Press Release

Impact of economic turbulence in the spotlight at this year’s CIPD annual conference

Tuesday, August 5 2008

CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition, 16-18 September 2008, Harrogate International Centre

The decline in the UK’s economic growth and the prospect of a recession’s impact on business are themes to take centre stage at the 2008 CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition. The event offers business solutions and practical guidance on how to survive the turbulent times as a result of the economic downturn.

With the Office of National Statistics (ONS) report in July showing the slowest quarterly growth since 2005, the signs point towards a difficult period ahead for UK organisations. The recent quarterly CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook (LMO) warned that a further deterioration of the economy could result in employers being forced to dramatically cut down on staff, the outcome of which would be an avalanche of job losses.  

But how can business professionals deal effectively with the deepening crisis? This year’s packed Annual Conference agenda includes three separate seminars focusing on issues most likely to trouble managers during turbulent times, as well as a stand-out panel session with the CIPD’s chief economist, John Philpott and the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The session is to be chaired by David Smith, Economics Editor of The Sunday Times, and is to focus on the overarching theme of the state of the global economy and its impact on the UK’s labour market.

The other seminars most relevant to the impact of economic turbulence include:

- Leadership and employee engagement

- Developing cultures that enhance employee output

- Performance management

John Philpott, Chief Economist, CIPD, says: "This year’s CIPD Annual Conference falls just at the moment when the full impact of the credit crunch and the fuel and food price squeeze will start to emerge. With the  fall-out for organisations and jobs at the forefront of everyone’s attention, managers will be offered the latest expert assessment of what lies ahead and learn how best to manage people in tougher times."

Below are more details for the relevant seminars:

- In the seminar entitled Surviving and Thriving Through Turbulence: views from the top, Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive from the Guardian Media Group (GMG) and David Robinson, Chairman from Richer Sounds, will address the needs for both strong leadership and employee engagement

- In Leading Through Turbulence: the power of courageous leaders, Octavius Black talks about the Mind Gym, which he co-founded

- In How to Get Engaged at Work: developing successful leaders and cultures,  Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe, Professor of Leadership from the University of Bradford School of Management, Emeritus Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Leeds and Chief Executive at Real World Group, will explain how to develop leadership and cultures that enhance employee output

- In Performance Management, Stephen Sidebottom, Head of HR Europe at Nomura International, and Stephen Moir, Director of People and Policy from Cambridgeshire County Council, will reveal their performance management strategies and how they have benefitted from them at a time of economic uncertainty

For a full programme, which focuses on other key issues relevant to good practice people management, visit www.cipd.co.uk/ace/.