Our branch in the South East of Scotland

Get involved

We have just over 2,500 members in South East Scotland branch. Our primary purpose is to act as a channel for member and potential member engagement at a local level, in accordance with the CIPD’s strategic priorities and in support of its purpose. We champion better work and working lives by creating a space to learn, connect and share local experiences.

Our branch achieves this by encouraging local networks for practitioners, building capability, gaining new members, running events, providing visibility and input into public policy agendas and working collaboratively with other branches.

Our events are aimed at CIPD members and are a key benefit of membership. We also run occasional events for members and potential members to provide information and explore the many benefits of CIPD membership.

CIPD South East Scotland is run by a volunteer committee of enthusiastic local people professionals. In addition, each year we work with academic institutions to encourage CIPD students to join the committee as student ambassadors, ensuring we support the future of our profession. Our branch is supported by a team from the CIPD head office and together we ensure we align to both local and national activities. Committee members are directly involved with the planning and running of branch events, giving them great opportunities to collaborate with others, develop new skills and keep updated with CIPD good practice and current guidance.

We believe you can benefit most from your membership by being actively involved with the branch activities. This may be through attending events or virtual events, contributing to our newsletters, participating in our online discussions or social media forums, supporting our activities or feeding into some of our steering and special interest groups on key HR and people topics. Our events are free for CIPD members.

If you’re a member and you would like to have direct involvement in running the branch, please let us know as we are always keen to have new committee members. Whatever level of involvement you can offer, we have no doubt you will find it both valuable and enjoyable. If you would like to find out more about the committee and any current vacancies, please get in touch by either attending an event or emailing 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 students

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.  

You’ll find a place of learning in South East Scotland whatever level of CIPD study is right for you. We introduce the local branch and the broader CIPD support available to students during our induction visits and are delighted to work with some students who join our branch during their studies to support branch events and activities as 'student ambassadors'. We are always delighted to inform them and to hear about the added value our local students find in attending the annual CIPD Scottish Student Conference.

Our student ambassadors support the branch in a variety of different ways – from events to small projects and we very much appreciate the work they do for us. It’s important to us and of course to them, that they get something back from volunteering with us. Their feedback tells us that they benefit from extending their network with HR professionals and have developed skills in facilitation and project management. Our Academic Lead has been working hard to support them with to achieve this.

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. 

Join one of our special interest groups

We bring together people professionals with a common interest to network, share ideas and learn from one another. Please email us if you’d like to join one of our special interest groups.

Learning and development 

The learning and development group welcomes all those who have an interest in training, coaching, distance learning, e-learning or any other aspect of developing people. Our events are planned, managed and run by the members themselves through a small and dedicated team of volunteers. Sessions are designed to be interactive, engaging and educational and take place once a month from September to April. 

Talent acquisition and recruitment 

The purpose of this group is to share knowledge, best practice, CIPD research, industry expertise and network with like-minded professionals in an engaging and informal setting. 

The target audience is CIPD members and potential members with an interest in, and current or future responsibility for, talent acquisition, attraction, recruitment and resourcing. It’s also suitable if you’re aspiring to, or embarking on, a career in HR or resourcing talent and recruitment and selection. No prior knowledge of recruitment is needed. 

Wellbeing 

This is our newest special interest group, exploring the role of our profession in wellbeing, and resourses available. Look out for more events coming up in the branch programme. 

HR leaders 

Our HR leaders group connects senior HR professionals with each other and provides a place for debate and discussion on the key current issues facing senior HR professionals. 

Borders regional group

The group meetings are interactive and provide an opportunity for members to share knowledge and best practice, keep up to date with CIPD research and network with like-minded professionals in an informal setting. Events in this region are normally held in Selkirk or Galashiels and take place four times a year on a variety of current topics. Members from all areas are welcome to attend. If you live or work in the Scottish Borders come along and enjoy the opportunity to network with HR colleagues from a range of sectors and disciplines.

West Lothian regional group

Events in this region take place at West Lothian College in Livingston, with at least four events held a year on a variety of current topics. The group is run by a small, passionate team all either working or living in the local area who are keen to expand the reach of the group by providing relevant and engaging sessions for all. The group is actively looking for new members to support the growth and development of the group. If you'd like to find out more about getting involved, please come along to one of our events or contact one of the organisers using the branch email address.

Get in touch to find out more. And let us know your ideas for other special interest groups.