Helping businesses retain top talent

Northumbria University, Newcastle, is launching a series of events designed to help businesses attract, engage and retain top talent in the region

People 2023: The Series will kick off with a half day conference, developed in partnership with not-for-profit business support group NEPIC, and created specifically for HR professionals, business leaders and senior managers looking to innovate and improve their people strategy.

Entitled Rewriting The Rules – Unlocking People Potential, the conference takes place on Monday 27 March 2023 at Newcastle Business School and will bring together acclaimed industry leaders and academic experts to explore the challenges of, and potential solutions to, recruiting, developing, upskilling and retaining talent in today’s challenging labour market.

Hosted by broadcaster, comedian and Tedx presenter Alfie Joey, the conference agenda includes a keynote address by Simon Forsyth, quality director at GSK, who has been leading culture change across the GSK Pharmaceutical supply chain. Simon’s session will combine theoretical concepts with shared learnings from industry, to explore leadership and motivation, and the importance of company culture in unlocking people potential.

An interactive panel discussion will cover topical HR challenges, including how to support neurodiversity in the workplace, new ways of engaging and recruiting underrepresented groups, and the importance of inclusion, resilience and engagement to individual and business performance. Panellists include: Kelly Simkiss, CEO at Cybit; Alex Hope, deputy pro-vice chancellor and associate professor of business ethics at Northumbria University; plus Radmila Turner, head of national federations and sport at FIBA Europe and Karen Marshall, apprenticeship and engagement lead at Accenture, who are delivering the breakout sessions.

Vince Robson, Business Development Manager at Northumbria University said: “We know, from the many businesses we speak to, that they have faced some unique people challenges in recent years, particularly as a result of Covid-19.

“As organisations continue to grapple with a range of HR issues – from skills shortages and hybrid working models to diversity and inclusion strategies and the cost-of-living crisis – we were keen to provide a platform to share knowledge, insight and best practice and to stimulate debate and discussion. So, we’ve collaborated with colleagues at NEPIC to do just that!

“This conference is a timely opportunity to hear from, and meet with, HR professionals, people experts, academics and like-minded business leaders too. Ultimately, we want to help organisations, large and small, to unlock the potential of their workforce for the benefit of their people, the business and the economic prosperity of the North East as a whole.”

Topic-led breakout sessions will be delivered by Karen Marshall, apprenticeship and engagement lead at Accenture – focussing on new strategies to tackle issues that stifle the talent pipeline and Radmila Turner, head of national federations and sport at FIBA Europe – who will explore the challenges of changing the status-quo in relation to attracting, developing and retaining talent from cultural and political perspectives.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to network and engage with exhibitors such as: business management consultant, Root Cause Consultancy; career and leadership coach, The Navigation Point; mental health support, Our Minds Work; nutritional therapist, Vagus Wellbeing; financial consultants, HRC Group; and business and technology strategy solutions, Nordstar Consultancy.

Dawn Musgrave, Project Manager at NEPIC, said: “At NEPIC we support the needs and interests of the processing sector in the North East. The people within our member companies, and the wider industry, are integral to ensuring that the sector in our region continues to thrive. We’re delighted, therefore, to be partnering with Northumbria to deliver this important event focussed on putting people first.

“Following lockdown, the return to the workplace has been difficult for many employees, with some favouring to work from home and reviewing their work life balance, leading to the ‘great resignation’ and adding to ever-growing recruitment and retention challenges.

“With the current backdrop of industrial action and the cost-of-living crisis also seriously impacting employee morale and motivation, wellness at work and mental health support is in higher demand than ever. Those are just two of the many issues that businesses in all sectors are facing as they seek to recruit, engage and retain the very best talent – and two topics we’ll explore and discuss during the conference.”

Post-conference, there will be access to a series of further virtual and in-person events and workshops on related topics such as menopause in the workplace; accessibility & EDI; mindful leadership; balancing career and parenthood; and consciously connected communities, amongst others.

More information on the conference can be found here: 

Tickets for the conference can be purchased here: