On the basis of some of the figures charged and quoted at the conference the credibility of many organisations must be extremely high.
E – Learning
The one thing I thougth was significant was that over the course of this year I have seen the number of companies offering internet based learning diminish and their stands gradualy beginning to disappear. At Olympia in the spring there were lots of providers selling the benfits of this sort of approach and at the NEC in summer their presence was still felt. But at Harrogate the numbers seemed to have reduced. Is this just my perception or has there been a culling?
On a minor note, the food was significantly better than at any of the other conferences and shows I have attended this year.
Our view
TrainingZONE and HR Zone have published a reflective overview of the event which you can read at https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/item/30126and http://www.hrzone.co.uk/item/30126
Tim Pickles
Exhibition – More focus needed
Walking round the exhibition this year, myself and a colleague were convinced that there were far less niche providers than in previous years (if not less exhibitors overall). The large .com stands seemed to take over the exhibition particulary in Hall A. Some focus for each of the Halls (or within each) would have been useful eg. recruitment, systems, psychometric testing, employee benefits, training, conference centres, etc.
As for the paper/weight problem, try a small bag with wheels! Jenny
A definite buzz!
I have to say I was extremely impressed by the general buzz that this year’s exhibition seemed to have in comparison to previous years – and that’s how it should be! I firmly believe that the internet does and will play a huge part in the future of HR and Training and so many of the stands reflected that in their displays and interactive demonstrations – it was thoroughly enjoyable! It’s about time we cast aside that old image of twin sets and pearls – roll on the 21st century!
Response to Garry Platt and others re e-learning at Harrogate
Garry Platt and others observed that the number of companies offering web-based training at Harrogate had diminished. Maybe e-learning providers stuck to WOLCE2000 instead (which took place at the NEC a couple of weeks before) on the basis that HR and Training professionals specifically interested in e-learning would attend that exhibition as well.
It would be interesting to hear what others think. Did you miss seeing e-learning at Harrogate this year or did you attend the World Open Learning Conference and Exhibition too? Where would you prefer to see e-learning providers exhibiting?
As to Garry’s suggestion that there might have been a culling – for SkillSoft’s part, we may not have been exhibiting at Harrogate, but we’re delighted to report that we’re growing rapidly in all directions! Customers, staff, number of critical business skills courses (at around 375 and expanding at a rate of 4 per week) and UK localised courses (currently at 110).
Regards to all