CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition: Building AI-Ready Workforce

Professor James Faulconbridge, Professor of Management at Lancaster University and member of the Technology in Professional Services (TiPS) research team, will be speaking at the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition in Manchester on 5 November 2026.

James will join Graeme Burns, AI Implementation Advisor at AI West, for a session titled ‘Building an AI-ready workforce’, exploring how organisations can prepare their employees to adopt AI effectively and responsibly.

With organisations increasingly investing in AI, the session will consider why successful adoption depends on more than technology alone. Discussions will focus on the skills and capabilities employees need, including professional judgement, accountability and adaptability.

Attendees will also explore practical approaches to assessing workforce readiness, identifying skills gaps and developing the leadership and governance needed to support responsible AI adoption.

Event details

• Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
• Time: 11:00am – 11:45am
• Location: Exchange Hall, Manchester Central Convention Complex
• Session: Building an AI-ready workforce

Find out more about the event and view the full conference programme on the CIPD website.