Thousands of HR professionals to benefit from increased collaboration and access to accreditation
The CIPD has entered a partnership with Civil Service HR (CSHR), in an effort to professionalise, upskill and support HR practitioners in government departments.
A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties means around 4,000 HR professionals represented by CSHR will benefit from access to CIPD qualifications and accreditation.
The organisations will also come together to create joint events and networks, share thought leadership in HR and the wider world of work, and create a common framework covering HR capabilities and skills. This will help provide a clearer picture of overall skills and skill gaps in CSHR.
The MoU runs until 2026, and Rupert McNeil – government chief people officer – told People Management it was a timely development given broader shifts taking place across government.
“We’re at a really interesting point in the way we think about professions in the Civil Service,” he said. “Where we have a profession, it’s really important we embrace the national representation of that profession and ensure people have a strong sense of professional identity. There are a significant number of HR people in government and across the public sector, and we need them to lead by example.
“I’ve been really impressed by the way the CIPD has embraced the increased emphasis on the people agenda inside organisations. It gives us assurance, and I’m a great believer in the CIPD’s professional code. This is an opportunity to recognise experience, which I’m very passionate about, and to undertake research together.”
Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said: “The role the HR function plays and the value it brings has never been more important in the context of the many changes we are seeing in the world of work. The Civil Service is among the largest employers in the country and, through its employees, plays a vital role in all our lives in the delivery of the many public services we engage with.
“It is also undergoing a lot of change, and the HR professionals who work across the Civil Service need to have the confidence, capabilities and experience to play their role in these changes, and support the wide range of departments and entities, as well as the large and diverse workforce.”