About this Event
Do you want to improve productivity, retention or recruitment outcomes with your staff?
Join us for this unique Conference and Expo for employers to explore ways to develop and optimise your teams and improve retention as we go into a challenging landscape for businesses.
Taking place on Thursday 13 February 2025, at AFC Bournemouth Vitality Stadium, The People Festival offers inspirational speakers and panels from both the employer and employee’s perspective discussing the themes of Inspire, Recruit, Train, Retrain and Retain. These are bitesize sessions, curated by the Dorset LSIP, covering multiple topics to maximise your time out of the office.
Alongside the Conference, the Expo features over 30 providers, trainers and HR specialists who you can meet face to face, so you can explore support services and Government funding available to develop and grow your workforce.
The Expo is open 8am-2pm. Conference runs 9am-1pm with an array of speakers and breakout sessions. Refreshments and lunch included. Join for the full day, just the conference or just to visit the Expo.
Limited tickets available. You will receive confirmation of your booking.
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Conference Agenda:
09.00 | Conference Opens | Ian Girling, CE0, Dorset Chamber
9.10 | Tackling the essential digital skills gap in your current workforce with
Joanna Mills, Senior Consultant in Future Skills for Nationwide, will share a national perspective on tackling the digital skills gap and how digital upskilling can transform your team’s productivity. Expect insights and practical recommendations to empower your team, maximise your IT platforms, and improve efficiency and employee satisfaction.
9.30 | People-Powered Growth: Building a Winning Team
David Burnet, award-winning entrepreneur and CEO of INVIDAR, shares his insights on building a thriving business by prioritising people. Learn how to attract top talent, foster a culture of growth, and cultivate a motivated team that drives success.
09.50 | Unleashing Team Potential: The Employee Perspective Panel
What do your employees really want? With cross sector representatives, this session will feature employees representing diverse age groups in a panel and Q&A discussion. Discover what motivates different generations, how their needs have evolved, and practical strategies for maximising recruitment, productivity, retention, and upskilling.
10.20 | Dorset’s Talent: Your Workforce Solution
Phil Sayles, Principal of Bournemouth and Poole College, will explore the potential of Dorset’s workforce. He’ll demonstrate how businesses can tap into the talent pool on our doorstep through innovative approaches to skills development and inclusivity to build a skilled workforce for the future.
Seminars: 10.45-12.00 (breakout sessions)
Recruitment Reimagined: Empathy, Flexibility, and Partnership
Haven will share their fresh perspective on recruitment and how they are prioritising empathy, flexibility, and collaboration with candidates, to successfully fill vacancies – and improve retention. Find out more about their innovative approach, the challenges and the benefits.
Unlock Potential: Engaging Neurodiverse Talent
The award-winning creative and exhibition consultancy Inspiring Heritage shares their expertise in working with neurodiverse young people. Discover how they identify individual strengths, build on diverse skill sets, and create an inclusive workplace that maximises the potential of all employees.
Staffing Solutions: Growing Your Team
Many businesses have highlighted that getting the right staff is stalling growth. In this seminar, Blossom Care shares their innovative approach to tackling staffing challenges. Learn how they partner with schools and colleges to build a pipeline of future employees, including those new to the sector and ESOL learners. Discover practical strategies to meet your staffing needs and fuel business growth.
Nurturing New Talent: Mentoring for Success
Cosmic Cactus reveals the secrets to successful onboarding and mentoring. Learn how investing in new starters boosts retention, improves performance, and reduces rehiring costs. Get practical strategies for supporting employees during their critical first three months and beyond.
Developing New Routes into Employment for Local People
Is your recruitment strategy working for you or against you? Hear from NHS Dorset on how they’re successfully developing new routes into employment for local people, through a re-imagined approach to the application, recruitment processes and a commitment to reskilling. Get practical takeaways on how you can apply these principles to your hiring practice.
Keynotes
12.00 | Digital Boost: Unlock Growth with Barclays Eagle Labs
Barclays Eagle Labs will share the digital skills programmes available to accelerate your business growth. Get practical guidance on how to build productivity through tech, improve efficiency, and empower your team with those essential digital skills.
12.30 | ‘Dorset Skills’ Next Steps
Get valuable insights into the evolving skills landscape in Dorset from Rosie Knapper, Dorset LSIP, and Rebecca Davis, Dorset LEP. This session provides updates on the Dorset Local Skills Improvement Plan, including progress, future plans, and the latest labour market information. Stay informed about government policy, emerging trends, and their impact on your workforce.
12.50 | Conference Summary and Close | Helen Stacey, Chair of Dorset Chamber Ambassador Group and CEO of Aspire Jobs.
Exhibitors
Browse the stands between 8am-2pm (open to all)
· Aspire Training
· Autism Unlimited
· Bournemouth and Poole College
· BCP Council
· Bournemouth University
· Careers Hub
· CITB
· Dorset Council
· Dorset Work Ex
· DSTPN
· Evolve
· Frettens
· Health Sciences University
· Lester Aldridge
· Livewell
· Locomotivation
· Mploy
· Paragon
· Platinum Employment
· Pollen Careers
· Seetec
· Sendmetowork
· Skills and Learning
· SNG
· SWRAC
· View HR
· Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward College
· Whitehead Ross Education
· Young Enterprise
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
AFC Bournemouth, Vitality Stadium, Boscombe, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
