The organiser of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) annual conference and exhibition hails its decision to move to Manchester as a “recession-busting success”.
CIPD’s three-day event on 17 – 19 November saw a nine per cent increase in delegate numbers to over 5,000 with provisional visitor numbers up by 28 per cent.
“Despite the current economic climate, the move to Manchester has been a recession-busting success,” says head of conferences and exhibitions at the CIPD, Nina Harman. “Feedback at the event also tells us that conference goers, exhibition visitors and exhibitors alike were very happy with the innovation, greater interactivity and practical focus we were able to introduce as part of the move to the new venue.”
CIPD chief executive, Jackie Orme, agrees: “Numbers such as these would be good in any year, but in the current economic climate the team has delivered an event that has exceeded expectations. We’re looking forward to returning to Manchester next November to build on this success.”
The event was hosted in Harrogate for 61 years, but debuted at the Manchester Central Convention Complex this year. “We are always looking for ways to improve our event,” says CIPD head of conferences and exhibitions, Nina Harman “After talking to our attendees, we felt Manchester Central’s facilities offered greater flexibility to develop the event further. And, as we attract domestic and international visitors, the multiple transport links were an also attractive proposition.”
Headline speakers at the event included McDonald’s UK chief executive Steve Easterbrook, chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life Sir Christopher Kelly, and Tesco’s retail HR director Therese Procter.