2021 National Conference Speakers and Panellists

Technology Showcase: Business Systems

Originally broadcast Thursday 1st October 2020, 12:30

Inspired People go above and beyond – so how can you inspire your employees to engage with your planning team to drive impressive ROI? Your employees need to work in a positive environment so they can continue to grow, remained inspired and be more productive. So how can WFM help with this?

Technology Showcase: Calabrio

Originally broadcast Friday 2nd October 2020, 12:30

The State of the Contact Centre: Embracing the Evolving World of Work Join Ed Creasey, Director of Pre-Sales for Calabrio, as we explore how leading contact centres are turning disruption to their advantage. From the rapid increase in importance of the contact centre, to changes in demands from employees and customers, we will be envisioning the contact centre of the future. Join us to discuss tangible ways to embrace this evolving world of work.

Conference Endnote

Originally broadcast Friday 4th December 2020, 09:15

Positive habits for a successful career With so much uncertainty in the world, it is important to take control of our conduct, behaviour and attitude. Developing simple positive habits can make a huge impact on how you learn, share ideas and ultimately transform yourself and our career. This endnote presentation will take a look at the role of professionalism, how to build positive habits and an opportunity to hear from members who have transformed themselves during 2020.

Free webinar: Facilitation

Facilitation is a valuable skill for any professional. Learn how you can manage a session so everyone can be share and be heard.

Keynote: Unlocking Opportunities

Originally broadcast Monday 26th April. 2021, 09:30

Hear from Phil Anderson, Director at The Forum with the conference opening keynote. Understand how disruption can pave the way for new opportunities and how you can become key to unlocking change and development.

Conference Endnote

Originally broadcast Friday 30th April 2021, 09:30

Hear from Phil Anderson, Director at The Forum on moving from Impossible to Inevitable. This endnote will explore different ways to transform as a person, as a team and as an organisation. Take a closer look at key professional skills and hear from a panel of professionals who have all demonstrated how they are key to unlocking opportunities, several of them graduates from our Leadership Assisted Learning Pathway.

Standards and Business Accreditation

The Standards programme is designed as a journey of improvement leading towards accreditation for Planning, Insight and Quality teams and functions. Whether you are at the start of your journey, wanting to understand the fundamentals of best practice, or an established team wanting to become best-in-class this programme is you.

Free Webinar: TEDx Talk: Curiosity Cured The Fakeaholic - Lou Carter – Founder of Rising Vibe

On Tuesday 12th October 2021, Lou Carter, founder of Rising Vibe, delivered her very first TEDx talk; Curiosity Cured The Fakeaholic, which explored how our innate fear of judgement stops us being honest about how we feel. A by-product of this is that we don’t have the conversations that matter…

Keynote: Agent Wellbeing & Mental Health

Originally broadcast Monday 1st November 2021, 13:15

 Join Sabio as we explore the #1 megatrend in the customer experience industry that nobody is talking about. 

Keynote: Investing in People & Technology

Originally broadcast Tuesday 2nd November 2021, 14:15

Mark Brown of Virgin Media and Paul Milloy of Intradiem discuss how investing in people and technology is the key to the future of Customer Service. 

Technology Showcase: Verint

Originally broadcast Thursday 4th November 2021, 10:30

Learn how Verint’s clients adopted Verint KM to close the gap between ever increasing customer interactions, channels, and expectations, with the same or reducing resource levels. 

Conference Endnote

Originally broadcast Friday 5th November 2021, 09:30

Learn how to invest your time wisely to help you spend time on the things that matter the most. Doing something different on a daily basis.

Technology Showcase: Centrical

Originally broadcast Thursday 7th April 2022, 12:30

Webhelp & Centrical – WEM’s Moment of Truth?  Transformation leaders from Webhelp will share how they’re redefining their CX operating model, leveraging real-time performance management, advanced gamification, and microlearning to engage employees and push the limits of performance with Centrical. 

Keynote: Professionalism & Learning

Originally broadcast Wednesday 13th April 2022, 09:30

Hear from Lucy O'Shea, Hoist Finance a member of our Leaders of the Future programme, and the Forum team on how to gain the confidence to move ahead and move up. 

Your Moment of Truth: confident to succeed

For our 22nd year, we focus on the opportunity we have, as professionals, to drive successful improvements, whether in planning, insight, or customer experience. This Best Practice theme for 2022 represents the next stage of this coming of age for our professional disciplines.

So, we invite you to consider your moments of truth. What makes you confident to succeed?

Liquorice Consistents – Does somebody at Bassetts not like me?

At our Customer Strategy & Planning Connections conference in Newcastle on 26th April ‘22 we explored probability using Liquorice Allsorts.

Questions to consider for annual leave

As the world reboots after the firm reset of the Pandemic, we have the opportunity to revisit, redefine and reshape how we have done things. 2020 was a strange year, especially for annual leave, as lockdown restrictions changed how we used annual leave and the Government stating leave can be carried over, firmly “kicking the can” down the road, to give us a problem for another day (or year).

Opening Keynote

Originally broadcast Monday 14th November 2022, 09:30

Hear from Chris & Phil as they discuss the benefits of being prepared.

Calabrio Technology Showcase

Originally broadcast Monday 14th November 2022, 12:30

Are your agents empowered to be Brand Guardians? Join Tripti Tapuriah-Modi and David Evans from Calabrio who will discussing key findings from Calabrio’s State of the Contact 2022 report and how to treat and empower agents as Brand Guardians.

Verint Technology Showcase

Originally broadcast Tuesday 15th November 2022, 12:30

The Struggle is Real: Insider Tips to Empower Your Remote Agent. Join this insightful and lively fireside between renowned experts Chris Rainsforth of the Forum and Huw Jones, Workforce Management Guru at Verint.

eGain Technology Showcase

Originally broadcast Thursday 17th November 2022, 12:30

Join eGain for a discussion on Knowledge Hubs and how to Turbocharge your CX and AX with KX (Knowledge-Guided Experience).

Community Learning Keynote

Originally broadcast Friday 18th November 2022, 12:30

Hear from a Forum Hero and organisations who have taken a team approach to learning.

Partner Article: Improve Contact Centre Operations with Robotic Process Automation

Alvaria Automate™ Attended and  Alvaria Automate™ Unattended allows centres to optimise normal and repetitive operational activities and automate error-prone tasks through robotic process automation (RPA) —improving accuracy, efficiency and consistency, while helping maintain compliance. 

Strength in numbers the value of community

We build strength when we focus on how we collaborate and who we do this with. When we bring together trusted data, analysis and insight alongside a group of people with a collective desire to improve, we can achieve greatness.

Keynote: Strength in Numbers

Originally broadcast Monday 15th May 2023, 09:30

Hear from The Forum team on this year's theme - Strength in Numbers, The Value of Community and what this personally means to them. This thought provoking session will frame the week of learning that will be available through the rest of the Virtual Conference and challenge you to own your learning.

Technology Showcase: Sabio

Originally broadcast Monday 15th May 2023, 12:30

WEM and wellbeing, understanding AX during operational change. Join Sabio's expert team to discover the power of their new and cutting-edge wellbeing technology, integrated into the agent desktop and WEM capabilities. This innovative approach provide a systematic view of the impact of the workplace on the employee, as well as practical guidance to promote success.

Technology Showcase: Centrical

Originally broadcast Wednesday 17th May 2023, 13:15

2023 Workforce & Global Operation Leader Insights. Centrical recently surveyed over 500 global enterprise operations leaders across industries about the current state of workforce engagement management and how their leadership initiatives tie to company growth goals. The results were astounding!

Free Webinar: Create change with a Leap Of Faith – Rising Vibe

A Leap Of Faith is an act of believing in or attempting something whose existence or outcome cannot be proven or known.

So much of the work we do with our clients around culture change requires a leap of faith. Without taking action, 'giving it a go', doing something differently or experimenting with a 'new way', NOTHING changes. Let me repeat this NOTHING changes. Yet the majority of human beings need some kind of 'proof' that it will all work out BEFORE they are prepared to take 'that action'.

Are you an employer of choice?

See what contact centre agents are looking for in employers. Filling vacancies used to be easy. Full time? No problem. Temporary staff? Easy. All within 10 miles of the contact centre? Sure. But fast forward to today, and this is no longer the case.

How to become a true brand guardian

Uncover opportunities to raise customers’ experience of your brand and focus on what matters most. Ed Creasey charts the major new insights from Calabrio’s latest research.

Keynote: The Value of Community

Originally broadcast Monday 9th October, 09:30

In this opening keynote, The Forum team members will discuss the importance of community. They will provide practical advice to help you expand your connections within and beyond your organisation.

Technology Showcase: The Forum LMS

Originally broadcast Monday 9th October, 13:30

A showcase of The Forum Learning Management System (LMS) which has been successfully rolled out to many of our members. Learn how different members have approached learning.

Endnote

Originally broadcast Friday 12th October, 12:30

Hear from Forum Hero Busola Akinsola, as she talks about her commitment to learning and continual improving. 

2024 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Inspiring Personal and Professional Development at eBay

Learn how eBay are nurturing personal and professional growth within the team, underlining the organisation’s commitment to continuous improvement and talent development. By prioritising personal and professional growth, eBay is poised to unlock the full potential of its workforce, driving sustained success and organisational resilience in the ever-evolving business landscape.

2024 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Firstflex: Collaborative Problem-Solving at Firstsource

Innovation isn’t just about groundbreaking ideas; it’s about promoting a culture where every voice is heard, and every challenge is met with collaborative solutions. Firstflex illustrates how it allows team members to engage in various projects based on their interests. Learn how Firstsource developed their own technology in pursuit of sustainability, underscoring the team’s commitment to fostering innovation from within.

2024 Innovation & Transformation Awards: Firstlink: Transforming Operations at Firstsource

This platform, a brainchild of collaborative efforts between the development team and operational stakeholders, has revolutionised the way business is conducted, ushering in a new era of efficiency, connectivity, and streamlined operations. The adoption of Firstlink has heralded a new dawn for the organisation, propelling it towards greater efficiency, connectivity, and operational excellence.

2024 Planning Awards: Kristie-Leigh Armstrong at BT Group

Kristie-Leigh spearheaded a transformative journey in workforce management, with an  emphasis on communication, collaboration, and employee well-being. Through initiatives like Flexi-breaks, My Day and Uni-flex, she has helped shape a culture of accountability and inclusivity, reducing shrinkage and increasing coverage. Kristie-Leigh’s dedication to personal development and support for colleagues inspires others to embrace change, drive innovation, and prioritise the welfare of their teams.

2024 Planning Awards: Iain McFarlane at DHL

Through streamlined processes and a commitment to continuous improvement, Iain achieved significant savings and operational efficiencies. By fostering a culture of learning and embracing challenges, Iain empowered his team to excel and innovate. He exemplifies the potential for personal growth within the organisation, with a focus on operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

2024 Planning Awards: Alex Gold at OVO Energy

OVO Energy, under Alex’s leadership, tackled integration challenges, fostering a culture of empowerment and innovation. Alex prioritised team empowerment, laying foundations for strategic decision-making and operational optimisation, with his goal for Shared Services to become ‘The Brain of the Operation’. Assessing teams for skills and mindset alignment, coupled with a focus on recognition and feedback, reinforced a customer-centric approach.

Kevin White at VitalityHealth

Kevin showcases leadership through strategic team expansion and talent development. Learning from industry best practices, he diversified his team’s experiences, leading to innovative channels like WhatsApp. Internal training and personalised development plans ensure a robust talent pipeline. Kevin encourages individual growth, allowing flexible transitions within the team which stakeholders paid tribute to. Kevin’s commitment to excellence promises a future of continued success and adaptability.

2024 Partnership Awards: Davies & TJX

In a strategic collaboration, global retailer TJX and Davies revolutionised employee onboarding, focussing on decentralised training and soft skills. Incorporating digital learning and aligning with cultural values, they achieved a 300% investment return, which included a reduction in the glide path to productivity in the contact centre from 8 weeks to 6 weeks. This partnership not only enhanced employee engagement and customer service for TK Maxx and HomeSense but also established new benchmarks for training excellence, an increase in empathy and rapport with customers with a positive impact oncustomer loyalty.

Opening Keynote: Shaping the Future

Originally broadcast Monday 13th May, 09:30

How can we prepare ourselves for whatever happens? How can we think forward and be confident with our best next decisions?

Hear from The Forum’s team of Specialists as they each share their inspiration thoughts on how to Shape the Future.

Endnote: Shaping the future: supporting your best next actions

Originally broadcast on Friday 17th May, 12:30.

Rounding off the virtual conference and first stage of this year's best practice programme with inspiration, ideas and clear next steps. This endnote will support your learning, and give you takeaway ideas on how to turn this into an action plan. 

Opening Keynote: How to Learn

Originally broadcast Tuesday 2nd July 09:30

How you can use this week to learn from our members. 

Learning & Development with The Forum

Originally broadcast Monday 14th October 2024, 13:30

Hear from Chris and Dave, Directors at The Forum as they take you through some of the learning journeys of our members and how our cloud-based Learning Management System is enhancing the learner experience. 

Opening Keynote - Raising Standards

Originally broadcast Monday 24th March 2025, 09:30

The Forum has spent 25 years building a vibrant, future-focused community that embraces change, disrupts complacency, and fuels innovation. As we look ahead to the next 25 years, the challenge isn’t just keeping up—it’s leading the way. Join us on this journey of continuous improvement, where we redefine what’s possible, break through limitations, and shape the future of business excellence.

Membership Panel Discussion

Originally broadcast Monday 24th March 2025, 10:30

Membership – The Value of a Professional Community
Talking with members Anglian Water Services, Aviva UKGI and PTSB and discussing how they get value from being part of a professional community and the items that gives them the most value for their teams, organisation and personally

25 Years of Innovation & Transformation Keynote

Originally broadcast Friday 28th March at 09:30

Celebrating 25 years of the Innovation & Transformation Awards, this keynote takes a look back from a finalist and judges perspective. Discussing key industry shifts, from workforce flexibility and real-time analytics to automation and omnichannel experiences. We will also explore what the next 25 years of Raising Standards could look like.

Endnote: Raising Standards

Originally broadcast Friday 28th March 2025 at 13:30

Closing the week with practical tips on how to use learning to drive action and raise standards.