13,000 festival-goers from 57 countries heard how growth mindset leadership, people-first approaches and business-government collaboration can shape the future of work
We welcomed almost 13,000 people professionals, business leaders and people managers from 57 countries to the CIPD Festival of Work 2025 this week. The event showed how organisations can navigate workplace transformation while never losing sight of what matters most: their people.
Over two days, attendees explored how to adapt to the rapidly changing world of work, with sessions spanning artificial intelligence, neurodiversity, leadership authenticity and preparing workplaces for Generation Alpha.
Whether you were there or not, it’s not too late to catch up on insights, strategies and breakthrough ideas from visionary leaders and bold thinkers who are shaping the future of work. With a Content+ pass, you can watch the sessions you didn't catch, revisit the ones that inspired you most, or dive into everything for the first time.
“Attending the CIPD Festival of Work 2025 was more than just a professional event – it was a transformative experience that connected me with fresh perspectives, visionary leaders and fellow thinkers passionate about reshaping the future of work.”
"If AI can do everything we can – only faster and better – what does that mean for jobs, skills and the future of our workplace? We all have agency. It is up to us to help shape a better future.”
Describing the rise of generative AI as part of the "fourth industrial revolution", Peter challenged people professionals to lead the conversation about what AI means for career development and take responsibility for shaping how AI transforms work.
Research presented by James Browne from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change found that AI will save people about a quarter of their time, but crucially "AI will automate tasks not jobs". Peter Cheese warned that while organisations see AI as a cost-cutting opportunity, the profession must champion greater investment in people's skills and capabilities.
Nick Matthews from CultureAmp highlighted practical applications, explaining how AI can now instantly analyse thousands of employee engagement survey comments that previously required manual review with highlighters - freeing up HR teams to focus on acting on the insights rather than processing the data.
Opening day two, writer and broadcaster Matthew Syed challenged leaders to embrace growth mindset thinking, arguing that cognitive diversity and psychological safety are "mission critical" for unlocking organisational potential. He warned that "fixed mindset, egotistical leaders" who think they know everything are the biggest constraint on high-performance cultures.
"A growth mindset is mission critical for how you shape your journeys as people professionals, and how you help your leadership teams unlock the collective potential of their organisations."
Sports broadcaster Alex Scott and entrepreneur Jamie Laing both reinforced the importance of authentic leadership through engaging personal stories. Scott advocated for being a "real model" rather than a role model, emphasising that vulnerability is "not a weakness, but a strength". Laing stressed that leaders must remain genuine when engaging younger workers, warning against adopting inauthentic personas.
"Leaders create other leaders, not followers.”
Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Chief Security Adviser at Microsoft, challenged traditional cybersecurity approaches by emphasising that "security ultimately comes down to the people and culture of your organisation". She warned against treating employees as "the weakest link", advocating instead for empathy-driven leadership that creates environments where people feel safe to admit mistakes.
"Security ultimately comes down to the people and culture of your organisation right now, and whether your culture is helping you or hindering you."
Amy Pressland from Benenden Health warned that Generation Alpha will enter the workforce in four years expecting greater flexibility and mental health support. Her research found 49% of teenagers prioritised flexible working, whilst 77% wanted workplace mental health support.
She explained that neurodiversity is also at the heart of Gen Alpha’s expectations for the workplace: while one in seven people are neurodivergent, Benenden’s study found that 70 per cent of Gen Alpha identify with the term. Amy concluded by asking the audience whether they were ‘neuro-confident’.
Dr Nancy Doyle, Founder of Genius Within, emphasised the urgent need for neuroinclusive workplace practices, citing a 600% rise in applications for neurodiversity diagnoses. She advocated for organisations to prioritise building neuroinclusive cultures and developing baseline manager knowledge, rather than waiting for formal diagnoses before taking action to support neurodivergent employees.
We also heard from policymakers and CIPD leaders about the pressing need to address UK skills shortages. Peter Cheese and CIPD President Rt Hon Chloe Smith highlighted how employers and policymakers need to work together more effectively, with businesses being clearer about what skills they actually need. Poor communication between the two sides is making it harder to tackle labour shortages that are affecting up to a third of UK job vacancies.
Alison McGovern MP, the UK’s Minister of State for Employment in the Department of Work and Pensions, spoke about the government's Get Britain Working whitepaper and Youth Guarantee programme, which seeks to tackle the problem of people cycling between low quality work and unemployment.
“We've got businesses who need people, and we've got people who need better jobs… we need employers to help us with that, to create those opportunities.”
The festival also explored how UK employment law needs to evolve for modern workplaces.
Lucy Lewis, Partner in Employment, Reward and Immigration at Lewis Silkin, argued that the Equality Act 2010 "has to be agile and has to evolve," questioning whether it should expand beyond its current nine protected characteristics to include socioeconomic disadvantage.
People professionals were invited to take part in an Employment Rights Bill roundtable to share insights on the pressing issues that are still to be consulted on by government, such as changes to probation periods, zero-hours contracts and trade union collaboration. The feedback we gathered will directly shape our responses to upcoming government consultations.
And the festival's Employment Law Clinic provided practical legal insights for attendees.
The CIPD Festival of Work continues to grow as the premier gathering for professionals who want to stay ahead of workplace transformation. With sessions spanning eight distinctive features across the festival floor — from AI workshops to wellbeing villages — the event provides practical insights and networking opportunities for anyone who’s passionate about building a better world of work for all.
