The Retail Bulletin’s 2nd Annual Retail HR Summit 2008

Hammersmith Novotel, London, October 8th 2008

In a difficult economy, the effectiveness of your HR strategies is more directly linked to your company’s bottom line than ever before.

With tightening budgets and a higher attrition rate then any other sector in the UK; those retailers with yesterday’s people strategies are having to fight to survive in an environment where consumers are financially cautious and demanding higher levels of service. 

Those with highly tailored, forward thinking HR strategies, however, are maximising turnover and market share through highly engaged employees who stay in their jobs and deliver higher profits for their organisations.

But how can you recruit employees to an industry many consider a poor career choice? How can you train, coach and develop them and how can you ensure they stay engaged enough to want to stay with your company and deliver on its goals?    
Further to a period of in depth research with last year’s delegates, The Retail HR Summit returns  to allow Retail HR executives to benchmark their HR strategies and share ideas to enable improved recruitment initiatives; retention and development of key talent and delivery of bottom line results through effective people strategies. 
This interactive summit has been designed to allow a focussed peer group of around 100 retail HR executives to network and discuss best practices.

Find out how to:

• Drive profits through establishing best practices of retail recruitment
• Maximise company-wide retention in a challenging economy
• Build a differentiated employer brand that attracts and retains talent
• Drive market share through measurable employee engagement
• Deliver on corporate goals through cost effective succession planning
• Attract key talent to head office vacancies
• Drive engagement and motivation in a rapidly growing online retail business
• Maximise engagement and motivation through effective rewards strategies

Speakers already confirmed at the event include:

• Amanda Cox, Head of People George
• Ben Bengougam, Former Group Director of Human Resources, DSG international plc
• Lee Rhoden, Head of Retail Recruitment, Sainsbury’s
• Edel Conway, Head of Talent, Somerfield PLC
• Geraldine Grainger, Head of Learning and Development, John Lewis
• David Russell, Group Director of HR, William Hill plc
• Paul Bissell, Head of Reward, Nationwide Building Society
• Dan Kerkel, Head of Corporate Development, QVC UK
• Donna Miller, European Human Resources Director, Enterprise Rent a car
• Chrissie Herbert, Director of HR and Quality Management, Travelodge Hotels
• John O'Donnell, HR Director, Kwik Fit
• Joanna Ansell, Director of Human Resources and Customer Service, Figleaves.com
• Audrey Williams, Partner - Head of Diversity & Discrimination Law, Eversheds LLP

With regular networking opportunities throughout the day and plenty of opportunities to ask our visionary speakers your burning retail HR questions during our interactive discussions, can you really afford not to attend?

Testimonials from last year’s event included:

“Interesting and useful to have a group of HR professionals in the same venue. Good opportunity to share ideas and network.
High and Mighty

“A great opportunity to get some ideas on how to tackle the challenges we all face in retail HR”
Starbucks

 “Very informative day in a relaxed atmosphere. Great to be able to network with all attendees and speakers”
 Early Learning Centre

“Fantastic! Great to meet likeminded professionals and to be able to share ideas”
Ask Electronics.