The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is celebrating sixty years of its conference in Harrogate.
The annual conference and exhibition, which sees more than 5000 professionals walk through its doors each year and showcases the products of 300 leading suppliers to the market, is proud to take delegates to Harrogate.
Harrogate is a wonderful mix of old and new; jammed between towns including Knaresborough and Nidderdale – names that only a broad northern accent could give true vocal justice to.
The name is derived from Har-low-Gata meaning Grey-Hill-Road. Harrogate sprang to fame originally as a spa town after the discovery of the first medicinal spring was found in 1571.
The most famous of Harrogate’s wells is a sulphur well referred to as ‘Stinking Spaw’ which is now located within the Royal Pump Room Museum.
The Turkish Baths and Health Spa were first opened in 1897 and were once frequented by royalty. After a period of restoration visitors can now pamper themselves once again with a number of treatments together with hot rooms and plunge pools.
Reflecting on the journey HR has taken in it’s sixty year pilgrimage to Harrogate, Vicky Wright, president of the CIPD said: “In sixty years the function has moved from being one based on administration and welfare to being a major part of how business runs. We’ve started to understand that a lot of issues are not just the issues of the HR profession. The difference between success and mediocrity is spotting talent and engaging people.”
New to the conference this year are zones. Speaking exclusively to HR Zone, Nina Harman, head of conferences and exhibitions said: “We’ve grouped this year’s annual exhibition into new ‘HR needs’ zones. It’ll make it even easier to find the suppliers you want to meet.”
Zones include employee benefits and rewards, recruitment and talent management and HR software. In each zone there is a showcase theatre with free mini ‘stop and learn’ update sessions running throughout the day.
Today is the last day of the conference.
