CIPD -

In this issue

From your new Chair

I am very lucky to be taking over from Rita McGee as Chair of the Branch. Rita inspired us all to be innovative when planning our programme of events and I hope this is evident in what we have coming up for you in the coming year. I would like to thank her and all the committee members for their support, especially John Jackson and Karen Partridge, the two Vice Chairs. I also want to say thank you and goodbye to Jacqui Priestley, who has been a brilliant Branch Administrator, and welcome Kaija Laidmets as our new Administrator. She has been thrown in at the deep end with all of the coming programme to organise and the annual calendar to prepare and is coping admirably.

All our events offer refreshments and the opportunity to network with like-minded HR professionals, so I hope to be meeting many of you this year. The event I personally recommend is the Mock Tribunal on 30th September. I have attended one of Mills and Reeve’s mock Tribunals and, not only are they very realistic, with a number of Mills and Reeve solicitors playing all the different parts, but the thinking and decision making process which an ET’s panel goes through is explained thoroughly. (Please also note the earlier start time for this event.)

Jane Pepe
Chair

Our autumn events

This autumn we offer a variety of exiting events:

• Experience a tribunal hearing in practice at our Mock Employment Tribunal on Wednesday 30th September. Please note this evening starts earlier than usual, at 5.30 pm and lasts until 9.30 pm.

• Find new contacts at our Networking event at Thames Valley University. This facilitated networking event replaces the cancelled Summer Social.

• Learn how you can use the key insights from the new HR Profession Map to support you in your professional development.

View full listing of events and book online now.

Most of our events have been arranged up to July 2010 and our members will receive the calendar of events in the post in early September. Additional details will be uploaded as they are confirmed.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions.

Policy Group

The number of members expressing an interest in the Policy Group has grown to over 20 names. Having said that, the attendance at group meetings is more typically around 8 – 10 people. Those people who are now actively involved in the group are making a significant contribution to each meeting, and contributing to consultation on national policy. They are also well placed to get early indications of upcoming legislation and the views of other organisations.

All meetings of the Policy Group are now being attended and supported by a representative from the CIPD Head Office. This is forging links between Wimbledon and West London and we had good feedback from Gerwyn Davies on the functioning of our group when he attended our last meeting in June.

Adopting the breakfast briefing format for meetings has proved popular with most, although not all, group members. Meeting at 8.30 am means that most members are on the way to work by 10.00 am with reduced impact on their working day.

The group aim to run four meetings each year and dates are published on the website. Each meeting is now being hosted by a group member and the branch is most grateful for this support. The next meeting, on 11 September is being kindly hosted by Linda Kelly, Assistant Director of HR for Breast Cancer Care.

John Jackson
Policy Advisor

Event feedback

“I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, especially the energy in the room!”
Feedback from our speaker

July’s Learning & Development event on psychometrics – and particularly MBTI, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator – proved to be a lively evening with plenty of opportunity for networking.

The evening began with an introduction to MBTI and its uses from Kathryn Kernick – Account Director with OPP, the international business psychology consultancy which offers MBTI training.

Then there was an opportunity for those new to the principles and use of this assessment tool to have a go at “self-reporting” their type.

Participants took to the interactive session with great enthusiasm – even at the end of a working day. There was much animated conversation and shared learning, as those with expertise in using MBTI offered their knowledge and insights to others, who were just beginning to see its potential in terms of personal and team development.

The feedback on the evening was very positive and we hope to offer more opportunities at future L&D events for branch members to network and share learning as well as gaining new insights from external speakers.

Julie Hadwin
Learning and Development Group

Job Search Group

If you are unemployed, in a redundancy situation, a recently qualified student, or in short-term contract work and you feel you could do with some extra help and encouragement, then come along to the Job Search Group.

Sessions focus on making applications in the widest job market, using networking opportunities, ensuring that your CV will gain you interviews and preparation for those interviews.

Paula Sage
Career Advisory Group

HR Profession Map event

Sue Meintjes, CIPD Development Manager will focus this session on how the HR Profession Map can be utilised to support you in your professional development.

The West London CIPD Learning and Development Group looks forward to meeting you at the event.

Karen Partridge
L&D Group Chair

Find HR jobs in your area with People Management

West London branch e-newsletter Summer 2009

From your new Chair