The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's annual conference and exhibition in Harrogate is one of Europe's largest HR, Training and Development gatherings. HR Zone and TrainingZONE will be reporting live each day from the event, using this page to bring you a round-up of all the main stories. You can also find quick information using the following links:
Our news round-up is summarised below with links to further information:
Post conference
What did you think of it all? Here's our users comments and feedback page - here.
Enjoy Scrounger's irreverent look at the Harrogate show as he unveils the "Scrounger" awards for CIPD 2000.
We have also published our own editorial review of CIPD Harrogate 2000.
Friday 27 October
The last day of this jamboree has arrived! Thursday was far busier than Wednesday with the exhibition halls receiving a strong stream of visitors and the conference areas all showing a large throng of delegates. It's too early to make an overall assessment of the event but here are some snippets overhead around the event:
- "I thought I would stand out with my First Time Visitor badge, but it's comforting to see so many others!"
- "You paid how much to park!?"
- "It's a bit like Blackpool really, isn't it?"
- "Er - maybe I shouldn't say this - but just what is e-learning?"
- "Where can I find someone who can talk in language I understand?"
- "Is he a 'guru'? - why did they have to fly someone in from the States instead of using our own leaders?"
- "Does anywhere serve half-decent coffee?"
- "I never realised it was so big."
- "Oh no, not another recruitment website!"
The National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets (NACETT) is offering a thousand free 'Learning Pays' videos to TrainingZONE members.
Men only have 10% of women's speaking ability according to Allan Pease the Australian born body-language expert speaking at the CIPD Conference.
The CIPD announced the winners of the CIPD People Management Award last night.
Meanwhile, our observations find that the Department for Education and Employment has completely changed its website - but doesn't appear to have told any of its staff!
Well known author, broadcaster and organisational change expert Charles Handy, in a plenary speech to the conference, draws an analogy between large corporates/small service companies with elephants and fleas - and asks just where people and development professionals fit into this mis-matched menagerie.
We also have to admire the marketing and nerve of Training company Ask Europe Plc. Ask, who conduct management and individual training for personal development using Myers-Briggs profiling with an in depth follow-up, had a nice line in smoothing the passage of conversation using lollipops!
Father Tredget's message that spirituality is an important part of profitability has been spreading through the halls of harrogate.
Thursday 26 October
Launched at the CIPD National Conference yesterday, a new report - Getting the Right Work-Life Balance - reveals that managers who use flexible working report significant benefits.
Online Learning company Academee demonstrate the professional courses they've developed for the likes of the Institute of Management and Chartered Institute of Marketing.
NEBS Management, the Awarding Body for General and Specialist Management Qualifications has launched a new range of learning resources for managers.
The cost of labour turnover rocketed by a hefty 10.5% last year according to the CIPD.
Genetic science may be the next big advance to impact on HR testing and procedures within companies, argues Steve Huxham.
Harrogate is bursting at the seams with delegates. Many were observed walking up and down the streets last night looking for a restaurant which could still offer them a table. Even today, when our reporters 'escaped' to a near-by hotel for a break, all the lounges were full of conference visitors desperately seeking to take the weight of their feet and find a little bit of private space to gather their thoughts for the next round!
The CIPD has published new guidance on the Working Time Directive.
Ciaron Dyar identifies the challenges facing e-learning today, and puts his finger on the key benefit which it may deliver next year.
New research underway in two different university departments is providing evidence for the positive impact which good people management policies can have on overall business success and profitability.
A CIPD masterclass seminar identifies the key characteristics of successful entrepreneurs in a new economy world and how this impacts on people management.
Wednesday 25 October
Celemi Ltd launch Tango in an electronic format at CIPD 2000. Tango is a business simulation that enables employees to develop a shared understanding of how a knowledge-driven business works.
THINQ (formerly the National Training Index) and the UK's largest directory of training and learning events, announces a merger with TrainingServer to add learning management functionality to its product.
Olympic athletes are attending the Conference. A team of UK swimmers from Sydney (who didn't win any medals!!) are hoping to show HR professionals the benefits from employing top athletes.
CIPD launch their Training Directory 2001 featuring over 40 new courses covering personnel, reward, training and development, managerial skills and employment law. Some members have commented adversely on the fact that the CIPD is competing with its own members who provide training services.
The University for Industry launch their online learning service for business, learnDirect, across the country today.
Emergency repairs and closures to the railway network are reported to be causing serious problems for people trying to reach Harrogate. Users of the West Coast mainline from Glasgow are being diverted onto the slower Kilmarnock line to Carlisle adding an hour to journey times. There are other closures on this line between Milton Keynes and Rugby. Meanwhile the line from King's Cross to Leeds is still blocked at Hatfield with another lengthy diversion. Delegates travelling by road face bad weather across Yorkshire and very congested parking in Harrogate itself.
The 26,000 members Institute for Supervision and Management launched their new website this morning, powered by TrainingZONE technology.
The Institute of Training and Occupational Learning present an update on their first year progress as a professional trainers' body.
Monday 23 October
Sift Group Ltd, publishers of TrainingZONE, announce the launch of their new Global Training News service, with the creation of TrainingZONE Canada.
Further £5 million investment for online communities including TrainingZONE and HR Zone announced.
Friday 20 October
Our Conference and Exhibition Preview is published.
CIPD report greater number of pre-registered participants than ever before with over half of seminars fully booked.
