Welcome to our branch
A very warm welcome to all our members.
The Wessex branch is part of the SW region and covers Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight. We are a large branch with over 5,000 members.
I have been a member of the CIPD for over thirty years. Having volunteered in different roles over the years I am delighted to have taken on the role of branch chair in 2022. I strongly believe that as a profession we add great value to organisations and am proud to be part of our professional body.
Members often think of their membership as the events they attend and as a branch we strive to provide a range of high quality, topical and interesting events. However, that is only part of what is offered, and we are keen to engage with members across the different areas of activity.
We have a great branch committee, all giving their time and working to build engagement with local members. This may be with our student members, through our Special Interest Groups, the mentoring programme, or promoting the benefits of membership. We are also always open to new ideas as we want the branch to be of value to our members. You can contact me directly here: marion.hewitt@cipdbranch.co.uk
Our regular newsletter is our main method of communication with local members. We also have an active LinkedIn group. Please take the time to read these so you learn about everything that is going on within the Wessex branch and we very much hope to meet you soon.
Marion Hewitt, Chartered FCIPD
Branch Chair
Come along to
our events
Our members rate their access to a local branch in their top three membership benefits. Come along to our branch events to discover other CIPD benefits. Explore the issues and trends impacting our profession. Network, learn and share ideas with people professionals in our area.
Get involved
The Wessex branch is supported by nearly 30 volunteers across the four counties.
The Wessex branch teams look forward to meeting you at our events, details and joining information is communicated via our monthly branch update. Please ensure we have your correct email details in order for you to receive these updates. You can update your contact details here on the CIPD website in "My Profile".
We launched our special interest group for independent practitioners November 2020, read more about how to get involved in all our SIGs below.
We're always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our branch committee and get involved. We welcome CIPD members from all levels to help us organise speakers and events for our members, develop relationships with fellow people professionals, and help us promote HR and L&D as a compelling profession. To find out more about volunteering with Wessex branch please email us.
Networking and learning
With workshops, round tables, panel discussions and expert speakers, our thought-provoking events cover everything our community needs. Network, learn and stay up to date.
Volunteering
Keen to get involved, give back or raise your profile? Whatever your skills and interests, learn more about branch volunteering.
Support for student members
Just starting out on your career? Want to meet experienced people professionals and keep up to date with all the topics you cover in your studies? We’re here for you as you study for your CIPD qualification.
Member-to-member mentoring
We connect members who want to develop new skills and progress their careers with members who have expertise in coaching and mentoring.
Want to get involved? Got an idea for an event? We want to hear from you!
Email usIndependent people professionals
Our independent people professionals are a group of like-minded individuals who work as independent professionals within HR. Wessex branch have brought together volunteers to help us:
- To build a network of people professionals who work independently.
- To provide a supportive space to share experience and ideas; and collaborate to enable individual and business development.
- To be a forum for developing skills and knowledge specific to business growth and success.
Events are listed on our branch Eventbrite page, so please take a look.
HR best practice
A thriving community of people professionals sharing best practice through a peer-to-peer group discussion spanning a broad range of operational topics. This is for our members and runs monthly on the third Thursday.
The special interest group (SIG) holds round table or virtual discussion meeting to share and learn from experiences. By sharing best practices on a chosen topic in a safe and confidential environment, others can learn and apply solutions in their own organisations.
Each meeting of the Wessex branch HR best practice group will be listed in our Eventbrite feed.
Organisational design and change group
This special interest group (SIG) aims to support HR professionals and business leaders in Wessex to improve organisational design (OD), achieve greater inclusion and diversity and implement change which results in positive business outcomes and higher levels of employee engagement.
The group aims to help individuals understand how to consider OD changes and provides support by peer-sharing of obstacles and challenges in a safe environment, enabling idea and experience sharing and discussion to contribute to building solutions in a non-judgemental way.
The organisational design and change group runs monthly developmental seminars as a sounding board for specific issues and includes time for reflection and evaluation. Each event is listed in our branch Eventbrite feed.
Get in touch to find out more. And let us know your ideas for other special interest groups.
Stay connected with our community
CIPD Trust
Tackling barriers to work today whilst creating inclusive workplaces of tomorrow.