The Importance of CPD

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a combination of approaches, ideas and techniques that will help an individual manage their own learning and growth. Since the publication of the ROPA working group’s report in 2019, CPD has been at the forefront of many agents training agenda. As the property sector awaits with bated breath confirmation that one day in the future the English Government will legislate making qualification mandatory, CPD has become a staple. The requirement for updates and a need not to be isolated throughout the three lockdowns, saw agents register at least 100 hours on webinars.

Why is CPD so important?

CPD essentially ensures that an individual can continue to be proficient and competent in their profession while also providing them with essential skills that could help them progress with their career.

These terms are often used interchangeably, though there is a distinction. As a rule, training is formal. It’s to do with learning how to do something specific, relating to skill and competence. Development is often informal and has a wider application, giving you the tools to do a range of things and relating to capability and competency. It involves progression from basic know-how to more advanced, mature or complex understanding.  CPD can also be about widening the range of transferable skills like leadership or project management.

The Kay Elements of CPD

CPD needs to:

• be a documented process - keeping a record of the hours invested in webinars, courses, conferences - is extremely important

• be self-directed: driven by the individual, not the employer

• focus on learning from experience, reflective learning and review

• help set development goals and objectives

• include both formal and informal learning

CPD Helps Plan for the Future

Looking at overall career goals will be beneficial in deciding what the right CPD plan will look like. The plan will be the focal point of what needs to be done to achieve them - it could relate to a promotion or career direction. First review and reflect on any learning experiences over the previous year or over the past three months.

Make a note of thoughts about what has been learned, what insights the learning provided and what could have been done differently. Include both formal training events and informal learning. For example:-

• learn from colleagues or shared learning from networking

• read about new technologies, new methods of working, legislative change

• shadow or assist an experienced colleague

• learn from coaching and mentoring

• learn from taking on a new responsibility

• learn from challenging situations

Your Skill Set is Valuable

Some skills can be taught, but most are gained through experience.There are so many skills that assist with a range of roles and can be easily transferred.These transferable skills include:-

• report writing

• negotiating

• giving presentations

• understanding financial matters

• using the telephone effectively

• handling an interview

• dealing with clients

• committee work

• problem-solving

• budgeting

• working in a team

• operating office equipment

• flexibility

• leadership

Our courses and webinars are CPD accredited through the CPD Certification Service