Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
North East of England Branch Newsletter
January 2007
Dear Colleague,
This month, The Branch’s Events Group has arranged two events.
The first one will be on Tuesday 16 January, 2007 Vicki Wright, who is the CIPD’s President Elect will talk about “Talent Management, Employee Engagement and Reward – Joined up HR in action”. This event will be sponsored by Newcastle University.
The second one is on Wednesday 31 January 2007. Clare Cromarty from Rosemount Management Consultancy for “Diversity in Action”. She has worked with a range of major organisations, including The National Trust, Tate, HBOS and Skillset on projects around diversity, with a special interest in disability.
Both events are from 6 pm when a buffet will be available with the main event starting at 6.30pm at the Vermont Hotel Newcastle upon Tyne.
I have enclosed a letter from John Vinton, who is doing a PhD at Newcastle University. He needs some help with his research.
I would like to thank all of those members who completed the questionnaire last month. The information is being collated and a summary of the findings will be presented next month.
Finally, please find enclosed a brief description of the awards and a nomination form (both should also be available on our website - www.cipd.co.uk/branch/neast ). If you wish to book a room at the Gosforth Marriott Hotel on Tuesday 6 March 2007, I have been advised that you can ring their Central Reservations number (0800 22 12 22), and quote reference 'CFSP' - which is the conference attendees rate of £99.00 (bed & breakfast or £109 for a couple). This avoids any cancellation charges incurred for rooms booked and then released if not needed/required.
Yours sincerely,
A.Leather
Tony Leather – Branch Secretary
Email: tonyleather@mentalhealthconcern.org
Directions to the Vermont Hotel
From the north:
Follow A1 past Morpeth onto Western Bypass. Pass signs marked for Gosforth Park on left, then look for signs A167 Newcastle City, as you pass Tesco Extra on your right, take the next slip road and take the first exit on to A167. Go straight ahead at next three roundabouts. At the fourth roundabout, keep in left filter lane, passing KFC on your left. Follow the central motorway until you see signs for A695 Blaydon. Take that slip road and as you approach the roundabout and traffic lights, stay in the middle lane. Take the third exit off the roundabout for Blaydon and Central Station. Go straight over at the next set of lights. As you approach the Cathedral on your left, follow the road round to your left on the inside lane through the set of lights. Head straight for the High Level Bridge, but turn left before reaching it (it is closed till May 2008), passing the Bridge Hotel Pub on your right. Go straight ahead through the black gates and the hotel is on your left.
From the west:
Leave the A69 and join A186 towards City Centre. You will pass a crematorium on your left. Continue on A186 Westgate Road, passing shops, Newcastle General Hospital, motorcycle shops, Tyne Theatre (on your right) and Gala Bingo (on your left). Go straight ahead at the lights and pass under an office block. Then get into right had lane as you approach next set of lights. Follow the road round to your right (passing the Cathedral on your left) and join the inside lane through the set of lights. Head straight for the High Level Bridge, but turn left before reaching it (it is currently closed), passing the Bridge Hotel Pub on your right. Go straight ahead through the black gates and the hotel is on your left.
From the south:
Leaving the A1M, join the A1 for Gateshead and pass the Angel of the North on your right. Look for sign for A184 slip road off A1 and follow this road across the Redheugh Bridge over the River Tyne into Newcastle (passing a casino on your left). Stay on St James’ Boulevard in the outside lane until turning right (just after the Discovery Museum on your left) onto A186 Westgate Road. You will pass Tyne Theatre (on your right) and Gala Bingo (on your left). Go straight ahead at the lights and pass under an office block. Then get into right had lane as you approach next set of lights. Follow the road round to your right (passing the Cathedral on your left) and join the inside lane through the set of lights. Head straight for the High Level Bridge, but turn left before reaching it (it is currently closed), passing the Bridge Hotel Pub on your right. Go straight ahead through the black gates and the hotel is on your left.
Parking at the Vermont Hotel
• Free parking is available immediately in front of the hotel reception area.
• Additional free parking is available just between the hotel gates and The Bridge Hotel, marked out by a surrounding brick wall.
• Further parking is available on the cobbled areas just outside the hotel gates. This is free after 6pm.
• Alternative meter parking can be found either on the local streets surrounding the Vermont or at the NCP car park on Dean Street.
Doctoral Programme - School of Psychology
Henry Wellcome Building
Framlington Place
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH.
Dear Colleagues
I am a retired Fellow of the Institute who is doing a PhD. at the University of Newcastle. The aim of the research is to measure and evaluate the influence the under-employment of employees qualifications, skills and knowledge has upon their performance as well as their desire to remain with their employer. What makes this research unique and challenging is the acceptance by the I.L.O. that they currently have no criteria available by which they can measure the influence this form of under-employment has in the workplace.
To enhance this research, I require a relatively high number of participants from a strong, formally recognised profession that is committed to their own development and the development of others. I hope you will agree to participate in this research, which merely requires the completion of a questionnaire that takes around 15 minutes.
Please be assured, the design of the questionnaire guarantees all participant’s absolute anonymity and copies of the findings will be made available to all who participate. I do hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in what is an important area of research. Particularly for those who are experiencing the under-employment of their qualifications, skills and knowledge and as a result are contemplating leaving their current employer, or for those organisations experiencing less than acceptable performances and poor levels of retention, and have not been able to establish cause or identify solutions. Organisations can be accommodated by a separate but identical study should it be requested, without incurring any costs.
If individuals or organisations wish to participate, please write to me at the above address, fax me on 0191 222 5655 or e-mail me at j.w.vinton@ncl.ac.uk
Yours faithfully
John Vinton, BSc. MSc. FCIPD