The CIPD Festival of Work 2025, scheduled for June 11-12 at ExCeL London, brings together over 11,500 professionals to explore the future of work through more than 150 sessions, featuring industry thought leaders discussing organizational culture, leadership development, and technological innovation in the workplace.
Future-Ready Workforce Development
The CIPD Festival of Work 2025 places significant emphasis on preparing organizations for future workforce challenges. With the rapidly evolving skills landscape and diminishing shelf-life of skills, the event features dedicated sessions exploring how business and HR leaders can navigate these changes effectively.
Attendees will gain insights into critical areas including AI-powered learning, gamified training strategies, and measuring learning outcomes to drive business performance.
- Sessions will address pressing workforce development issues including skills shortages, talent pipeline creation, and leadership development as a competitive advantage
- The festival will explore innovative approaches to employee engagement, featuring discussions on emotional resonance in data storytelling and creating future-ready organizational cultures
- Attendees can expect practical guidance on building line manager capabilities and implementing strategic workforce management solutions to overcome resource constraints and legacy systems
AI in HR Transformation
AI is revolutionizing HR transformation by elevating the function from administrative to strategic. Organizations are integrating AI across talent acquisition, performance management, and workforce planning to drive efficiency and data-driven decision making. This shift enables HR professionals to focus on higher-value activities while AI handles repetitive tasks through tools like intelligent chatbots, predictive analytics, and personalized learning platforms.
- Leading companies demonstrate AI's transformative impact: Mastercard achieved 11% higher applicant conversion rates and 85% faster interview scheduling, T-Mobile increased women applicants by 17% using AI-powered diversity recruiting software, and IBM has revolutionized talent management through AI-driven strategies
- Successful HR transformation through AI requires integrating AI literacy into talent development programs, leveraging data for personalized upskilling journeys, and aligning these initiatives with broader business strategies
Psychological Contract Management
The psychological contract—an unwritten agreement of mutual expectations between employers and employees—plays a crucial role in workplace engagement and organizational success. Unlike formal employment contracts, these implicit understandings significantly impact employee motivation, commitment, and performance when properly managed. At the CIPD Festival of Work 2025, HR professionals will explore effective strategies for maintaining healthy psychological contracts in an evolving work landscape.
- Clear communication and transparency form the foundation of successful psychological contract management, ensuring expectations are aligned from onboarding through employment
- HR teams can positively influence psychological contracts through consistent leadership practices, fair development opportunities, and establishing feedback mechanisms that make employees feel heard
- When contracts are breached, swift action is essential—organizations should focus on rebuilding trust through realistic expectation-setting and addressing concerns through data-driven employee engagement initiatives
- As workplace dynamics continue to shift with technological advancements and changing work models, proactive recrafting of psychological contracts has become a business imperative for attracting and retaining talent
Accommodation: Mercure London Paddington Hotel
If you're attending the CIPD Festival of Work 2025, consider staying at the Mercure London Paddington Hotel, offering a perfect balance of comfort and convenience:
Hotel Highlights:
- Prime location just 1-minute walk from Paddington Station, with easy access to the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express, making your journey to ExCeL London quick and smooth
- Comfortable rooms with modern amenities, free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service
- On-site dining at Bella Italia and a fitness centre for your convenience
- Surrounded by cafés, restaurants, and Hyde Park, making it ideal for both business and leisure
- This hotel offers a great base for festival attendees looking to explore London while staying well-connected to the event venue.