About


The Network for Strategic Human Resources

The HR Society exists to help organisations to tackle the people dimensions of change by encouraging excellence at the hard edge of HR strategy – workforce planning, data, information, systems, trends and studies.

It encourages excellence through:

  • building a network of those involved in HR strategy
  • holding events to facilitate the sharing of knowledge across disciplines 
  • capturing and disseminating knowledge to all relevant bodies
  • facilitating and distilling research.

The Society (formerly the Manpower Society) was founded in 1970 as a joint initiative of the Institute of Personnel Management (now CIPD) and the Operational Research Society.  It grew from the increasing interest of those involved in personnel management, operational research and corporate planning in the people dimension of the economic system.Organisation

The President of the Society is Clive Purkiss, until recently Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, an autonomous tripartite Agency set up by the Council of Ministers of the EU. Dr Purkiss, a former Director of the Institute of Employment Studies, is a Council Member of the Tavistock Institute and a Fellow of the RSA and of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

 The governing body of the Society is the Council, elected by members at the AGM. Day to day management is in the hands of an Executive Committee who also deal with the Society’s journal, publicity, organise seminars, conferences and other means of promoting the work of the Society. The Officers of the Society give their time and skills on a voluntary basis.Activities

  • Presidential Forum – The President chairs a regular series of meetings at which a paper on a current HRM issue is presented and debated. The Forum is for senior executives and attendance is by invitation.
  • Practical HR Planning – Training Programme – A five day course in which participants are taught planning techniques and encouraged to practice and develop their skills on real problems.
  • Seminars and Meetings – Events have included “Knowledge Management”, “Selection Testing”, “Manpower Planning and Organisational Change”, “Manpower Modeling Revisited”, “Effective Utilisation of Manpower”, “Competing Through People”, “Labour Market Analysis”.
  • Information Exchange – One of the most useful features for members is the facility for exchanging information with colleagues through various Society activities.  The Society has often provided its members with an independent forum for debate of current issues and has responded with comments on national government initiatives and consultations.

For an information pack about the HR Society please contact:Sheila Nutt
Secretary to the CouncilHR SocietyBridge HouseChurch RoadBurnham on CrouchCM0 8BZTel: 01621 781035Email: [email protected]