The importance of CPD to maritime employers

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) enables maritime professionals to take control of their learning and development to improve skills, knowledge, experience and career progression. What can employers gain though?

The advantages of CPD to employers stem from the skills, knowledge, and confidence gained from CPD. According to the Wellcome Foundation, CPD means a more effective and engaged workforce. Staff churn is reduced, as people feel committed to their employer and profession.

Investing in CPD ensures standards are high and consistent, there is greater workforce engagement, sharing of best practices, and a workforce with up-to-date skills. There is also a trickle-down effect, as having employees undertake CPD allows the sharing of best practices and support.

It is not just from the top down, there is a potential welling-up effect too. Senior staff get to hear about new initiatives, ideas and innovations. Those who engage with CPD tend to be more enthusiastic trainers and help develop the next generation of staff. So, we see that CPD drives improvements up and down the chain.

Having staff actively engaged in CPD can improve a business’s performance in many ways. Here are our top 5:

1. Better Morale: If individuals are satisfied with their role, then morale increases which, in turn, increases work output. CPD and the training it promotes helps to make people more confident in their role, which directly improves self-esteem, confidence and optimism. People who understand the industry, their roles, and the jobs they do, are better equipped to achieve, and this further enhances their sense of achievement
2. Heightened Productivity: CPD means better engagement with training, which translates into better processes. Tasks can be performed to a higher standard or more efficiently if employees know what they’re doing, and the quality of work will also improve.
3. Better Safety: Employees involved in CPD, who are eager to learn and to develop, are far less likely to have accidents in the workplace. A range of key studies from the likes of the American Psychological Association, Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, and National Safety Council, has shown that training can improve the ability to correctly identify, assess, and respond to possible hazards in the work environment, which in turn can lead to better safety culture.