Public
CPD by Industry

CPD in the Public sector

Overview of the Public Sector

The UK public sector is a major component of the total UK economy. According to Open University research, public expenditure in 2008/09 amounted to £618bn and constituted 48% of GDP. The public sector employs just under 6 million personnel (approx. 19% of total UK workforce) and is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of public services including: pensions and benefits (28%), health (18%), emergency services, law enforcement, and education (13%).

According to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the UK voluntary sector contributes £11.7 billion to the UK economy, and employs approximately 765,000 (2.7%) of the total 27.9million UK workforce. 

CPD in the Public Sector

In the public sector, the aim of CPD is to ensure that those who work in the field develop and maintain the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to work effectively towards improving overall objectives. The public sector has always been expected to demonstrate value for money and improved efficiency while delivering a high quality service across all areas of responsibility.

The increase of prevalence of CPD in society has been driven by a mantra for accountability and business performance, and in many contexts to raise quality standards. The pressures of globalisation, and the need for public sector transparency have shaped governmental direction towards the structured provision of CPD. The continuing interdependence of public and private sector has driven an increased demand for public CPD programs to reflect the standards seen in other professional service sectors.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) require all members to complete 120 hours of CPD activities over a three-year period with a minimum of 20 hours CPD in each year. The FDA is the professional association and union for the UK's senior public servants and professionals. The FDA has membership of more than 18,000 senior managers, policy advisors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors, prosecutors and other professionals working across Government and the NHS.

The FDA is committed to helping promote and facilitating the Continuing Professional Development of managers and professionals in the public service.

  • National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
  • Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA)
  • Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE)
  • Public Service People Managers Association
  • Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA)
  • Institute for Volunteering Research

Stay in the loop with what's happening in the CPD Public industry

Browse CPD Public Training Providers

Over The Rainbow Support

Charity which aims to improve the lives of those who identify as LGBTQ+
CPD Logo

Caribbean Centre for Development Administration

Transforming Public Services for the People of the Caribbean
Caribbean Centre for Development Administration

GamFam

Empowering individuals and families to alleviate the impact of gambling harms and move towards a...
GamFam

ActiveBeing

Being Active, Being Present, Being Well
ActiveBeing

Success4All

We engage, empower and equip children and young people because educational success should be for...
Success4All

Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation is internationally recognised for mindfulness teaching and tra...
Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

Considerate Constructors Scheme

Making meaningful impact that supports raising standards in construction and working to build tr...
Considerate Constructors Scheme

Community Housing Cymru

We are the voice of social housing in Wales, representing and supporting 36 housing associations...
Community Housing Cymru

Reset Communities for Refugees

We build the capacity of the UK community to grow
Reset Communities for Refugees

West Midlands Employers

Not-for-profit organisation offering employment services for the Public Sector.
West Midlands Employers

Black Beetle Health

Promoting health, wellbeing and equality for LGBTQ+ Black and People of Colour.
Black Beetle Health

Targeted Provision

Trauma-informed education provision for young people
Targeted Provision

MindForward Alliance

Transforming workplace mental health
MindForward Alliance

HERE NI

A place for Lesbian and Bisexual Women
HERE NI

stem4

Promoting positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them
stem4

GovX Digital

Future Government Delivery.
GovX Digital

Emotion Dysregulation in Autism

The Mental Health Charity for Austic Young People
Emotion Dysregulation in Autism

Milton Keynes City Council

Milton Keynes City Council is the local authority of the City of Milton Keynes.
Milton Keynes City Council

CPD Public Courses and Workshops

Public
Featured

Supervision Skills in Safeguarding

NSPCC Learning

Face-to-face training enabling you to gain the safeguarding supervision skills you need to protect c...
Training Course
Public
Featured

Intellectual Property Master Class

Intellectual Property Office

The intellectual property master class. This course defines intellectual property (ip) e.g. patents,...
Training Course
Public

Exploitation; Working Alongside Parents as Safegua...

NWG Network

Best practice and research clearly demonstrate the importance of working alongside families as safeg...
Training Course
Public

People Handling

DLF

Our trainers have a wealth of social care experience and knowledge so understand the barriers those...
Training Course
Public

Whole Workforce Autism Awareness

Autism Education Trust

Whole Workforce Autism Awareness is an awareness–raising unit for anyone working in a school environ...
Webinar
Public

Basic Awareness and Understanding of Type 1 Diabet...

Lochlan's Legacy

A course designed to deliver Basic Awareness and Understanding of Type 1 Diabetes for sports coaches...
Workshop
Public

An Understanding of Child Exploitation – Bite-size...

NWG Network

This session can be stand-alone or part one of our ‘An Understanding of Child Exploitation’ series....
Training Course
Public

General Purpose Patrol Dog Handlers (GPPD)

Academy of K9 Detection

General Purpose Patrol Dog Handlers (GPPD) is for law enforcement students and military. But also su...
Training Course
Public

Exploitation in Sport: What you need to know as a...

NWG Network

The majority of local sports opportunities are made possible by volunteers; this training has been w...
Training Course
Public

Introduction to Sustainable Bonds

International Capital Market Association - ICMA

This introductory course gives you a deep understanding of the mechanics of green: social: sustainab...
Training Course
Public

Module 3: Asking LGBT+ Inclusive Questions and Hav...

LGBT Foundation

Asking questions can be scary; especially if you’re unsure about the right words to use or worried a...
Webinar
Public

Tissue Viability Course.

Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation

The captivating goal of a tissue viability course is to empower students with the knowledge and skil...
Training Course
Public

Handling Disclosures

Nexus

This session aims to increase awareness of sexual abuse and abusive relationships and how they can i...
Training Course
Public

Understanding root causes to break the cycle of cr...

Revolving Doors

Powerful and informative interactive training session; led by facilitators with recent lived experie...
Training Course
Public

Assessing Musical Performance

ABRSM

Available as face to face or online delivery. Understanding the way ABRSM exams are assessed will su...
Webinar
Public

Mental Health First Responder for Children and You...

MCR HQ

A course designed to cover the relevant mental health first aid principles specifically for children...
Training Course
Public

Young Persons’ Healthy Relationship Champion Train...

The YOU Trust

The purpose of this workshop is to give learners an enhanced knowledge of healthy relationships and...
Workshop
Public

Nursing Cardiovascular Specialty Program

Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation

The Nursing Cardiovascular Specialty Program aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the he...
Training Course
Public

Work at Height

Stockport Homes Group

This work at height course is for anyone within the business who are required to work off the ground...
Training Course
Public

Research Skill Development

The Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership

To provide students with knowledge of a range of research methods; their tradition; limitation and a...
Workshop

CPD Public Online & eLearning

Public

Gambling Harms and 18-25-year-olds: Not in Employm...

Ygam

The aim of the course is to increase knowledge; awareness and understanding of gambling related harm...
Online Course
Public

Functional Medicine Advanced Practice Modules™ (AP...

Clinical Education

This Advanced Practice Module takes a whole systems approach to evaluating and treating not only loc...
Online Course
Public

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

BeyondAutism

This online course provides a comprehensive understanding of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBS...
Online Course
Public

To breathe or Not to Breathe: Respiratory Issues i...

Spinal Injuries Association

This course provides education on spinal cord injury (SCI) specifically looking at respiratory issue...
Online Course
Public

Introduction to Child and Adolescent to Parent Vio...

Respect

The course will teach the learner the signs: the believed causal factors of CAPVA and the impact tha...
Online Course
Public

Mental health: Creating a supportive workplace

St John Ambulance

This course centres around a case study involving Kay; delving into the events that unfolded around...
Online Course
Public

Delivering Financial Education Through Tutor Time...

Young Enterprise

Discover how financial education can be delivered during one-off or regular coordinated tutor time d...
Online Course
Public

Delivering Financial Education through Curriculum...

Young Enterprise

This training is designed for all subject teachers. Discover how financial education can be delivere...
Online Course
Public

Delivering Financial Education through PHSE Lesson...

Young Enterprise

With close links to the PSHE curriculum; discover how to deliver financial education within PSHE les...
Online Course
Public

Delivering Financial Education in SEND settings (P...

Young Enterprise

Designed specifically for SEND teachers; our financial education training explores ways in which fin...
Online Course
Public

Knowledge building: Black heritage; cultural appre...

National Uplift Programme

The CPD training; titled "Knowledge Building: Black Heritage; Cultural Appreciation; and Positive Ac...
Online Course
Public

Agricultural Value Chain

International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)

The course is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the key concepts: c...
Online Course
Public

Embracing Autistic Students

Waking Up To Autism

An online course for people working within the education sector to increase knowledge and understand...
Online Course
Public

Assessing Progression in Classroom Music

ABRSM

ABRSM has worked with the Royal Northern College of Music and teachers to create a learning experien...
Online Course
Public

Online course: Introduction to blood cancer

Blood Cancer UK

This free online course is ideal for nurses and healthcare professionals new to haematology. Over th...
Online Course
Public

An Introduction To Almshouses

The Almshouse Association

The Almshouse Association is pleased to offer an eLearning training course; to provide new trustees...
Online Course
Public

The scientific method in health research

Health Data Research

This video lesson will give you an understanding of scientific method and how we find out which trea...
Online Course
Public

Module 2: Identifying Socio-technical Barriers to...

Health Data Research

Health data tools do not exist in a vacuum but have to interact with the human beings doing the work...
Online Course
Public

Managing collaborative coding projects

Health Data Research

This video lesson will give you an understanding of discussing some main concepts and principles for...
Online Course
Public

Module 1: Introduction to Machine Learning in a He...

Health Data Research

This course has been designed to support you in developing an understanding of what the machine lear...
Online Course

CPD Public Events

Public
This Week

Virtual Advice: AM | Insiders' Guide to the ASA &...

Advertising Standards Authority ASA

Not too clear on what you need to know about UK ad regulation? This training course provides an esse...
06 Dec 2023
Public

Tackling Stalking

Knowledge Exchange Group

This conference is for any professional working in the police; criminal justice; prevention; and hea...
26 Jan 2024

CPD Public Articles

Get industry-related content straight to your inbox

By signing up to our site you are agreeing to our privacy policy