Over 300 delegates from the human resources industry gathered under one roof this month October to hear how HR has become the pivot of business success.

Seeing an ever-increasing number of participants, with over 30 sponsors and 157 participating organizations, the annual conference of the Foundation for Human Resources Development included nine workshops that dealt with a variety of topics.

As the economy enters a new phase, in a changing world, managers are trying hard to find a new equilibrium, enhancing the employee’s trust in their organisations and hope for the future. The HR profession was on the forefront in the implementation of measures that deliver more with less and the HR function was critical in navigating the rough seas of the worst recession to hit the world for many years.

Robert Conlon from DC Gardner – who was also one of the main speakers - emphasised the importance of HR professionals’ need to have a battery of skills that go beyond the technical aspects of recruitment and training but identify the talent that will be needed by the organization to compete even if it is a small and locally based enterprise.

Jill Miller from the Chartered Institute for Personnel Management delved into what business would look like in the future and emphasised that organisations will have to look very different than they are today. The younger generation is better prepared, more ambitious, needs to be engaged and wants to make a difference. They also value a work life balance that respects their personal aspirations and acknowledges their competencies and rewards their contribution.

FHRD CEO Joe Gerada said that managers are demanding more events of this nature that bring together various experiences that give them insight into alternatives. He said that 157 organisations participated in this year’s conference which also included an HR and Training Fair where companies could exhibit their products and services. FHRD is not only a service provider of tailor made solutions but has created a market for HR services.

This year’s event was a record in terms of attendance, with the inclusion of two foreign keynote speakers, a wide variety of workshops and a series of high-profiles sponsors.

For more information contact [email protected]