South Yorkshire and District Branch

We share opportunities to join our committee through our regular newsletters, so please make sure you receive your copy by signing up, if you haven’t done so already and if you're interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you.

The overall purpose of the branch is to support the CIPD in Championing Work and Working Lives on a local level. Our branch objectives are:

• To act as advocates of the CIPD locally in support of national and international member objectives and engage with and listen to our members' needs.
  
  
• To host/co-sponsor/run local events to enable local CIPD members to share, learn and grow and provide networking opportunities.
  
  
• To provide ongoing support to all branch members with their career development.
  
  
• To further build good relationships with the CIPD members of the future, focusing on our student population and local centres offering CIPD programmes We're running a combination of in-person and virtual events this year, taking on board your feedback from our annual branch survey. We hope to see you at one of our events very soon.

Finally, we are building a strong social media presence so please keep in touch with us on Twitter @CIPDSouthYorks or join our LinkedIn Group CIPD (South Yorkshire Branch). 

Sally Senior, Chartered MCIPD
Branch Chair

About the committee

The South Yorkshire and District Branch is run by a committee of volunteer HR and OD professionals, who work locally to provide our members with information, tools and events that support you in your profession. The branch committee is proud to support over 2,600 members, spread across the Barnsley, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield areas.

The committee undertake its objectives with clear communication and a programme of great, cost-effective events as well as the continuous development of our mentoring scheme.

The branch are proud to have well-established links with Doncaster College, Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield, who offer CIPD accredited programmes and learning.

Activity programme

We run regular events throughout the year to suit all levels of our membership.

We run a very active and vibrant events committee and forthcoming plans include both online and face-to-face events. You can find out more about our activities programme by following our social channels.

We are always looking for people to get involved in the branch committee and it is a great opportunity for individuals to give something back as part of a supportive, committed team. If you would like to discuss getting involved, please contact our Branch Chair by email.

How you can support the branch:

• Attending as many of our events as possible, encouraging conversation and discussion to support member engagement.
  
  
• Providing ongoing feedback on our activities, so that we can better our support offering to our members.
  
  
• Supporting at one of our many events, as a guest speaker or coordinator/facilitator.
  
  
• Engaging with us on LinkedIn and Twitter sharing our social media content and encouraging both member engagement and fellow professionals.

Are you looking for personal development opportunities? 

As a mentee you would:

• Develop strengths and competencies
• Better meet work challenges
• Learn from example
• Gain knowledge and more experience
• Expand your networks
• Improve your self-confidence

As a mentor you would:

• Improve your communication and supervisory skills
• Expand your networks
• Develop your own mentoring skills
• Gain satisfaction from enabling an individual to develop
• Be instrumental in career transition and/or transformation
• Professional development

What does it entail?

• It’s an arrangement in which an experienced individual (mentor) offers ongoing support and guidance to a less experienced individual (mentee) to help the mentee manage their own learning and career development.
  
  
• We aim to provide members, at whatever level and stage in their career, with support and guidance from a more experienced HR professional. We recommend regular communication – either face to face, via video conference or phone. You will make your own arrangements to suit you both.
  
  
• At your first meeting you will be asked to complete a Mentoring Agreement together to agree goals and expectations from both perspectives. Templates and other resources are available for you to use.
  
  
• So that we can ensure the scheme is effective and continues to be so, you will be asked to share feedback, learning and outcomes via an evaluation form at three months, six months and nine months.
  
  
• The formal mentoring relationship will last for approximately nine months and we ask that you are willing to commit to the full duration of the programme.

What support is available?

• Applicants will be invited to attend a Mentoring Scheme Induction event prior to the start of the annual mentoring programme commencing each January.
  
  
• All participants will have access to various CIPD tools, templates and other resources, including an Introduction to Mentoring webinar.
  
  
• There will also be additional opportunities for peer support and discussion.
  
  
• The local branch mentoring team will also be on hand to support you both through the process and will be capturing feedback, ideas and way to improve.
  
  
• The branch offers help to members, regardless of whether you are studying to become CIPD qualified or are an experienced HR practitioner.

How to apply

If you feel you can give one to two hours of your time a month to develop a mentee’s career, or if you want to find out how a mentor can help you secure your next role and advance your career:

Please complete the Mentee or Mentor Application Form using the link, at the earliest opportunity and submit to the branch via the electronic form.

If you have any queries, you can contact us on syork-mentoring@cipdbranch.co.uk.

To ensure you get the most from our mentoring scheme, we will partner you with a mentor who has the right skills and experience for you.

Please connect with us via Twitter and LinkedIn and sign up for our newsletter.