Considerations For Getting Your RIBA CPD Approved In 2023

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is needed more than ever within the construction industry. With evolving regulations and a global push for more sustainable and ethical practices, architects are leveraging CPD to seek out the latest industry developments in the construction environment.

As a result, building product businesses are investing in their CPD offerings, creating and updating educational content that puts them in front of architects and specifiers.

RIBA has built a reputation around offering quality, unbiased, and educational content that covers the key specification essentials and is the leading CPD provider in the built environment.

Whilst there a whole host of CPD accreditation bodies, research has found that 60% of architects specify one or more of a manufacturer’s products after undergoing a RIBA CPD.

It’s no wonder then, that most of our clients are seeking to have the CPD we create for them accredited by RIBA, from the very beginning.

We’ve previously touched on RIBA CPD, and what the process is like for architects and specifiers who wish to undertake their educational content. But what does the journey to RIBA accreditation look like for your next CPD?

Designing Your CPD For RIBA Accreditation

Through years of experience designing and writing CPD for our client’s, there are some key considerations for creating RIBA approved content.

The Essentials For RIBA CPD Content

When creating a brand new CPD for 2023, there are some key essentials that need to be included within the content of the presentation.

Generally speaking, these mandatory specification essentials must be reflected upon, regardless of the topic area for your CPD. However, not all of these essentials may be required, if they are not pertinent to the product itself.

The seven specification essentials that generally must be included are:

• Statutory & Regulatory Compliance
• Health And Safety (CDM) & Well-Being
• Sustainable Architecture & Construction
• Inclusive Environments
• Product Application & Usage
• Long-Term Maintenance Issues
• Fire Safety

When it comes to updating previously approved CPDs, you need to bear this list in mind. Whether you’re simply giving your CPD a freshen up , or changing the content, you will need to resubmit it to the assessment team.

At this point, it’s important to consider how long ago your original CPD was approved.

Recently we updated a catalogue of CPDs for one of our clients and re-submitted them for RIBA’s approval.

We learned that since the original ones were approved in 2018, RIBAs assessment criteria had been adapted in-line with changes to industry regulations. As a result, we had to advise our client that we needed to add content relating to sustainability, fire-safety and inclusivity in order to be approved.

Whilst these topics weren’t required or mentioned in 2018, the latest criteria meant new slides needed to be added to the presentation and the associated script.

Avoiding Commercialism In RIBA CPD

Nine times out of ten, CPD is seen as a sales tool for Building Product businesses that create them.

It’s clear to see why.

They are a great means of getting your business in front of architects and specifiers, positioning your products and services as the clear solution to the problem your CPD discusses. However, it’s very important you let this happen organically and don’t lose sight of the main goal of delivering quality CPDs.

They allow you to position yourself as an expert in your field, educating the industry on your subject area and making specification easier for the architects and specifiers you’re speaking to.

It all goes back to the Inbound philosophy. The aim is to create educational content that is tailored to your target audience, attracting them to your business by establishing yourself as industry experts.

With this in mind, RIBA has set out clear do’s and don’ts when it comes to creating CPD content that is not sales- or brand-oriented.

Here's our roundup of RIBA's most pertinent do's and don'ts for CPD creation:

• Don’t Include Branded Product Names Or Ranges – (outside of the permitted company history section)
• Don’t Include Company Branding Logos On Videos/Images (one logo per slide is allowed)
• Don’t Overuse The Terms ‘WE’ Or ‘OUR’ To Substitute Your Company Name
• Don’t Denigrate Your Competition

Creating Quality RIBA CPD For Building Product Businesses

These are just some of the key considerations you should make when planning your CPD offering. Whilst these guidelines may seem strict at first glance, they ensure that architects and specifiers are receiving unbiased industry information.

Despite these guidelines, you can still design CPD which is aligned with your brand and company ethos, helping you stand out from the crowd. There are countless CPDs out there today, so it’s always recommended that no matter your chosen subject area, you endeavour to put your own spin on the conversation.

Creating quality CPD in 2023 will require outside-the-box thinking, unique perspectives and high-levels of interactive elements to keep architects engaged and thinking about your brand.

How Insynth Can Help With Your RIBA CPD

At Insynth, we offer a holistic CPD production process, helping you take your CPD offerings to the next level. Through our team of highly skilled technical writers and in-house design team, you can create an interactive and on-demand learning experience.

With optional CPD digitisation, script-writing, voice-over and video work, Insynth can bring your educational content to life and help your brand stand out in your space.

To learn more about our unique CPD delivery process, speak to one of our experts today!