CIPD research and conference highlights ways in winning the war for talent

September 2007

CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition, 18-20 September 2007, Harrogate International Centre

Organisations are still fighting to recruit and retain the most talented people and as a result, talent management is increasingly seen as a critical success factor as businesses strive for competitive advantage. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has published a report to help employers better understand this growing challenge.

Talent: Strategy, Management, Measurement includes detailed case studies from nine organisations across the public and private sectors. It provides an insight into how organisations are identifying, developing, deploying and retaining talent and to what extent this is part of a proactive approach to talent management. It also provides an in-depth exploration of what talent management means within different contexts and the different approaches used.

On 20 September, Standard Chartered and Virgin Atlantic Airways will share how they have defined, designed, developed and implemented an effective talent management programme closely linked to the current and future needs of the business in order to win the war for talent. Geraldine Haley, Group Head of Talent Management and Leadership Development, Standard Chartered and Andy Cross, Head of Organisation and People Development, Virgin Atlantic Airways will be speaking at this year's CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition, 2007.

Victoria Winkler, CIPD Learning, Training and Development Adviser comments:

"Persistent skills shortages, the changing demographics of the UK workforce and the work-life balance agenda have led to increased competition for individuals who are capable of making the greatest difference to organisational performance.

"Our research found talent management contributed to other strategic objectives and the value of having an effective talent management process was crucial in placing the subject of talent high on the corporate agenda."

Andy Cross, Head of Organisation and People Development, Virgin Atlantic Airways, adds: "You can really feel the difference when you have talented people who are really engaged with what your organisation is striving to achieve - that's your competitive advantage. Any senior manager who doesn't pay attention to getting the best from people, developing people for the future and strengthening the ability of the team to deliver, is guilty of putting that business at risk. It has to be one of the pillars of strategic planning."

The CIPD Annual Conference will take place from Tuesday 18 September to Thursday 20 September in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with a pre-conference day, on Monday 17 September, to discuss what's new in employment law.

For a full list of speakers, visit www.cipd.co.uk/ace