The CIPD annual conference and exhibition is to move from Harrogate to Manchester in next year.

To coincide with this move, it will also change from its current September slot to November, so next year the event will be held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex from 17-19 November.

This does not affect this year's conference, which will take place in Harrogate as usual on 16-18 September.

Nina Harman, CIPD head of conferences and exhibitions, said that the CIPD is always looking for ways to make the annual conference and exhibitions better:

"Manchester Central's state of the art facilities offer us the flexibility to be innovative in developing the conference and exhibition from 2009 and on into the future, for the benefit of the thousands of people management and development professionals who join us for the event each year. Manchester offers excellent transport links for our domestic and international guests, and also offers a wide range of accommodation and other facilities to cater for all those who visit the event over the three days."

Harman added: "We've made this change on the basis of extensive research amongst the conference delegates and exhibition visitors who make the event such a success year after year."