Words by John Challen

It’s no secret that professional development can be a challenge but, presented in the right way, it can be an invaluable way of improving overall staff quality and efficiency.

The approach taken by CIHT Learn when it was introduced in 2022 was to offer bite-sized courses, covering a range of topics that users would benefit from, regardless of whether they were learning it for the first time or having a refresher. 

Now, in 2024, the platform is bigger than ever, containing a wide range of topics, many of which address issues that will be front and centre over the next 12 months and beyond.

Meanwhile, the accessibility and availability of CIHT Learn is expanding, as training requirements evolve.

“When I go out to the market and speak to people, the first thing I do is make sure they're aware that, if you're a CIHT member, you [have] free access to more than 50 courses. That is still a message that often isn't getting through,” says Devine.

“Something we’ve worked hard on is making digital training appealing. There’s still a reluctance from some people because they're used to traditional classroom training. But digital training fits in with people’s work schedules and is more flexible.” 

There is also an improved emphasis on working with partner companies to put staff through the training offered explains Devine: “We have worked with a number of tier one companies on a licence basis. In one instance there are 200 people going through one of the CIHT Learn courses from one company.”

Online learning the new norm

The shift to online learning – or blended learning, with a mix of ‘classroom’ and digital – has afforded CIHT Learn the opportunity to fine-tune its offering and the intention is very much on providing bespoke, unique content.

“The subject matter now carries a quality guarantee,” says Devine. “That means all of our courses are written by experts and are then peer reviewed by a programme development group. Once that peer review process has taken place, the quality assurance stamp from CIHT goes on and that means the course is fit for purpose. 

Our education department has looked at every course and mapped them so that all of the competencies in every course support the specific professional qualifications.”

For 2024, two of the big areas on the agenda will be resilience and carbon reduction.

“We've got a number of CIHT Learn carbon reduction and sustainability courses because there are different requirements depending on what part of the transport sector people work in,” states Devine. “If you're in consultancy, you're looking at resilience and design, whereas contractors will focus more on materials and different ways to reduce carbon reduction.” 

An important part of CIHT Learn remains inclusivity and company-wide buy-in to the training.

“One of our first courses was around carbon reduction at an introductory level and was designed to get every employee at a company on the same page,” recalls Devine. “Now, we’re speaking to other companies to reinforce the point that whether you work in the post room, as a PA, or in marketing, everybody has a fundamental understanding of carbon reduction.

“It's not something that just the MD and the senior directors need to understand. Everybody in the company needs to realise the direction the company is moving in. That, in itself, creates resilient, flexible companies, which is something that they need to be right now.”

Explore CIHT Learn’s digital learning platform to browse over 50 in-depth courses.

Next Steps

>>> Access CIHT Learn

Want to train multiple staff at an affordable cost? Contact admin@cihtlearn.org.uk to discuss options

Sally Devine, CIHT Learn associate

Sally Devine, CIHT Learn Associate