Building your HR Function’s Capability
Corporate Research Forum (CRF) is a research-led learning network for HR functions. We build capability through research, learning programmes and events delivering expert-led insight, practical frameworks and peer exchange.
Business First: Increasing the effectiveness of HR to drive organisational performance
Peer Intelligence: Join CPO and senior HR leaders from leading global organisations
Evidence you can act on: Academic rigour, practitioner insight, practical frameworks
Capability building: Development for all levels across our research, events and learning
Supporting organisations since 1994, now with over 250 clients:
Events
CPO Breakfast
10th September 2026; 8.30am – 10.30am
Central London
We will convene cross-sector CPOs for an intimate breakfast discussion on 10th September in Central London. Attendees will benefit from an exclusive research input from CRF as well as the opportunity to network with peers in a closed-door setting.
You can register interest to attend via this form.
What's coming up
HRD Summer Lecture: Making Sense of Market Complexity: Volatility, Signals and Strategic Decisions
Early Careers and Skills: Equipping the Workforce for What’s Next
Annual Intl. Conference: Turning Uncertainty into Advantage
Designing Jobs in the Age of AI
“CRF events are the ones that we always make time to attend, because we know the investment will be worth it. The quality of content, presenters and attendees is consistently outstanding and manages to perfectly bridge broad, future-focused academic thinking with pragmatic, practitioner-led discussion.“
Group HR Director, Severn Trent
Research
Our research balances academia with practitioner insights to give you the tools and frameworks to make informed strategic decisions. Each report includes a practical framework to apply findings directly within your organisation; and is supported by a range of additional resources to help your wider team engage with the findings.
“CRF is peerless in the field of HR thought leadership, bringing together the best of academic thinking and real-world application. This creates a stimulating – often provocative – but always constructive environment in which to share ideas and learn. Nobody does it better.“
HR Director UK&I, Siemens Energy
Explore our work
Research: Leadership Rewired
Summary Notes: HRD Briefing – Guiding Principles for Shaping Future Business
Research: The Changing Role of the HR Leader
Research: Future-Ready Talent Management
Learning
Tailored development for the whole team; starting with diagnosis and AI simulation to assess current skills and enable practice in a safe space for development.
On Demand
An extensive library of online courses enabling HR professionals a flexible way to upskill both teams and individuals.
Open Programmes
Development courses, delivered face-to-face and online for aspiring and senior HR professionals to learn alongside peers.
Custom learning
Tailored to your organisation’s strategy, context, and capability gaps. Leveraging CRF research and Open / On Demand programme curriculums and led by our expert faculty of academics, business school professors and practitioners.
How it typically works
1. Discovery and Diagnostic
Understanding your context, strategy and objectives.
2. Co-Design
Drawing on CRF’s research, learning programmes and network of expert practitioners.
3. Pilot Programme
Test the solution with a small group to gather insights and refine.
4. Delivery
Expert facilitators with real-world experience. A blend of learning formats to suit your organisation.
5. Feedback
Collect feedback, insights and data to enhance the programme.
Recent custom programmes delivered:
- Multi-year online programme building capability across 200+ HRBPs for FTSE100 energy business.
- In-person programme developing a consulting mindset for HRBPs/COE for leading professional services firm.
- Two-day people strategy planning workshop for HR leadership team of an international FS organisation.
- Two-day programme mastering people analytics to enhance the capability at a Government research establishment.
- HRBP development programme, including psychometric assessment, for FTSE100 telecoms company.
“CRF has proved to be an essential partner to me as I look to build the capability of my HR team. They have been a collaborative partner in co-designing a bespoke cost-effective solution which has evolved from face-to-face sessions to a purely digital experience run for nearly 250 participants globally. The impact of both has been immense and I look forward to continuing into the next phase of our partnership.”
Chief People Officer, Avanade
Annual learning solutions
Organisation-wide and fully tailored options, however as standard you receive:
- Unlimited access to the full CRF research library: 30+ years of reports, papers, and frameworks
- Invitations to our main programme events across London, online and Europe
- Discounted access to our CRF opening learning programmes
- Access to our digital communities (HR Directors; Talent, Leadership and Learning, HRBPs)
- Access to our member-only peer network and online knowledge base
- Dedicated account management and regular member check-ins
- Exclusive access to new research
Melissa Bull
Commercial Director
melissa@crforum.co.uk
CRF Partners
