Breakfast meetings take place every two or three months at Hewitsons offices in London, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Northampton to discuss a pre-arranged topic in an informal setting between 8.00am and 9.00am.
Topics are chosen by members and normally relate to a current issue. Recent examples have included the ‘Gig’ economy, the right to work, grievance and disciplinary procedures and managing mental health issues in the workplace.
Sessions begin with a brief summary of the legal issues surrounding the chosen topic, given by an employment law solicitor from Hewitsons. The discussion then opens up to the group.
Nick Hall, a partner in the firm’s employment team, said: “Hewitsons’ HR Clubs provide a great forum not only for keeping up to date with HR issues, but also for those attending to trade expertise with fellow HR professionals, all with the reassurance of Chatham House Rules, which increases openness of discussion.”
Chatham House Rules is a system for holding debates and discussion panels on often controversial topics, named after the headquarters of the UK Royal Institute of International Affairs, based in Chatham House, London, where the rule originated in June 1927.
Under the rules, anyone who comes to the meeting is free to use information from the discussion, but is not allowed to reveal who made any comment.
He added: “Our members come from a diverse range of industries, and so members are able to tap into and gain from the wide variety of experiences of all those around the table.”
Hewitsons established its first HR Club six years ago in Milton Keynes. As a result of the forum’s popularity, the firm set up HR Clubs in Cambridge and Northampton soon afterwards, with its London office near Blackfriars railway station recently hosting its own HR Club events.
To ensure an informal, relaxed meeting, each club has around a dozen attending each session, ranging from HR professionals to in-house lawyers. Due to popularity, attendees are advised to sign up in advance.
To sign up to the Hewitsons HR Club, please email events@hewitsons.com.