Welcome to our branch
Welcome to Thames Valley Branch.
Covering the whole of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and much of Hampshire our branch is in an area recognised as a major tourist destination and economic hub and often referred to as England’s silicon valley because of the number of technology companies based here. With over 4,600 members we're one of the largest branches in the country.
We're fully committed to the CIPD purpose of Championing better work and working lives, and supporting local members, at every stage of their career, with opportunities to develop their professional knowledge and network within and across the branch network.
We offer a range of evening and daytime events through local groups covering Oxford, Reading, Basingstoke and Newbury, and Bracknell as well as two well established special interest groups – one for coaches and the other for independent consultants.
All of our our events are free for CIPD members. If there's anything you’d like us to offer or provide more information about, please do let me know – we rely on your feedback to tell us what you want.
We look forward to welcoming you to our events.
Michelle Bailey, Chartered MCIPD
Branch Chair
Come along to
our events
Our members rate their access to a local branch in their top three membership benefits. Come along to our branch events to discover other CIPD benefits. Explore the issues and trends impacting our profession. Network, learn and share ideas with people professionals in our area.
Get involved
Our teams of volunteers organise over 30 branch and group events each year to support the CPD needs of people professional colleagues. You can find out about forthcoming events, local news and information through our quarterly newsletter and regular email updates about our forthcoming events. Just check your CIPD profile is set up to receive them from us or sign up below.
CIPD members are welcome at any of our events. To book, please follow the Eventbrite links on the relevant event page. We appreciate that plans may change but would ask that, once you've registered to attend, if you later find yourself unable to do so, please let us know so that we can adjustments our arrangements as necessary. If you experience any issues in booking, please let our branch administrator know by emailing the branch address.
If you would like to submit an article about your world of work for the newsletter, please contact us via the email below.
Our teams of volunteers organise over 30 branch and group events each year to support the CPD needs of people professional colleagues. You can find out about forthcoming events, local news and information through our quarterly newsletter and regular email updates about our forthcoming events. Just check your CIPD profile is set up to receive them from us or sign up below.
CIPD members are welcome at any of our events. To book, please follow the Eventbrite links on the relevant event page. We appreciate that plans may change but would ask that, once you've registered to attend, if you later find yourself unable to do so, please let us know so that we can adjustments our arrangements as necessary. If you experience any issues in booking, please let our branch administrator know by emailing the branch address.
If you would like to submit an article about your world of work for the newsletter, please email us.
If you can offer some of your time and expertise to help as a volunteer, we would love to hear from you. The time commitment is flexible, and the social and profesional rewards can be tremendous! Contact a member of the branch or group committees for an informal discussion. Read more about branch volunteering below.
If you also want to increase your networking opportunities, work with like-minded HR, OD and L&D professionals and have some fun along the way then join us on LinkedIn or Facebook – search for ‘CIPD Thames Valley’.
Contact the team with your enquiries about local events or feedback on the future shape of branches.
Networking and learning
With workshops, round tables, panel discussions and expert speakers, our thought-provoking events cover everything our community needs. Network, learn and stay up to date.
Volunteering
Keen to get involved, give back or raise your profile? Whatever your skills and interests, learn more about branch volunteering.
Support for student members
Just starting out on your career? Want to meet experienced people professionals and keep up to date with all the topics you cover in your studies? We’re here for you as you study for your CIPD qualification.
Want to get involved? Got an idea for an event? We want to hear from you!
Email usIndependent consultants group
Our special interest group (SIG) focuses on supporting the specific needs of those CIPD members who typically work as independent consultants and freelancers. It doesn’t matter whether you are just starting off your independent journey (you may even just be thinking about it) or have been running your own business for years. No matter what your level of experience the group is an excellent forum to share ideas, build knowledge and learn from like-minded colleagues. Our ethos is very much about being supportive and sharing.
We run several events throughout the year, on topics to help you start, grow and enhance your business. Our sessions always include a networking element combined with either an expert speaker or knowledge sharing sessions with group members. Not only do attendees have the chance to learn new skills and build knowledge, but they can also build professional relationships which in the past have often led to new business opportunities. And whilst we work hard in the sessions, we always enjoy ourselves too.
Basingstoke, Newbury and Reading group
Our group covers the geographical area of Basingstoke, Newbury and Reading. We organise an annual programme of events aimed to appeal to a broad range of interests of CIPD Members with a particular focus and passion on bringing the Professional Map to life for people professionals in local organisations. The programme seeks to provide relevant and interesting CPD learning events along with the opportunity to network with HR and L&D professionals from a variety of organisations, sectors and industries.
The group is run by a small committee which welcomes feedback on the programme as well as ideas for potential future events. Offers of help whether it be in respect of providing venues, programme ideas, identifying possible speakers or involvement in the committee itself are always welcome; please get in touch if you can spare even a small amount of time to support the development of the profession. We look forward to meeting you at one of our future events.
Bracknell and Windsor group
Despite being one of the smaller groups within the branch, Bracknell and Windsor group pride ourselves on being a lively group with a reputation for both challenging speakers and inviting topics. We run a diverse programme of talks and workshops usually on an alternative month basis. We welcome new CIPD members and students and are particularly pleased to see members haven’t attended in a while.
Members are welcome to bring along colleagues who are not currently CIPD members when the topic covers the many benefits of CIPD membership.
We meet in South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell, usually at 18.00 for an 18.30 start on a Monday of alternate months. More details about our group events Eventbrite. The committee is always interested hearing from members about ideas about topics or suggestions for possible speakers. We look forward to welcoming you.
Oxford group
The Oxford group committee is made up of local volunteers who generously give up their time to organise and deliver a programme of HR, OD and L&D events focussed on knowledge, skills development, networking and CPD for CIPD members in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas. If you would like to know more about the committee and being involved, please contact us.
Each year we build a varied programme of events that focus on current hot topics and helping our local members keep up to date with current thinking and legislation. We look forward to meeting you at events and welcome any feedback on the current programme and future events - so please do get in touch with us.
Get in touch to find out more. And let us know your ideas for other special interest groups.
Stay connected with our community
CIPD Trust
Tackling barriers to work today whilst creating inclusive workplaces of tomorrow.