Augustus Gloop would have been beside himself for at every turn sugary treats were to be found; but serious calories aside there were more tempting freebies to be found at this year’s CIPD bash then those of the teeth-rotting variety.

Last year’s CIPD exhibition highlights included a set of juggling balls, a pair of day-glo sweat bands, matching baseball cap and some flower bulbs and we weren’t disappointed by the freebies on offer this year either.

The Harrogate division of the Couch?! team diligently set about the task of gathering, analysing and evaluating the bright, shiny, weird and wonderful give-aways on offer and are proud to present the top ten CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition best freebie winners:

• 1. Stress toys: expend some cortisols with health planner LHF’s squeezable molar, HR Consultancy Penna’s pear and the Cotswold Conference Centre’s stress-relieving sheep.




• 2. Fluffy ducks: Fraser Serviced Residences – cute and cuddly, need we say any more?




• 3. Pots of honey: there’s more at the end of the rainbow then just gold – Busy Bees Childcare opted out of the chocs and stuck with their name-sake to produce a healthy alternative.




• 4. Flower-shaped highlighter pen set: from Opportunity Links – they look so pretty on our desks.




• 5. Chocolate fondue fountain: get more than just a job with www.inhr.co.uk the HR recruiter’s dip and taste tempter.




• 6. Caricature drawings: is my nose really that big?




• 7. I-pods: you pod, we all pod together – soooooooooo many competitions to win one of these we lost count.




• 8. Alarm-clock: much needed after a night out at Carringtons in Harrogate, thank you LHF!




• 9. O2: if the chocolate has made you feel a little nauseous then head to TMP’s stand where you can get a free shot of oxygen in four different flavours: invigorating, fresh, the grove and chillin’.




• 10. Massage: lugging those freebies around can be hard work – if the aches and pains are getting too much then head for one of the relaxation rooms for an express back and shoulder massage.

We’d like to hear to from fellow magpies, so please do drop us a line at editor@hrzone.co.uk and tell us what accompanied you home this year!