All change for RIBA CPDs

Continuing professional development (CPD) is compulsory for RIBA chartered members (i.e. qualified architects), and essential for maintaining and keeping track of professional competency in UK architecture. For building product marketers, creating a CPD is an excellent way to connect with specifiers. It’s a chance for your sales team to showcase your expertise and help specifiers understand how to work with your products.

Recent changes by the RIBA to its CPD guidelines means that, whether you’re a seasoned CPD creator or new to all of this, it’s more important than ever to ensure your next CPD is full of useful content.

Mandatory reflections

One of the updates that CPD providers need to be aware of concerns how architects register a completed RIBA CPD.

From January 2024, instead of simply accruing points for each CPD activity undertaken, as was previously the case, RIBA chartered members are now required to submit a brief reflection after each CPD. The changes aim to simplify things for RIBA members and ensure that CPD content is more meaningful.

It’s also worth noting that the Architects Registration Board (ARB), the regulatory body for architects in the UK, has introduced compulsory CPD for its registered members from January 2024. This means that CPD is now mandatory for all architects, regardless of whether they are members of the RIBA.

So, what do the new RIBA rules mean for CPD providers?

Good news for marketers

We think this change is a positive step as it gives the audience more incentive to focus on the content and engage with the presenter. While it’s a great opportunity for your brand, it also means your CPD needs to make a real impression.

So, how do you pull off an impactful presentation? The best CPDs are those that combine useful content and a compelling narrative. It’s important that the slides contain sufficient technical and regulatory information to be worth an hour of the architect’s time. At the same time, you must ensure the content is stimulating so your audience stays interested right to the very last slide!

Getting the balance right

With CPDs, it’s all about balance: provide specialist information without getting bogged down in the details; present yourself as the expert without pushing a sales pitch; clarify technical topics while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

Get it right and you will establish yourself as a thought leader and make valuable contacts. At the same time, you’ll be supporting architects to make better decisions as they advise clients and specify products for their projects. 

Looking for some help creating your next CPD? We’d love to help. Take a look at some of our previous CPDs or get in touch to get the ball rolling.