As this year’s programme draws to a close it is pertinent to review the activity of the Walton and Weybridge Group over the past 12 months highlighting the key areas.
Who can forget the fantastic Christmas Social held at The Hand and Spear in Weybridge where there was plenty of networking and the opportunity to share experiences with learned colleagues from the world of HR and Development.
March saw the annual Walton and Weybridge group Employment Law session delivered by Denham Bell of Mundays. The following month, Victoria Winkler travelled from CIPD HQ to discuss the results of her recent research into Line Management Engagement. In May saw an interesting session on “Courageous Conversations”. We also held the annual AGM and I was very pleased to be voted in as the Walton and Weybridge Group Chair.
At this point, it would be appropriate to thank Paul Meek for running the group for the past year. Paul instigated a change of venue for the regular meetings to the Ashley Park Hotel, where we will continue to meet for the next year’s programme. With the help of the committee, the format for the sessions was changed, and again, I see no reason to move away from what is becoming a very friendly and informative arrangement.
The last workshop held of this year’s schedule in June saw David Lusty from Quantify Ltd running a workshop for the group on Employee Engagement Surveys. I think we all left having learnt a little more about trends in surveys and questioning techniques plus how to deal with outcomes.
Whilst June was the last workshop before the summer break, we do have a further networking event taking place on Wednesday 23 July 2008. The first Walton and Weybridge Groups Summer Pimms Social will be held at Silvermere Golf Club in Cobham. There is no set agenda for this meet, just an opportunity to relax with peers from the HR profession. More details will follow via email.
Finally, I was delighted to have been voted in for the next year as the Walton and Weybridge Group Chair and I am looking forward to delivering an interesting set of workshops over the coming year.
Melissa Proles
Walton and Weybridge Group Chair