Citation
Church, A. (2009), "Event reviews - World of Learning conference and exhibition, Birmingham, UK", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 8 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/shr.2009.37208cab.011
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Event reviews - World of Learning conference and exhibition, Birmingham, UK
Article Type: Resources From: Strategic HR Review, Volume 8, Issue 3
19-20 November 2008
Walking into last year’s World of Learning Conference and Exhibition, at the NEC in Birmingham, it was immediately obvious that the state of the economy had not dampened the mood and enthusiasm of visitors or exhibitors. The aisles were visibly busy and visitors were clearly engaged in serious conversations about what they were looking to buy and what companies had to offer.
More than 120 of the industry’s leading learning and development companies were exhibiting, making the show bigger than ever and giving visitors the opportunity to view the wide selection of learning and development solutions available on the market from instructor-led training, coaching and blended solutions, to training venues and management development.
Chaired by Rory Cellan-Jones, Newsnight and the Today program presenter, the high level conference, which ran parallel to the exhibition, gave delegates the opportunity to listen and interact with key guest speakers. The overall theme was to delve into the changing world of learning and development professionals in relation to both new and traditional methods, as well as the strategic and implementation issues within the industry.
Bob Mosher, Global learning and strategy evangelist of LearningGuide Solutions USA, opened the conference with an examination of how informal learning has developed in the last five years. Other notable speakers included Darren Bezani, head of training and development of LexisNexis Butterworths and Akber Pandor, head of leadership development of KPMG Europe LLP. The closing address was delivered by Richard Straub, senior advisor to the chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Alison ChurchAlison Church is senior conference and marketing manager at Venture Marketing Group, London, UK.