Surrey and North Hampshire Branch

In response to member requests we have launched the HR Morning Club. This will meet each month and be an informal gathering for members who cannot attend our traditional evening or Saturday events. We hope it will appeal to a wide range of members so if for example:

• You are seeking to return to work
• Need support with your study towards a qualification in HR
• Are on maternity leave or other caring activities
• Maybe you are unemployed or redundant or perhaps working part time
• Just want to network or update your skills – then -

Our Morning Club will be a great opportunity to network in a friendly and welcoming environment over a cup of coffee and learn something new and topical at the same time. It is an opportunity for you to discuss current HR and business topics and see how you can gain new skills.

We meet in Guildford from 10.00 to noon so come for the morning or just pop in at any time. You will be able to input to how you would like the club to work and discuss access to the Branch to arrange further events on topics of your choice (or just continue informal coffee meet ups).

Shahd Ziane is the Club Co-ordinator and please contact her if you have any questions, otherwise we look forward to sharing a coffee with you.

To successfully deliver the Branch and Group programmes we need further support at all levels. You might have spotted there are no Dorking events planned in the programme as there is no Chair or committee in place at this location.

Groups and the Branch have small committees, and we welcome any support be it organising an event or just being a reliable pair of hands to meet and greet. Your involvement can range from being a Friend of the Branch through to a Branch committee member.

If you feel you have the skills to run a group and develop three or four events a year then please contact us. There is full support from the Branch committee so you won’t be alone.

Welcome to the Farnborough and Camberley Group.

We run a topical programme of events, with a combination of lively talks and practical workshops plus plenty of opportunity to network with the broad range of attendees at the meetings. Our group meetings are monthly with the exception of July, August and December. Whilst principally events are for CIPD members, if you want to come along then just ask. Everyone will be most welcome.

Our current venue is Farnborough College of Technology (Farnborough Campus). A map can be found here. Parking is available in the grounds after 18.00. You can join us from 18.30 for networking and refreshments, with the speaker starting at 19.00.

If you want to come along to any of our events please register via our Events page. We look forward to welcoming you.

Anne Cannings and Diane Fishlock
Group Chairs

The Guildford Group of the Surrey and North Hampshire Branch meets several times each event season with a small break in the winter months. Events are held in the School of Management Building at the University of Surrey campus in Guildford. We start at 19:00 for 19:15 and aim to close between 20:45 and 21:00.

Sessions are aimed to appeal across the full remit of HR activity and there is a particular focus on new ideas and thinking. Sessions are mostly interactive and in recent times have included legal updates, psychometrics, change management, well-being, engagement and corporate social responsibility. Speakers are usually at the forefront of current thought leadership and have vast experience in people related business issues.

We are a friendly, welcoming group and look forward to meeting new members, aspiring members and students as well as those who have been associated with CIPD for a longer period.

David Snelling
Group Chair

To successfully deliver the Branch and Group programmes we need further support at all levels. You might have spotted there are no Walton and Weybridge events planned in the programme as there is no Chair or committee in place at this location.

Groups and the Branch have small committees, and we welcome any support be it organising an event or just being a reliable pair of hands to meet and greet. Your involvement can range from being a Friend of the Branch through to a Branch committee member.

If you feel you have the skills to run a group and develop three or four events a year then please contact us. There is full support from the Branch committee so you won’t be alone.

The Woking Branch has a new venue!

Our June event in Woking completes a busy year of well attended events. Thanks to all our speakers for their variety and expertise and our members for their attendance and contribution. Our programme of events has been tailored around our members’ particular areas of interest and we hope that you find them interesting and useful. Full details can be found on our Events page where you can also book onto these events.

We look forward to seeing you at a meeting soon.

Suzanna Sheridan
Group Chair

What is Career Connect?

It is a support group for CIPD members in Surrey and North Hampshire who have to, or want to, change jobs or consider aspects of their current career. The support is provided by volunteers who give their time to the group in two main ways. Firstly by running Career Connect events on career related topics and secondly by reviewing CVs and providing guidance on improvements.

Career Connect events

Once every month Career Connect holds an evening event with its topic related to some aspect of job and/or career change. The meeting format usually consists of an expert led presentation on the topic, building in the concerns and issues raised by those present. The format is interactive and provides time for each individual to ask related questions should they wish.

Topics covered

The topics in the programme typically include those related to CV development, interview tools and techniques and job finding such as networking, effective use of search companies and the internet. In addition there will be meetings directed at other topics such as improving all aspects of your presentation, career change planning and performing at assessment centres. Details of our meetings can be found on our Events page.

Career Connect meets at Guildford College starting at 19.00 and finishing at 21.00. For further information contact the Group Chair.

CV review service

One of the team of volunteers will look at your CV and provide feedback on its content and how it might be improved. If you would like to use this service please contact the Group Chair.

Like to help?

The group relies on support of volunteers and if you would like to be involved through using your expertise to input to an evening event or join those who offer to critique CVs then please contact the Group Chair.

Clare Frankland
Group Chair

The purpose of the Special Interest Group – Consultants has continued to place the emphasis on members meeting to talk about a range of topics and issues relevant in pursuing a variety of human resources, training, recruitment, change management and other kinds of descriptions that members put to their work and their businesses. The aim has remained to provide insights in how to develop your consultancy skills, improve your business and facilitate mutual support. The subject matter for the meetings is organised as the year proceeds so as to keep it topical and meaningful to the running of a consultancy and professional services business.

All meetings are held at the Guildford Institute, Ward Street, Guildford, GU1 4LH. 19.00 for 19.30.

Trevor Hills
Group Chair

Our mentoring scheme will be launched in January 2016 and the opportunity to register as both mentees and mentors is now available. Having a mentor supports your career development, adds another person’s knowledge base and experience to your own and helps you gain confidence both in day to day activities but also, importantly, when taking critical decisions.

In the words of David Clutterbuck, everybody needs a mentor. No matter who you are or what you do, mentoring is a fantastic chance to help you grow and perform even better as a HR professional through the experience and support of those who have been faced with and triumphed over similar obstacles.

Using CIPD’s values, we explain why our mentoring scheme is a must have for all our members:

• Purposeful - unlock your true potential! Our mentoring scheme is dedicated to helping our members identify areas for development through constructive challenge, breaking down barriers, helping view situations in different ways and put in place bespoke improvement plans.
• Agile - mentoring is for the 21st century too! Sometimes busy and demanding lives mean we feel we have sparse time for ourselves. As well as local ‘coffee catch ups’, we use the latest technology, enabling mentees greater access to mentors, no matter where or what business or home pressures arise.
• Collaborative - expand your network, open doors and learn from each other! Our mentoring scheme is not only designed to provide our members with clarity, care and confidence, but we also offer a sounding board and access to the latest tools, tips and advice.
• Expert - mentors have a wealth of knowledge and experience in their field of expertise that they can share with you, providing a unique opportunity to give you an ‘insider's’ perspective, helping you shape your career to achieve your aspirations or problem solve the here and now.

To ensure you get the most from our mentoring scheme, we partner you with the right mentor who has the right skills and experience for you. In order to do so, we want to get to know you a little better. All you need to do is answer a few quick questions by clicking on Register as a mentee below, then leave the rest to us.

Register as a mentee

If you would like to be considered as a mentor, please click on the following link to register.

Register as a mentor

Welcome aboard the CIPD Surrey and North Hampshire Branch mentoring scheme!

Sarah Gosiewska
Mentoring Lead, CIPD Surrey and North Hampshire Branch

Contact Sarah