Take your pick

The nature of how organisations communicate with their people – internal and external – is changing. Businesses are responding to the growing demand and the desire for digital and social media, and many – both inside and outside of the workplace are investing in user-generated content. This practical session will explore how business can still be responsible in an era of ever-changing communication; ensuring that a unified culture prevails as people are enabled to do their best work and contribute to the success of the organisation.

This workshop will attempt to step into the future, to look at how the world of work is expected to change. Exploring skills in demand, technological impacts and other megatrends – how will all of this will revamp the future needs of the workplace? What are the implications for the NI Education system in terms of change? And what role can employers play in; helping to better connect and shape its future talent; and, understanding and developing the type of working environment that future employees will thrive in?

How can we protect our planet? How does the Circular Economy play its part? In December last year, David Attenborough’s Blue Planet brought the issue of marine plastic pollution crashing into public consciousness, arguably causing a knee-jerk reaction in Westminster and the last-minute inclusion of plastics in the UK Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. However, the problem is nothing new and there are many examples of how forward-thinking companies have made use of circular approaches to reduce or eliminate avoidable plastic waste. The session will highlight such examples and look towards future opportunities for wider engagement in the move towards more sustainable use of plastics.

On World Mental Health Day, join us to explore how you can futureproof your workplace by recognising the signs that people are struggling with stress or mental ill health at work. With Where, How and When we work changing rapidly due to social and technological advances, people can struggle to keep up. The pressures of our 24/7 online culture also take their toll and employers have a responsibility to look out for and invest in their employees when it comes to good mental health. This workshop will explore how you can identify potential problems at an early stage and give you tools to avoid a workforce mental health crisis.

GDPR, Cyber security and online reputation – just some of issues brought about in an increasingly digital and technology-driven world. This session will explore how businesses are dealing with these challenges, and what more your business can do to futureproof itself.

Increasingly companies are keen to develop their own bespoke education or employability programmes, to help inspire and upskill next generation employees or create alternative/new talent pipelines from the existing working age population. Employers share their insights into their signature programmes, why they have done what they have, how they developed their initiative and the ups and downs along the way.

In 2015, COP21 set the climate change agenda through its long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels – with the role of business being critical in achieving this. Setting science-based targets, offers the opportunity to make the transition towards a low-carbon economy a reality whilst simultaneously driving innovation, cost savings, and reduced regulatory and investment risk. This session will explore the approach of science-based targeting as an opportunity for businesses in Northern Ireland.

Companies with inclusive workplace cultures that embrace diversity and encourage all employees to contribute and help shape that culture do better. Simple fact. They succeed because their employees are more actively engaged. That translates into improved productivity and a place where people feel valued and want to work. As society becomes more diverse, that diversity brings a richness of ideas and perspectives that good employers can harness. Find out how by supporting difference and focusing on engagement and inclusion in the workplace, you can transform your organisation and become a great place to work.

Social mobility is a major issue for our country and our economy. We have one of the poorest rates of social mobility in the developed world. The issues related to social mobility are complex, and the solutions are many and varied. The topic for this debate is as follows: How can people born into low-income families, regardless of their talent or their hard work, have the same access to opportunities as those born into more privileged circumstances?