The busy HR professional rarely gets a chance to look beyond the complexities of their own organisation and its unique company culture. Yet, meeting with peers and hearing about the challenges that affect other professionals in the same industry can be a very valuable experience. The Richmond Human Resources Forum, aboard the Arcadia cruise ship, provided this opportunity in spades, and the majority of the delegates on board said that the opportunity to mingle with their peers was the greatest takeaway from the annual three-day event.

The large scale event provided opportunities for HR professionals from large global organisations to hear from a host of inspiring speakers who shared ideas for the management of common issues. The delegates also met with a range of companies who specialise in providing services in HR and recruitment. The event offered back-to-back meetings and talks so that those on board could leave with a host of new ideas, contacts and a renewed passion for their industry.

The keynote speakers at the forum were particularly outstanding. The final keynote on Friday was with Rahaf Harfoush, a digital innovation strategist and author of The Decoded Company. She spoke around big data and the power of evidence-based leadership. Harfoush said that the challenge is an abundance of data and a general unwillingness to accept responsibility for it. She explained how data could be used to attract and retain the best talent. The SAS Human Capital Management Portal is one example of a tool that uses data to analyse why high performers leave a company. Training is another key area that can benefit from understanding data. Harfoush said, “Thanks to data and analytics, we have the ability to deliver customised training.” Data allows for organisations to deliver targeted training when it’s most needed, which is far more efficient than traditional methods. 

On the first night the delegates heard from Andrew Neil, a political commentator and journalist, who talked through the recent election results and what they mean for the future of the separate parties and the country as a whole. The second keynote speaker was Miles Hilton-Barber, a blind adventurer who shared a truly inspiring story with the conference delegates. Hilton-Barber has defied all odds to live a life that is full of extraordinary experiences and record-breaking achievements. He now wants to encourage other people to do the same; to push their limits and to make the most of life by reaching for their goals and by doing what makes them happy. Hilton-Barber’s life transformed without his circumstances changing, so he says, “Start with your goals, not your circumstances.” A mantra that can be applied to the business environment.

The smaller workshops provided a more intimate environment to engage with the subject expert and the other attendees. One such workshop was hosted by Marc Wright, publisher at simply-communicate.com, who explained how HR directors can use apps to engage with their unwired staff. Wright revealed that last year was the first year that half of all emails were opened on mobile. The majority of social networks are also mobile-first. He gave examples of companies, such as Barclays and Heathrow, who already use apps to communicate with staff. Within the room there were representatives of big brands who already have a well-developed platform, such as Chatter and Yammer, in place, but there were also HR professionals present who have yet to successfully implement apps in their organisations. Wright suggested allowing time, even a few years, for a platform to catch on. He also said that to sustain engagement the tool should provide for the business’ specific needs.

The workshops tackled a range of topics. Matthew Jeffrey, global head of talent strategy and innovation at SAP and Lars Schmidt, director at Amplify talent, spoke about the modern recruitment environment. They mentioned employer branding and the importance of a strong company culture at the heart of any recruitment plan. Make the great people in your organisation visible and measure to understand what’s working, they said. Sophisticated data raises the function of recruitment. Other topics up for discussion included storytelling, improving your memory and mindfulness as a potential tool for HR professionals.

The evenings aboard the forum were taken up with entertainment and the opportunity to meet with other delegates and suppliers and all passengers disembarked on the Saturday morning. A one-day conference for HR professionals will take place on 26 November at the Four Seasons Hotel in London. Both last week's event and the one-day conference are organised and delivered by Richmond Events who specialise in the creation of strategic business forums with a unique atmosphere and purpose. The Communications Directors' Forum will take place in October.