Why I Commit to Continuing Professional Development
I’m proud to announce that I’ve achieved a certification from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting for 30+ hours of CPD in 2023/24!
Time for some bubbly!
What is CPD and why is it important?
Continuing professional development, or CPD as it’s fondly known, is different for everyone. Basically, it means engaging in unpaid activities outside of your BAU that somehow enhance your knowledge or your business offering. Think of it like ‘extra-curricular’ activities at school. It’s particularly important in the translation and copywriting industries because of the lack of accreditation and regulation here. Sure, most good, professional translators are qualified in one way or another or can prove to you their experience. For example, I have a Master’s in Translation Studies and am a member of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI). However, you don’t actually need any qualifications to set yourself up online and say that you’re a translator or copywriter.
For this reason, membership bodies like the ITI (or the CIOL) require their members to undertake CPD to prove that they are still learning and are committed to keeping standards within the industry spotlessly high. So that’s a big part of the reason I undertake continuing professional development each year. It means that you – my clients – know that I’m qualified and up-to-date with industry standards.
What did I do for CPD this year?
This year, I properly committed and got stuck in with CPD that I felt would be really useful and beneficial to my business. For my business I brushed up on cyber security, data safeguarding and finance management, as well as joining workshops and courses on business branding and social media strategy (among other things). I attended the Institute of Translation & Interpreting’s One Day In Manchester conference – which was jam-packed with useful information and gave me a chance to connect with fellow professionals.
For my specialist subjects – sustainability, green technology & circular economy, and biodiversity & ecology – I attended the Global ReUse Summit, various panels and workshops on sustainability, and dived deeper into the changing world of fashion, the importance of soil, and food waste.
I’m looking forward to even more CPD, diving further into my niches, in 2024/25.
