Our branch in Wessex
Learn, collaborate and network with CIPD members and people professionals in Wessex
Learn, collaborate and network with CIPD members and people professionals in Wessex
Welcome to the CIPD branch of Wessex. I am delighted that you have visited and wish to learn more about us. I was honoured to be appointed Branch Chair in October 2024 and have served with my fellow volunteer CIPD members since early 2018. As a people professional and business leader, I believe people are the most important asset in a business. By developing people and treating them appropriately, they can help enhance business performance. As a result, I believe People Professionals are key to helping influence business success and employee wellbeing.
Our mission is to remain focused on building an engaging and diverse community that provides our members with a sense of belonging and supports them.
We offer a range of evening and daytime events through local groups covering Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight. All of our events are free for CIPD members, and we aim for these to be educational, thought-provoking and enable the sharing of good practice. If there's anything you’d like us to offer or provide more information about, please do let me know, as we rely on your feedback to tell us what you want.
Please look out for our newsletters, updates, and we hope you will contribute to our professional community. We are always keen to hear from our local CIPD members – from our programme of activities to what matters most to you in your role right now, we can work together to create the change that we all want to see in the world. You can contact me directly.
We look forward to welcoming you to our events.
Huw Chapman, Chartered FCIPD
Branch Chair
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.
The Wessex branch is supported by nearly 30 volunteers across the four counties who actively support the CIPD’s purpose of Championing better work and working lives to benefit individuals, businesses, the economy, and our society, at a local level.
We are proud to play our part serving our membership area and the wider business community. Our volunteer committee members and ambassadors work hard to produce and deliver a variety of activities to meet our profession's evolution.
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.
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. Our student engagement team work closely with local education establishments.
Whether you're a part or full-time student looking to start or progress your career, it's beneficial to have somewhere to share your challenges, voice your opinions and debate with fellow students. We provide students with opportunities to learn and develop the skills essential to navigating the challenges associated with studying and working in HR, and the opportunity to connect with the wider Wessex branch.
Want to get involved? Got an idea for an event? We want to hear from you.
The CIPD member to member mentoring programme connects People Professionals to help you develop your skills, learn from one another and progress within your career.
Whether you are looking for a mentor, want to share your expertise as a mentor or perhaps both, it has never been easier with our online platform.
Want to get involved? Got an idea for an event? We want to hear from you!
Email usOur special interest groups are all about bringing together people professionals who share the same passions, to connect, swap ideas, and learn from each other.
This autumn (2025), we are excited to launch two brand-new groups. Get in touch to find out more, and let us know what other special interest groups you’d like to see in the future.
Please join us at one of the events by signing up through Eventbrite to reserve your space.
Our HR group meets monthly and created for HR Practitioners by sharing best practice through a peer-to-peer group discussion spanning a broad range of operational topics. By sharing best practices on a chosen topic in a safe and confidential environment, others can learn and apply solutions in their own organisations.
Our OD group meets quarterly, taking the latest research and focussing on bringing knowledge and experience to diagnose underlying issues, challenges, and opportunities by helping you to understand and select the best approach to align organisational strategy, people, processes, and systems.