Winter e-newsletter 2012

Branch update
CIPD West London branch e-newsletter
Winter 2012
 
 

Welcome to your branch Winter E-Newsletter

As the weather gets colder and the evenings darker, it sometimes takes a little more effort to attend events after work. However, I want to encourage you to attend some of the branch events we’re organised for you over the next few months. Feedback from past events has been excellent, particularly about the speakers and topics. We have added a new venue, Ealing College, which has also proven a success.

We will be sending you another brief printed programme in the post to cover the events of the next 6 months as we know that many of you value this hard copy. However, please do ensure you read our future E-Newsletters for further details and in case we need to change dates, etc. If you want to receive email reminders about up coming events, please sign up to receive them:

Events coming up are:

• The current economic situation and its impact on HR – John Philpott, Chief Economist, CIPD
Tuesday 24 January 2012

• How colourful is your Umbrella The future of work - create a future proof working ‘lifestyle’ that combines happiness, self worth and fulfilment – Steve Preston and Gail Gibson
Wednesday 8 February 2012

• Reward – Duncan Brown, Principal, on Hewitt
Thursday 8 March 2012

• Employment Law Seminar (full day, paid for) - see below for booking details Thursday 15 March 2012

• Mentoring Workshop – see below for further details on Mentoring group
Thursday 19 April 2012

For all events (except the Employment Law Seminar), please book online if possible. However, please do not book months in advance and then forget to turn up. There is no limited number of places at our events. We will accommodate all those who wish to come. But, typically, only half of those who do book, attend an event and this plays havoc with our catering arrangements. We do not turn away those who do not book, but please understand when we have miscalculated the expected attendance.

I look forward to meeting you at an event. Please feel free to introduce yourself to me or any of the committee members to give us feedback on what the Branch is doing, or could be doing, to support you.

Jane Pepe
Chair

 
Employment law update - full day seminar
 
Stephen Gibbons and Darren Newman
Thursday 15th March 2012

Any branch members who are keen to keep themselves up to date on the latest issues around employment law should not miss our one day update. This annual employment law seminar is always very popular as it provides the perfect chance to learn about all the latest employment law developments, as well as giving the opportunity to participate in discussions about the practical application of the law.

Our two speakers, Steve Gibbons and Darren Newman, are skilled in explaining employment law in an entertaining way and are happy to answer questions and debate the issues. The day also offers an opportunity to network with colleagues facing similar issues and challenges. I have attended most of these updates and can highly recommend them.

This is the only event which the Branch charges for and we feel it is excellent value for money. We have frozen the price and are charging the same as previous years - £150 inc. VAT for CIPD Members with lunch and refreshments included. To book, download the flyer from the West London Branch homepage with the booking form.
 
Upcoming Events
 
The events coming up are:

• The current economic situation and its impact on HR – John Philpott, Chief Economist, CIPD
Tuesday 24 January 2012

• How colourful is your Umbrella The future of work - create a future proof working ‘lifestyle’ that combines happiness, self worth and fulfilment – Steve Preston and Gail Gibson Wednesday 8 February 2012

• Reward – Duncan Brown, Principal, on Hewitt
Thursday 8 March 2012

• Employment Law Seminar (full day, paid for) - see booking details Thursday 15 March 2012

• Mentoring Workshop – see below for further details on Mentoring group
Thursday 19 April 2012

To book your places on these events, please visit the West London Branch events page, and click on the relevant event.
 
Past Events
Mock Employment Tribunal
Mills & Reeves
14 Sept 2011


Ian Mather and his team from Mills & Reeve, a top 50 national law firm, along with Ian Scott, Barrister and Employment Judge in Croydon and Ashford, staged a very realistic employment drama “In the Reading Employment Tribunal” over the matter of a claim of Constructive Dismissal, brought by John Grumble. He stormed out of a disciplinary meeting, which was arranged to discuss his performance. Everyone in the audience could relate to the issues which arose and the shortcomings on both sides of the case.

No expense was spared by the Mills and Reeve team in producing a detailed case along with bundle of documents outlining the chronology of events. Once the team had played their parts, the audience were invited to ask questions as part of the process and to give a final vote on “Was the dismissal unfair?” Credit to Mills & Reeve for a wonderful insight into how a dispute between an Employee and their Employer can arise. The real message was that, not only must you have the correct policies & procedures in place, but your managers need training on how to apply them and they need to be very careful what they say in emails, especially when they write them in haste and anger!

People & Organisational Development Group
Employee Engagement event
13 October 2011


Employee engagement has become a major issue on the HR agenda and our October event produced a lively discussion on the subject – and the role of learning and development in encouraging engagement.

Dr Stephen Gourlay from Kingston Business School shared some of the learning from the work the School has done through its Employee Engagement Consortium – drawing on the experience of a range of companies at the forefront of employee engagement practice.

Claire Molin from Visa Europe provided some valuable insights from her current work, as well as previous experience in a range of companies and sectors.

Levels of audience engagement were certainly high - with plenty of questions and animated debate. Our new venue at Ealing College proved successful – and we were pleased to welcome a number of new student members who came along to join us.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the work of Kingston’s Employee Engagement Consortium can follow this link
 
 

Self-Manage Your HR Career
George Griffin and Anita Edmonds, Penna PLC
16 November 2011


Our speakers gave us a lively, stimulating presentation. They showed that the individual should take the major responsibility for career development, rather than the manager or the employer. Participants used Schein’s Career Anchors to help determine the drivers for their career choices. Career paths, stages, goals and options were covered, as well as managing reputation and careful use of social media. Useful points were made about keeping CV’s up-to-date and logging of achievements and the career value of being able to make effective presentations was illustrated.

Paula Sage
Career Advisory Group

Mentoring

Mentoring schemes are available through 9 of the CIPD’s Branches. The West London Branch Scheme has been running for over seven years and typically there are around 12 Mentor/Mentee pairings active at any one time. Each year we offer three mentoring-focused events, the most recent of which was held at the Novotel Hotel, Hammersmith on 20th October 2011. Paul Massey of Mentorwell was our Presenter.

Paul’s enthusiasm and passion for Mentoring was enriched by his references to a number of successful Mentoring Schemes with which he is familiar. His presentation was certainly thought provoking and proved truly valuable for all who attended. We are most grateful to Paul for his contribution and his Presentation slides are available on the Branch Website for a limited period.

Our next planned events are:

• 19th April 2012. This event is open to everyone with an interest in mentoring. It will feature the use of “Open Space” as a means of creating and developing new ideas and thinking.

• 14th June 2012. A keynote speaker is being invited to address this closing mentoring event of the year. Details to be advised nearer the time of the event.
We are always pleased to receive applications from potential Mentors and Mentees. If you feel you would like to gain valuable career growth experience as either a Mentor or Mentee please contact any member of the Steering Group or visit the website.

John Jackson
Chair – Mentoring Steering Group
 
 
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