2017 Happy Workplaces  Conference

At the 2017 Happy Workplaces Conference, hosted in joint partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Engage for Success and Happy, there were lots of simple and actionable ways discussed which could transform your organisation.

We were lucky to be joined by many inspiring and dynamic speakers including Nita Clarke and David MacLeod OBE of Engage for Success, Peter Cheese of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Louise Beardmore of United Utilities, Sarah Metcalfe of Sure Petcare, and Madelon and Brendan of Buurtzorg.

Held on 14th June, the 2017 Happy Workplaces Conference was bigger and better than ever.

Hosted in joint partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Engage for Success and Happy, there were lots of great advice and innovative ways of working discussed, which were simple to action and adapt to your workforce, and which could really transform your organisation.

We were joined by an array of wonderful speakers including Sarah Metcalfe of Sure Petcare talking about how she has used the principles from The Happy Manifesto to give fantastic customer service, and Louise Beardmore on how she has created a happy workplace and reduced written customer complaints by 50% in the last year.

Alex Segrove: How the Government Digital Service Creates a Happy, Diverse Workplace

Alex Segrove is the Delivery Lead for the Government Delivery Service (GDS) – the digital transformation unit within the Cabinet Office. 

GDS are guided by 11 core principles, which Alex outlines in this 28-minute video. Alex believes that, by adhering to these principles, GDS are doing the right thing.

Read more

Peter Cheese: The Future of Work is Human

Peter is the CEO of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which is made up of more than 140,000 human resource management professionals working in the private, public and voluntary sectors around the globe. In this 31-minute video Peter makes a compelling case as to why the future of work is human.

Read more

Susan Ronaldson and Steve Mirfin: Building a Culture of Trust at the National Audit Office

Susan Ronaldson is the NAO's Director for Engagement and Change. She was joined by Steve Mirfin, Head of Skills and Talent. In this 30-minute video they speak about the measures the NAO has taken to get the best out of its people.

Read more

Tracey Jelfs: Doing Things Differently in Children's Services

Tracey Jelfs is Head of Children’s Services at Monmouthshire County Council, she faced 'the hardest task of her professional career' needing to improve KPIs, cut spending and create a happy, engaged work environment. All whilst committed to the delivery of quality services to vulnerable children and young people. She talks of that challenge in this 32-minute video.

Read more

 


Sure Petcare: Using Happy Ideas to Create Great Service and Business Success

In this 15-minute video, Sarah Metcalfe of Sure Petcare (formerly SureFlap) talks about how she has used the principles from the Happy Manifesto to give fantastic customer service and has had zero turnover in the last 7 years in the Customer Service department.

Read more


Louise Beardmore: Building Connected Service Through Engaged Employees 

Brendan O'Keefe: Implementing Happy Principles in a Public Sector Mutual

Brendan O’Keefe was inspired by the Happy Manifesto to implement its ideas at Epic CiC—an education support public mutual, which was founded in response to the changing landscape of public sector funding. In this 18-minute video Brendan explains how, as managing director, he took a more active role in stimulating great results and growing a happy workplace.

Read more

Isabelle Trowler: The Three Most Important Things I've Learned About Culture Change

Isabelle Trowell became the chief social worker for Children and Families in 2013. The title of her talk “3 versus 45” refers to her general tendency to speak about 45 things. For this 39-minute video, Isabelle sought to condense the lessons she’s learned into three main points she thinks everyone should take on board.

Read more

Next Conference: 2025 Happy Workplaces Conference

Our Happy Workplaces Conference is our biggest event of the year, and we'd love for you to join us on Wednesday 25th June!

Our 2024 event was our first ever hybrid event, and so we hope to run next year's in the same way. We will host up to 50 people face-to-face at Happy's HQ in Aldgate, London, and we can host up to 200 people online via Zoom. However you choose to join, there will be interaction, discussion, space for reflection and opportunities to network with others.

Stay tuned for full details of our speakers for next year's event. As always, our speakers share practical, hands-on ideas that you can implement to create happy and engaged workplaces.

Find out more

The Happy Conference Methodology

How do we make our conferences great, interactive experiences — where you don’t have to make an effort to meet people and you also get the chance to talk about what you hear?

Here's what you can expect from a Happy conference