CIPD Festival of Work 2024 Key Takeaways and Highlights

The CIPD Festival of Work is an engaging journey into the future of work, brimming with thought-provoking insights from Industry leaders.

This year’s event at ExCeL London brought together a vibrant community of over 11,000 thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators in an atmosphere rich with knowledge-sharing, inspiration, and growth.

Over the two-day conference, attendees delved into the future of work and gained insights from industry experts on evolving business and people strategies to adapt to a changing work environment.

It was an opportunity to network, connect with peers, and take a step back to reflect on the path ahead.

Day One:

Breaking barriers and decision-making

The CIPD Festival of Work began with a fireside chat with television presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley MBE and Elliot Rae, sharing their personal journeys, emphasising the power of authenticity and vulnerability. Dooley highlighted the importance of breaking barriers and driving societal change, inspiring attendees with her honesty and dedication to making a positive difference. Her talk reminded us of the human stories behind the headlines.

Dr Daniel Home also kicked off the first day sharing his perspective on AI and the future of automation, asking the important question ‘What does the right automation look like for your business?’.

Missed this talk? No worries, we’ve summarised the key takeaways below... - Stay adaptable: flexibility is crucial for informed decision-making - Avoid analysis paralysis: collect sufficient data, then take action - Cultivate a growth mindset: promote learning and innovation within teams - Set clear decision-making frameworks: establish criteria and deadlines for efficient decision-making - Balance authority and empowerment: combine strong leadership with employee empowerment for better ownership and accountability

Day Two:

Inspiring conversations, thriving at work and a spotlight on wellbeing

The second day played host to a variety of conversations, events and learning opportunities.

Insights had fascinating conversations at our booth with attendees enthusiastically sharing how Insights has enhanced their personal and professional growth.

We engaged in meaningful conversations with individuals from the UK, Vietnam, Singapore, and beyond about their Insights Discovery Profile at CIPD and how awareness helps organisations address many of the challenges they face.

In fact, we generated over 200 profiles and had over 100 onsite debriefs at our booth, sharing the power of awareness far and wide.

These essential conversations emphasised the importance of self-awareness and understanding others to effectively address HR and business challenges. They began to reveal how this understanding can help tackle the issues faced by HR and business leaders.

Hackathon Session

Elsewhere in the festival...

In today’s fast-paced work environment, prioritising mental health and workplace wellbeing is crucial for fostering a productive and healthy workforce.

Recognising this, the Festival of Work hosted CIPD’s Wellbeing Village, sponsored by Calm. This dedicated space kept these priorities front of mind for attendees and offered a variety of activities focused on relaxation and wellness, including dog therapy at the cuddle club, rejuvenating yoga sessions, professional massages, and much more.

Key Takeaway and Final Thoughts

CIPD’s Festival of Work 2024 provided a wealth of valuable insights, inspiration, and actionable strategies for L&D professionals.

From embracing decision-making to breaking down barriers and discussing how to keep employees thriving at work, it certainly left us plenty to think about.

As the future of work continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it’s essential for individuals and organisations alike to remain agile, embrace change, and prioritise personal and professional development.

If you’re looking to discover the power of awareness, click below to book a demo with an Insights expert.