What to Expect at CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) 2025

The CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) is the biggest yearly event for HR and people development. In November 2025, it’s set to bring together experts and speakers across hundreds of sessions to help you learn new skills, hear fresh ideas and meet other professionals in your field. 

It doesn’t matter whether you work in HR, learning and development, or management, ACE is a chance to get practical advice you can use straight away.  

It’s also a great way to build on what you’re learning in a Human Resources CIPD course, or to get inspired if you’re thinking about starting one. 

You can join talks, workshops and networking events, and explore the latest tools and services in the exhibition hall. 

The 2025 event will run over two days (Wednesday 5 & Thursday 6 November) and cover fresh ideas, challenges, and exclusive opportunities in the workplace.  

What happened at CIPD ACE 2024? 

For ACE 2024, more than 7,000 people came to Manchester. Over two days, the event focused on four big themes: 

• Leading responsibly 

• Skills and productivity 

• Workplace AI 

• Boosting employee experience. 

Day 1 kicked off with CIPD Chief Executive Peter Cheese talking about the people profession’s role in creating good work. Professor Michael Wooldridge from Oxford University also shared tips on using AI in the workplace.  

Other sessions covered handling difficult people, balancing tech with human connection and planning skills for the future. 

Day 2 included inspiring talks from Corinthians Ladies Football Club, space scientist Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and workplace expert Bruce Daisley.  

There were also sessions on government policy, reducing disadvantage and mentoring. Susie Dent from Countdown closed the event with a talk on how clear language can improve work relationships. 

The exhibition floor was buzzing with over 150 stands, from wellness to green energy, and visitors enjoyed free talks, workshops and demos. 

If you missed the 2024 event, recordings and resources are on the CIPD ACE website. 

What’s coming up at ACE 2025 

The CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition 2025 is set to be one of the biggest events for HR, L&D, and the wider people profession. 

You can come along for free with an Exhibition ticket, which gives you access to: 

• 28+ hours of free talks across the Insight stages and Evidence Lab Live 

• Interactive features, networking spaces and demos 

• 130+ product and service providers to explore.  

Buy a Conference pass and you’ll also get: 

• 55+ hours of exclusive content from 140+ speakers 

• Four content streams: Employee Experience, Future Skills, Career Development, and Leadership and Engagement 

• The option to join in person or watch online in a hybrid format. 

If you’re studying an HR CIPD course with us at MOL, ACE 2025 is the perfect place to connect what you’re learning with the latest industry trends, tools and case studies. 

Why CIPD ACE 2025 is worth attending 

ACE 2025 is set to offer a lot more than just a series of talks.  

It’ll be an interactive event where you can hear from leading experts, see the newest HR and workplace solutions, join in with workshops and research sessions, and get chatting with over 7,000 professionals from across the UK and beyond.  

If you attend in Manchester or join online, you’ll leave with practical ideas, new strategies and useful contacts to help you make a bigger impact at work – so it’s worth your while to stop by! 

Take the next step with MOL 

If you want to grow your HR or L&D career in 2025 or 2026, our Human Resources CIPD courses will help you develop the skills and knowledge to get you there.  

Be sure to book your place at CIPD ACE 2025 and support your learning with expert talks, workshops and networking sessions in Manchester (or online).  

For more information about MOL’s courses or the conference, get in touch with our team. We’re always happy to chat and help you find the right way to take the next step in your career!