The Applied Research Conference (ARC) is an annual meeting place for academic researchers and practitioners working in people management, employment policy and related fields. It holds a unique place in bringing together these two communities to hear about cutting edge research in HR and discuss how it can be applied in practice.  

ARC is an interdisciplinary conference that covers a wide range of aspects of people management, employment, learning and development and organisational development. In all areas covered, we set out to discuss the practical application of research insights to organisational life and labour markets.

The CIPD Applied Research Conference took place on 25-26 January 2023 at the Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.

We present two prizes at the Applied Research Conference: Professor Ian Beardwell Prize and the ARC Poster Prize.

The Professor Ian Beardwell Prize 

The Professor Ian Beardwell Prize was set up in memory of leading HR academic Ian Beardwell, following his untimely death in 2002. Ian made a huge contribution to the study and practice of HR and helping link research and practice. The prize is given for best applied research paper and comes with a £1,000 award.

The 2023 Professor Ian Beardwell Prize was awarded to James Brooks, Irena Grugulis and Hugh Cook for their article, Unlearning and consent in the UK Fire and Rescue Service, published in Human Relations. We also recognised as Highly Commended an article by Ariella Kristal, Leonie Nicks, Jamie Gloor  and Oliver Hauser, Reducing discrimination against job seekers with and without employment gaps, published in Nature Human Behaviour.   

Consider entering for the Professor Ian Beardwell Prize

If you would like to be considered for the 2024 prize, please submit your entry to ARC@cipd.co.uk with the subject ‘ARC Ian Beardwel Prize'. Eligible papers for the prize must be based on a paper previously presented at ARC (any year) and must have been published in the last calendar year. As well as relevance to the contemporary world of work, research rigour and contribution to body of knowledge, we especially value papers that draw out clear practical implications for practice or policy.

ARC Poster Prize

The 2023 ARC Poster Prize was awarded to Emma Gentry from the University of Nottingham for her poster: Does my employer care, or is this another box to tick? Employees’ perceptions towards mental wellbeing platforms in the workplace.

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