For the hundreds of suppliers taking part in this week’s CIPD annual exhibition in Harrogate, the three days of the event are an opportunity to meet up with their core audience and demonstrate how they are keeping pace with the changing face of people management and development. For the thousands of practitioners, it gives them the chance to explore different solutions at first hand and make informed decisions. And both parties value the chance to share their knowledge and experience of HR developments and trends.

While the exhibition will feature lots of on-stand activities, product previews and one-to-one discussions between visitors and service providers, the free showcase programmes give further insights into many of the topics high on the HR and development agenda.