Stellar line-up of leaders unite to influence a better future of work in Scotland

The CIPD has revealed an exciting programme of speakers for its CIPD Scotland Annual Conference which will focus on building a better future world of work in Scotland, through a more productive, motivated and digitally-skilled workforce.

Opening keynote, Colin MacLachlan, a former SAS soldier - most known for his role in Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins – will explore how to develop a resilient mindset, drawing on his own experiences, to drive high-performance cultures, teamwork and communication.

Other keynote speakers at the conference - taking place at the EICC in Edinburgh on 20 March 2025 – include Nick Robinson, author of ‘The 9 Types of Difficult People’ and popular Scottish comedian, Fern Brady.

Fern, who was diagnosed as autistic in 2021, will share her personal story on how she has navigated challenges to break down barriers, and the importance of being your authentic self in the workplace.

Also joining the speaker line-up are influential HR leaders from top Scottish organisations such as the City of Edinburgh Council, DC Thomson, City Facilities Management, Registers of Scotland, along with Scottish Government and NHS Lanarkshire.

Together with the CIPD, the experts will deliver interactive sessions, workshops, and lightening talks to help people managers, HR, and employers of all sizes improve their working practices and develop a skilled and inclusive workforce for the future.

Topical sessions include:

• Upskilling for a future-focused workforce - Discover how to combat skills gaps in your organisation and how to train and evolve your workforce in line with future skills.
• Dealing with conflict at work for a thriving workplace – Discover strategies to address conflict and challenging behaviours in the workplace and combat toxic cultures.
• Championing neurodiversity in the workplace – Learn more about the strengths of neurodiverse employees and how these can be used to increase innovation and productivity. 

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, will also join the line-up on the day as a keynote speaker.

“We are really looking forward to bringing together such a wide range of influential speakers and organisations to explore how we can build a better future world of work in Scotland.

“Employers are experiencing a myriad of challenges, around recruitment, skills, productivity and advances in technologies, as well as changes to employment regulation. This event provides a great opportunity for businesses to explore how they can adapt for such challenges and create thriving, future-fit workplaces that boost business outcomes and enable people to be their best at work.”

An interactive session on how to leverage AI in recruitment will be delivered by Mervyn Dinnen, a talent analyst, author and top HR influencer. He commented: 

“I’m looking forward to showcasing how businesses can embrace AI in recruitment – and not fear it – with a human-centred approach that can enhance candidate journeys and deliver more efficient, fair and inclusive recruiting practices.”

The full agenda and tickets to attend the conference on Thursday 20 March at the EICC in Edinburgh (09:30-17:00) are available to purchase at: www.events.cipd.co.uk/scotland-conference.

To explore various sponsorship opportunities e: gordon.smith@cipd.co.uk.