CIPD Learning and Development Show 2017: Learning at the core

The CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, hosted its annual learning and development (L&D) show on 10-11 May at London’s Olympia.

Image of CIPD L&D show exhibition floor 2017

Ruth Holmes

23 May 2017

Focusing on putting learning at the heart of organisations, the two-day conference and exhibition buzzed with masterclasses, workshops, bite-sized updates and interactive sessions on skills, new techniques and L&D tips.These were anchored in five workstreams the CIPD believes are at the heart of the L&D agenda in 2017:

Leadership development and coaching: enhancing leader and line manager capability to influence organisational culture and performance
Digital and social learning: embedding digital learning
Science of learning: using objective measures to improve learning effectiveness
Learning and talent development: building development strategies that add value
Organisation development: aligning leadership, people and change.

'Pragmatic and agile' solutions to organisation development

Head of learning and development at the CIPD, Andy Lancaster, said: “This year’s L&D show focuses on learning being at the core of the organisation and adding real value to the business.“With the pace at which the world of work is changing, it’s crucial that learning is closely aligned to the business needs with pragmatic and agile solutions.“The upcoming introduction of the apprenticeship levy, one of the most significant shake-ups for the L&D profession in a long time, is just one example where new opportunities for learning innovation exist.”

Informal learning and coaching

From the floor of the exhibition hall, as well as the thought-leader sessions, case studies and masterclasses in the conference, there was much focus on coaching-based approaches to performance management, informal learning and technology-based approaches to on-the-job training.The launch of an Open University study, In Focus: The Work-based Learning Dividend, produced in conjunction with independent research company, Towards Maturity, also focused minds on the value of capturing informal learning and how to achieve this.Paris-based learning evaluation leader forMetris’ session was among those that looked at this agenda in the exhibition’s Learning Arena. The fast-paced session showed delegates how to capture insights to measure the impact of informal learning.

Building trust and organisational performance

Getting business transformations and reorganisations right, as well as building trust in leadership, were key themes in sessions by Stephen Heidari-Robinson and Professor Veronica Hope Hailey respectively.Mr Heidari-Robinson’s research found that only 20 per cent of reorganisations deliver what they set out to. His masterclass with CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese focused on using research of what works to train people involved so they can increase the chances of success and “reduce the misery”.In another salient, case study-based masterclass examining the role of HR in building and nurturing trust during times of change, University of Bath Professor Hope Hailey explored the key learnings from case studies of what organisations and leaders did during times of change to create high trust and maintain engagement.Referring to Margaret Heffernan’s question of what legacy do leaders want to leave, Professor Hope Hailey analysed what trustworthy leadership looks like. Among the indicators she identified were a higher and shared sense of purpose, and deferring to a company’s past to demonstrate its continuity and future path.

An open-source, adaptive approach to learning and development

Together, the key themes and overall mood emphasised the importance of putting people at the centre of strategic capability and using broad-based mix of innovative approaches to put this into practice.