Continuing Professional Development

The need to regularly and routinely maintain, develop and increase current knowledge and skills is essential in a modern workplace if an employee is to be efficient and effective and also engaged and motivated throughout their employment and career.

In addition, maintaining awareness of changes in legislation and working practices will help to keep an employee at the forefront of developments, helping to deliver safe, legal and best working practices.

CPD is often a formal recognised and structured approach to proactive learning which involves reflecting on and documenting a range of different learning experiences. Within a formal CPD programme there will be a minimum number of hours of appropriate learning required per year or so, typically 35-hours per year, to evidence an individual is maintaining currency of knowledge and skills and promoting a professional image of their industry.

CPD is an important lifelong process which all employees should see as an essential activity to maintain their continuous and long-term employability. The process of learning itself should also be enjoyable and part of the social fabric of society, enriching individuals and society.

“Professional development refers to the process of learning and keeping up-to-date in one’s area of expertise both for personal development and for career advancement. Those who engage in professional development are interested in increasing their own skills/knowledge, enhancing their ability to do their work, and lifelong learning.” (Vu, et al, 2014)

(Source: Vu, Phu et al. ‘Factors driving learner success in online professional development’. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, [S.l.], v. 15, n. 3, jun. 2014. ISSN 1492-3831. ) accessed 30th September 2025