It has been a challenging year in which to become president of an HR directors association when the pandemic has placed the HR function so much in the public eye. Steven McNab, who ends his year-long presidency of the Society of Personnel & Development in Scotland (SPDS) this week recalls that the apt theme of its virtual conference last November was ‘grasping the thistle’ which he feels ‘was very appropriate as we have found ourselves working in highly challenging environments, where we have to deal with thorny issues and make difficult decisions on a daily basis!’

Although the peak of the pandemic appeared to pass this year it continues to be the focus of attention for SPDS members with workforce, technology, flexible working and employee wellbeing implications arising from the peaks and troughs in case numbers and the constantly shifting goalposts of government advice and guidance.