We’re a small, local and remote team, the CIPD’s eyes and ears in Northern England. We help you get the most from your membership, connecting you with other people professionals through our networks and events.

We work with HR leaders, employers, combined authorities and policymakers to develop regional insight and activities to help create a better future world of work.

We are committed to championing the voice of our 28,000 members across Northern England. To help us do this we invite you to take part in our surveys, consultations and our wider campaigns to drive positive workplace change.

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Meet the team

Kayleigh Tobbell, Engagement Manager for Northern England

Kayleigh is responsible for building relationships with and reconnecting with CIPD members and organisations in Northern England. Kayleigh is also responsible for the running of the CIPD Northern Policy Forum which provides HR and people development professionals with a voice to help shape and influence public policy on the future world of work.

Before joining the CIPD, Kayleigh managed external engagement activity for the Chief Security Office and lead a cybersecurity team for a high-profile high-street bank. She also taught secondary English in the North East region and is therefore passionate about improving work, working lives and upskilling in the North and North East regions. 

Tess Foy, Engagement Executive for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber

Tess has been a part of the CIPD Northern England Team for five years, dedicated to cultivating and enhancing member relationships across the North East, Yorkshire, and Humber.

She supports Kayleigh in managing the CIPD Northern England networks, which are designed to foster peer-to-peer support, facilitate learning, and help members build meaningful connections. 

Tess is passionate about creating a collaborative environment that empowers our diverse community of members and was inducted on the Northern Power Women Future List 2023 and is a committed EDI champion.

Vivien Struthers, Senior Employer Solutions Manager

Vivien’s passion is unlocking the true potential of individuals and the companies that they work for, which is why she loves her role as Senior Employer Solutions Manager for the CIPD in Scotland and Northern England.

Working directly with organisations, Vivien partners with clients to build the capability, impact and credibility of their HR and people functions in order to deliver business outcomes.

Having held multiple senior roles specialising in people development and organisational change, Vivien brings her extensive experience, expertise and energy to this role.

Whether it's establishing what good looks like, assessing current capabilities, providing industry-leading people development programmes, professionalising the people function, or becoming organisationally recognised as a CIPD People Development Partner, Vivien is the person to speak to.




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Join one of our networks in Northern England

Northern England public policy forum

This forum provides an opportunity to find out more about the CIPD’s public policy influencing work across a range of workplace areas including health and wellbeing, inclusion and diversity, and pay and reward.

The expertise and insight gained through the forum helps the CIPD respond to work-related government consultations and recommend vital changes to policy, as well as create practice guidance for employers and policymakers.

We run regular online policy forum sessions on specific themes such as hybrid working and menopause at work. All forum members receive a quarterly update with details of the forum’s achievements and upcoming events.

Apply to join this network

Senior people professional network

This pan-regional peer-to-peer network brings together senior HR, L&D and OD professionals from across Northern England to network, learn and debate key issues affecting our profession and the future of work. We get together face-to-face once a year and meet online bi-monthly. This network is open to members and non-members.

Former sessions have focussed on career development, the cost-of-living crisis, and how HR can influence the board.

This network is open to CIPD members only.

Apply to join this network

Independent consultants network

This new pan-regional network launched in June 2023 to give the region's independent HR, L&D and OD consultants an opportunity to network and learn from one another. The network meets online bi-monthly and face-to-face once or twice a year. 

Apply to join this network

Our local branches

In addition to our pan-regional networks, ten volunteer-run branches across the North of England form the Northern Branch Network. Each local branch delivers its own events, learning opportunities, professional networks and special interest groups. And they collaborate with the CIPD team in Northern England to shape our regional conferences, identify pan-region opportunities and act as an advisory board to ensure everything we do is regionally relevant and impactful.

Find your local branch

Get our latest news

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Learn about our work

Thought leadership and resources from our Northern England team.

Report
CIPD Good Work Index: North of England

A North of England summary of the CIPD Good Work Index 2024 survey report

Report
Skills policy in the North: recommendations for 'levelling up'

We explore the reforms needed to improve workforce productivity in Northern England

Policy engagement
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter - Resource area

Providing resources from the CIPD to support your understanding of the seven key characteristics of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

Policy engagement
Liverpool Fair Employment Charter - Resource area

Providing resources from the CIPD to support your understanding of the four pillars of the Liverpool Fair Employment Charter

Discover more CIPD views and insights

CIPD in Northern England

Regional Insights

Every quarter, we bring you news, events, and interviews with inspiring people professionals on hot topics that impact the future of work and working lives. 

Get your March 2024 update Get your Autumn 2023 update
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Who we're working with in England

ACAS

Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. We collaborate with Acas on various activities and events as the organisation shares our purpose of championing better work and working lives. We have produced collaborative guidance to upskill line managers known as Soft Skills in Hard Times. Most recently we collaborated to deliver a Good Employment Summit with Northern Metro Mayors, which explored how employers can create better work and working lives.

Greater London Authority

Our partnership with the Mayor of London and his team launched the Good Work Standard. This voluntary benchmarking scheme measures participating businesses against criteria including fair pay, working conditions, employee wellbeing, the availability of skills training, progression and diversity in recruitment.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Our partnership with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and his team led to the promotion and adoption of their Good Employment Charter. It sets a high bar for recruitment and employment standards that deliver equality, fair pay, and a positive and productive workplace.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Working closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority led to the development of their Fair Employment Charter. It promotes and supports good and fair work through its four key objectives of ensuring healthy, fair, inclusive and just work and workplaces.

North of Tyne Combined Authority

We are working with the Metro Mayor of North of Tyne to develop the Good Work Pledge to make poor employment a thing of the past and good work the norm. We will continue to work with the North of Tyne Combined Authority to support and grow the Good Work Pledge, enabling its members to access learning, networking opportunities, and support in the pursuit of good work and sustainability.

Pro Manchester

Pro Manchester is a Greater Manchester Business Community and the largest business development organisation in the North West. We are part of a network of close to 300 members, and sit on Pro Manchester’s Skills Committee, where we provide a wealth of insight and experience to help raise awareness of, and improve, skills gaps in the region.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

We are working with the Mayor of West Yorkshire to develop the West Yorkshire Fair Work Charter which is dedicated to levelling-up across West Yorkshire by encouraging good pay, fair and flexible working conditions, and promoting diversity and social mobility within the workforce. We will continue to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support its charter and its ambitious standard for fair work in the region.

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Championing better work and working lives

About the CIPD

At the CIPD, we champion better work and working lives. We help organisations to thrive by focusing on their people, supporting economies and society for the future. We lead debate as the voice for everyone wanting a better world of work. 

Our purpose, vision and impact What we do