Remote delivery of CPD used as an efficient and effective way to upskill clients and build networks

Productive Use of Downtime to Deliver Continuing Professional Development

Stantec recently secured a contract with a major national infrastructure provider. We were already planning engagement sessions to build networks alongside our partner firms, but then everything changed with the onset of Covid-19 movement restrictions.

Rather than put things on hold, we decided to offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions. Our client readily accepted, and we have since delivered one session and planned others in the series. Initially looking at contaminated land and waste minimisation, we’re moving on to biodiversity and consenting and then heritage, climate risk, sustainability and carbon reduction.

We have been delighted by the level of engagement during remotely delivered CPD sessions. That’s in part because the participants are evidently keen to learn, but also because we invested considerable effort in developing the material to be engaging and well delivered. Little things like taking the time for proper introductions, clear signposting in the slides, rehearsals and a dedicated Q&A monitor helped things to go very smoothly.

The result is client personnel who have gained specialist technical knowledge, and the solid foundations of a network that will help us to make a quick start on projects once the current restrictions on movement start to lift.