The CIPD Festival of Work opened its virtual doors on Wednesday 10 June to 26,000+ professionals registered to attend - all seeking the latest solutions and innovations to navigate their organisation through these challenging times.
Take a look through the day one highlights and get a sense of what's in store over the next two days of the virtual event.
In the conference

Professor Andrew Scott (London Business School), Duncan Selbie (Chief Executive of Public Health England – above) and Peter Cheese (Chief Executive, CIPD) introduced the conference with the opening keynote on covering the key learnings from a world impacted by COVID-19.
“There is an opportunity to reset as a nation our relationship with our own health, and what we understand by good health and what drives good health.” Duncan Selbie

In the Leading through Adversity stream, Dame Helena Morrissey (Financier, Author, and Founder of the 30% Club) presented an insightful and inspirational masterclass on how to lead your organisation, and thrive, during these turbulent times.
“The day people stop bringing their problems to you is the day you have stopped leading them.” Dame Helena Morrissey

Winston Ben Clements (Specialist and Advisor on Inclusion and Culture to global organisations) and Samantha West (Commercial Director, VINCI Facilities) presented a powerful session on preserving the diversity agenda at times of crisis, speaking of their own experiences.
“When you create an inclusive culture, you not only attract diverse talent but you also do a better job of replacing diverse talent.” Winston Ben Clements

To end the day, an interesting interactive panel discussion by Dawn Moore (Group People Director, The Murphy Group), Ian Brinkley (Labour Market Economist), Professor Jill Rubery (University of Manchester) and Ben Willmott (Head of Public Policy, CIPD) discussing the future after furlough.
“This is an opportunity to utilise the otherwise underemployed youth labour force to promote them in areas where they can promote a green economy.” Professor Jill Rubery
Hot off the press
Join the conversation on #FestivalofWork







It was great at the start but soon after my internet connection got out and i could not log into any of the session. Is it possible that these sessions are recorded and available if yes please let me have the link.
I would second that – is it possible that sessions are recorded and viewable after the conference?
Hi Umer – Yes all sessions are available on-demand at the end of each day up until 10 July 2020. You’ll be able to find yesterday’s sessions by scrolling to the end of the agenda on each stream in the Conference hall.
As the comment above it was great to start with but connection on some of the speakers was poor so kept freezing would love to be able to see some if they were recorded too.
Hi Kaye – All sessions are available on-demand at the end of each day up until 10 July 2020. You’ll be able to find yesterday’s sessions by scrolling to the end of the agenda on each stream in the Conference hall.
Hello! Is it under Conference hall tab? I can’t find sessions of yesterday. Can you help?
Hello – Yes, click on the Conference hall and then click on your chosen stream. Scroll down and all of yesterday’s sessions are at the end of the page. Hope this helps!
The events I listened to were so insightful, I really enjoyed the interaction and the wonderful ideas that I could cherry pick to use and adapt to our own organisation. As per previous comments can you forward the link to the recordings as I had to log out and in on several occasions and lost the thread of chat associated to the event!
Looking forward to today!!
Thank you so much for opening the doors to all, not something I would have travelled to London and taken 3 days out for but amazing to be able to dip in and out this way, so one of the upsides to the pandemic I guess!!
Maureen
Hi Maureen – So glad you enjoyed the conference yesterday and that you found interesting insights. All sessions are available on-demand at the end of each day up until 10 July 2020. You’ll be able to find yesterday’s sessions by scrolling to the end of the agenda on each stream in the Conference hall.
Hi. I wasn’t able to make Day 1 and im having problems with connection for Day 2 (hopefully this will resolve for later sessions). Im pleased to see however that all sessions (subject to speaker approval) will be available to watch on demand from Monday. Many thanks for pulling this together
Hi Debbie – All sessions are available on-demand at the end of each day up until 10 July 2020. You’ll be able to find yesterday’s sessions by scrolling to the end of the agenda on each stream in the Conference hall.