How to Benefit Most from L&D Conferences
The UK is known for hosting some of Europe’s largest HR and L&D events, providing ample opportunities for professionals in these fields to come together, explore trends in the industry, share best practices and discover new services and technologies that can facilitate their daily work, as well as deliver added value to their organisation.
The Learning & Skills / Learning Technologies Conference & Exhibition and the CIPD L&D Show are two prime examples, drawing thousands of visitors, exhibitors and high profile conference speakers each year. The list continues with smaller but similarly focused events such as the World of Learning Conference & Exhibition in Birmingham.
Though many HR and L&D practitioners will be experienced attendees of these events, those who are attending for the first time or have less experience may wonder whether it’s really worth it, and how they can go about making the most out of the event. And though the answer to this question will of course vary for different individuals, there are a few simple tricks that will serve all visitors well in their quest to return to work with the insights and resources needed to deliver results.
Plan ahead
A lot of learning & development events, including Learning & Skills and the CIPD Show, are organised into two sections: a (paid) Conference, which includes a busy timetable of lectures, talks, case studies, debates and other sessions, and an Exhibition (free of charge), where representatives from companies delivering all sorts of L&D solutions present their products and services.
With regards to the Conference, tickets don’t tend to run out but individual sessions can and do reach maximum capacity, so it is essential to book in advance. It is also the case that sessions are often run in parallel, so it is advisable to take a good look at the programme (usually accessible online months before the event) and decide which event takes priority according to your needs and interests. Do, however, keep checking in regularly as there can be changes to the programme and you don’t want to get caught out at the last minute.
In terms of the Exhibition, the number of stands can be quite daunting, and the layout is often somewhat of a maze. As a result, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the layout and go through the list of exhibitors prior to attending the event to decide which stands you know you want to visit. Highlighting these stands on a print-out of the floorplan and planning your route around them is a great way to stay on track when you’re at the event. Alternatively, a simple list on your mobile or an old-fashioned piece of paper can at least help you recognise names as you walk around.
Note: having a plan will help you stay focused and avoid losing time on things that are not really relevant or interesting for you, but if you find yourself drawn by a stand that you hadn’t considered, do by all means stop to take a look.
Talk to people
This may seem like an obvious one, since these events are as much about networking as they are about anything else, but you’d be surprised at how many people take tours of the exhibition hall picking up leaflets (and sweets!) from every stand without actually taking the time to interact with anyone else.
Though time may well be short, remember that inspiration sometimes comes entirely out of the blue. So when you’re walking around, standing in line for a coffee or mingling after a seminar, why not turn around and talk to the person next to you? You may just find that they have a story to tell that can help you learn something new or have a great new idea, leaving you with something far more valuable than an impersonal set of notes or a brochure.
Bring business cards
Though talking is great, it’s impossible to have in-depth conversations with every company representative or peer that you happen to meet. Again, it’s all about prioritisation and being able to excuse yourself politely from conversations that are going nowhere, while investing in those that really interest you.
But with so little time to hand, you may also be forced to stop conversations short. And that’s where the business card comes in. It’s quick, it’s easy and it means you can continue the conversation at a more appropriate time. Don’t be fooled: even taking a pen and a piece of paper to write down your information may be more than you have time for – business cards are instant and pain free. Worth investing in.
Follow social media
We live in a social world, and our dependence on social media is such that we are often more inclined to Tweet or post about our experiences than to tell the person standing next to us. As a result, you can gain some interesting insights and opinions on seminars you have attended, or advice on stands worth visiting, by keeping track of what others are saying on social media. Twitter is particularly popular at these events, so make sure you know the event hashtag and follow the conversation.
To this end: make sure your phone is charged, and/or look out for the social media screens that are often placed around the exhibition hall. You may even get an impromptu tweet-up out of it!
Wear comfortable shoes
It’s a professional event and you will need to dress accordingly, but do bear in mind that you will be on your feet for a lot of it. Even if you’re sitting down during the seminars, you will also likely be doing your fair share of walking around the exhibition hall and moving between different parts of the venue.
Especially if you are planning on attending for the full two days (most events of this kind are 2-day affairs), be kind to your feet and choose a comfortable option.
Follow up
You’ll return to work with (branded) tote bags full of pens, key chains, sweets, notes and hundreds of flyers and brochures. Though you will have been away from the office and will need to catch up on other things, schedule a reminder in your Outlook calendar and set aside some time to go through the material, keeping what is interesting and getting rid of what you don’t need. If possible, book an appointment with colleagues and take the opportunity to talk through the material, as well as discuss memorable events or discoveries that you made during the event.
Use these insights to sort out your ‘interesting’ pile and set out an action plan to follow up with the companies or individuals you spoke to. It is arguably only by doing so that you can measure results and properly evaluate the value added by your attendance of the event.