IES Annual Conference 2025

Boosting productivity through people

Hear from the UK's leading employment specialists and HR thinkers on how best to boost productivity through people

The UK government’s central mission is to grow the economy and deliver effective and efficient public services. Public debate around addressing the UK’s stagnant productivity performance has focussed predominantly on macro-level issues. There has been comparatively little attention paid to performance and productivity at the organisational level. Yet, people-related issues lie at the heart of this challenge. To improve performance, there is a pressing need to build more engaging work and workplaces, effectively manage the adoption of new technology, develop capabilities and promote wellbeing.

With a shifting employment relations landscape, a key national challenge is how employers, employees and their representatives, and government work together to realise the vision of high investment, high skill and high-performing workplaces.

Join us to hear from key thinkers, practitioners and opinion leaders on how organisations, sectors, and the UK can address the productivity challenge through people.

Speakers include:

Neil Carberry Recruitment and Employment Confederation
Matthew Ambrose The Institute of Employability Professionals
Dr Sarah Pass Engage for Success
Professor Maura Sheehan Edinburgh Napier University
Nita Clarke OBE The Involvement and Participation Association (IPA) 
Dr Sally Wilson & Dr Alison Carter, Institute for Employment Studies 

The event will be introduced by Naomi Clayton, Institute for Employment Studies and Chaired by Dan Lucy, Institute for Employment Studies 

Questions we will seek to address include:
• How can HR best drive organisational performance and productivity through people?
• How can we enhance employee engagement?
• What is the role of employee voice and relations in enhancing productivity?
• How can enhanced wellbeing at work support productivity and performance in the workplace?
• How can we adopt AI in ways that support wellbeing and productivity?

Who should attend:
HR professionals including those with responsibility for people and workforce strategy, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, capability.

Details:
Timings: 9.30am – 3pm
Location: Broadway House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NQ
Nearest underground station is St James’s Park (District & Circle Line). Mainline stations at Victoria, Waterloo and Charing Cross are within walking distance or a short bus ride.

Further information:
Tickets and further information will be released shortly, IES HR Network members are eligible for two complimentary passes each to attend the event.