Over 7000 attendees visited the festival, which hosted over 250+ exhibitor companies. The festival, which was trending on Twitter at various times across the two days, attracted delegates and professionals from around the globe to discuss the major industry talking points – with the future of work at the forefront of their minds.
The festival, run by the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, and delivered by the Haymarket Media Group, brought together two of the CIPD’s most successful annual events - the Learning and Development Show and the HR Software and Recruitment Show - along with a new and exciting ‘Future of Work Show’.
The conference sessions on the ‘Future of Work’ provided an ideal opportunity for businesses to gain insight into how they can drive growth and unlock their employees’ potential in a progressively changing landscape. A range of prominent industry leaders spoke at the event including; Vicky Pryce, Chief Economic Adviser of CEBR, Suzanne Harlow, Chief Executive Officer of Jack Wills, and Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive of NHS Employers. A variety of free learning sessions and inclusion workshops on topical issues such as race, menopause, and LGBT identity in the workplace also proved popular among visitors and sold out in a matter of hours.
Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD comments: “The world of work is undergoing a major revolution brought about by new technology such as artificial intelligence, and in which the role of people will drastically change. The aim of the festival was to open a conversation on these issues and to provide insight and practical solutions. It brought together not just HR and L&D professionals, but policy makers, trade unions, business leaders, and managers which shows just how important the debates on the future of work are.”
Looking ahead into the future, Peter said: “In the next 10 years we will see real progress on many of the biggest issues raised at the event. We will see more inclusive workplaces and have a much stronger understanding of meaningful work. A real watchword of modern business is that in a fast-changing world you need to be more agile and responsive. If you don’t adapt or start to understand how to use technology and AI effectively in the workplace, then you will struggle to drive growth. We look forward to exploring all of these issues and more at next year’s Festival of Work.”
Orson Francescone, Director of Events, comments: “The CIPD Festival of Work was the ultimate celebration of people in the workplace. The event provided many different forums and new ways of exploring and learning about key issues in the world of work, which proved popular amongst a broad range of visitors and delegates that attended. Haymarket Media Group is thrilled to have partnered with the CIPD to deliver a game-changing and innovative new event at London Olympia, and look forward to next year’s event.”
The CIPD Festival of Work will return to Olympia, London, for next year’s event on 10-11 June 2020.
