By Tom Austin-Morgan

“How do you become a great person if you don’t invest in yourself, or if we don’t invest in our people?” asks Liz Garvey, HR Director at FM Conway, highlighting the importance the company places on continuing professional development (CPD).

CPD can be seen differently in various companies - and in different roles. But, according to Garvey, it’s just as important to someone working out on site as it is to an operational manager or someone in HR.

“We track and promote CPD in different ways depending on the role or person,” Garvey explains. “We use every opportunity we can to communicate with our team about the opportunities to learn, grow, and develop within our business.”

FM Conway is a strategic partner of CIHT, and CPD, likewise, is a high priority for the Institution. “CIHT expects all members to undertake at least 25 hours of CPD each year and we have lots of ways to support our members to achieve this, including webinars, conferences, mentoring, podcasts and of course CIHT Learn ,” says Cat Goumal, Head of Education and Professional Development.

FM Conway’s CPD pathways are not all designed on linear ‘progressing up the ladder’ growth, but if an employee wishes to specialise in their current role, they can invest in ‘Skills in Practice’ which allows them to improve within their role.

They also provide three professional development programmes for managers called ‘Great Leaders’ which are accredited externally by the Chartered Management Institute. Some of the programmes are delivered in-house while other areas by external partners.

There are further programmes that underpin those called ‘Management Fundamentals’. These help both members of staff looking to become managers or existing managers who might need a refresher on certain aspects of the role which may be changing to keep their knowledge up to date.

Networking opportunities

“This kind of set up with external partners is a way of keeping the CPD programmes fresh and current,” explains Garvey.

“Most of our employees love our own programmes because of the networking opportunities that they provide. The cohort of the Great Leaders programme is made up of people from throughout the business and they are also supported by senior people or alumni of previous programmes.

“We also have a coaching network that we are hoping to expand so that people who are studying or want to develop are supported as much as possible.”

FM Conway backs its early career talent by liaising with the universities and colleges in which they are studying so progress can be monitored, and ensuring the in-house work they are doing matches the course content, so they feel supported and confident enough to pass.

The company also has ‘Business and Personal Enrichment’ programmes for apprentices, so they get a rounded experience of the business including some soft skills in communication as well as some of the basics like how to claim expenses and manage finances.

Garvey explains: “One of our Operational MDs, James Tallon was an apprentice, [and] he’s living proof of the benefit that CPD brings to career development.”

She points out that CPD is most important to keep up with evolving technological advances, so workers enjoy up to date training.

“Streetlighting, for example, is moving to more of a digital urban solution,” she says. “It’s not just lighting, it’s smart roadways measuring traffic and using smart, digital techniques to enhance road user experience and safety. New skills are required to work in this discipline now on streetlights now, so CPD becomes even more important in that area.”

The added benefit from investing in people’s professional development, according to Garvey, is staff happiness and retention.

“We have a higher turnover of staff than we’d like in our in some areas of the business,” she concludes. “It’s lower than the national average, but still higher than we’d like. But providing development opportunities and treating people well is the key to ensuring that turnover in general for us is well below the national average.

“We invest in people because we want them to be the best that they can be and, if you are your best self, that’s who you bring to work.”

See how CIHT can help your continuing professional development including CIHT Learn, an online learning platform containing tools to easily plan and record CPD.

Image: a FM Conway vehicle leaves a construction site; credit: FM Conway.