The People Development Summit, Barcelona, 10-12 March 2010 _{17 March 2010}

Sally was delighted to attend the 10^th The People Development Summit in Barcelona. The summit offers UK learning and development professionals a unique opportunity for focused business networking.

Lord Sebastian Coe opened the event as the key note speaker. Sebastian Coe is one of the greatest British athletes of all time, setting twelve world records at four distances. After retiring from competitive athletics, Seb entered politics as MP for Falmouth and Cambourne. He served as PPS to Michael Heseltine and as a Government Whip, then as Private Secretary to William Hague. Seb chairs the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and headed the London 2012 bid that led to victory. It was a perfect display of his sporting, political and business skills — and his dogged determination.

Approximately 80 learning and development professionals attended the event in search of innovative or tried and tested ways to sustain organisational performance by improving people and organisational development.

The conference featured sessions from best-practice organisations such as Boots, Google, BT, Aviva UK, Caring Homes and Shepherds Bush Housing. Delegates actively participated in the sessions and engaged with their fellow professionals through stimulating discussions and debates.

“It was a pleasure to attend the conference and to hear that so many organisations are focused upon talent development and retention” commented Sally Rixon, Head of Collaborative Learning.