CPD: an investment in your future

In today’s fast-changing environment, electrical professionals must stay up to date with regulatory changes, emerging technologies and market developments to demonstrate ongoing professionalism, competence and robust knowledge. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plays a key role in helping contractors maintain and update their existing skills, acquire new skills and progress their careers, says James Bennett, Professional Business, Market Leader, Signify UKI.

It is not possible to train for a career and expect that, once qualified, there is little more to learn. The growth of knowledge and competitive pressures make it essential to keep learning while on the job.

Employers, too, often require employees to be more flexible, and many career opportunities require individuals to have broader education and training achievements. In the case of a new job, increased responsibility may demand a rapid and systematic upgrading of knowledge and skills. This could simply be due to increasing seniority, which requires leadership skills, as well as training, developing and mentoring others, all of which demand new learning.

In addition, there is increasing emphasis on competence. Only someone who can demonstrate ongoing competence will be able to make a reasonable professional judgement. CPD demonstrates achievements and is evidence of both your continuing competence and your aim to realise your full potential.

For electricians, CPD covers everything from staying current with BS 7671 amendments and new installation methods to developing specialist skills in emerging technologies. In the UK, for electricians registered with competent person schemes such as NICEIC, CPD is a formal requirement with a minimum annual hour target – NICEIC requires a minimum of 30 hours per year while other schemes have similar requirements. For all other electricians, CPD is strongly recommended as a professional best practice.

Whether or not it is mandatory for you, the benefits are clear – better technical knowledge, safer working practices, ability to offer more services, higher earning potential and greater confidence on every job.

CPD for lighting professionals

CPD selection should be based on short- and long-term career intentions, learning opportunities available, employer business objectives, interests, and development gaps one may recognise. For lighting professionals, CPD should focus on topics that matter, such as human-centric lighting, workplace lighting, sustainability practices and smart buildings.

At Signify, we support this need through Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers-accredited CPD courses available through the Signify Lighting Academy. We are dedicated to advancing industry knowledge through our comprehensive CPD training programmes that are designed to keep professionals abreast of the latest trends, technologies and best practices in the lighting industry. These on-demand courses are free for learners and form part of a comprehensive programme designed to advance knowledge and professional capability, to be able to specify and install lighting solutions that meet the highest standards.

Developed by leading lighting experts, the academy provides high-quality educational resources covering a wide range of topics. Each course includes assessments and certification upon completion. The programme is designed for specifiers, lighting designers, facilities managers and installers, equipping them with the knowledge required to address key industry challenges – from sustainability targets to essential lighting design principles.

Courses cover topics such as the science behind circadian lighting, the impact of human-centric lighting, segment-specific lighting applications like healthcare, outdoor applications, connected lighting, and sustainability topics such as EPDs and designing through 3D printing. The courses vary in duration, ranging from 15 minutes to one hour.

Our programme of courses, seminars and events helps lighting professionals maintain and update their skills, develop new expertise and support career progression. By participating in the academy, professionals can strengthen their credibility, achieve personal development goals and realise their full professional potential.

Bright ideas

At Signify Lighting Academy, we believe knowledge is as powerful as illumination. Our CPD courses are designed to give architects, designers, contractors and consultants the confidence to specify and install lighting solutions that meet the highest standards. Whether you’re refreshing core knowledge or staying ahead of the latest innovations, our sessions combine technical depth with real-world insights.

CPD will build your knowledge and understanding to help you deal with the emergence of new demands and priorities in the profession, changes in the law or regulations, and new challenges at work. It is the armour needed to maintain your professional competency and fill any gaps in your knowledge, while building on your strengths.

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This article appeared in Electrotechnical News May/June 2026 edition – read it here