At Cambridge Intelligence, one of our values is to be “always curious”. We encourage the team to grow their knowledge and skills by giving them the time and budget they need to make it happen.
The process is simple: everyone has access to a personal development fund and up to five Personal Development Plan (PDP) days each year. They can use this to support their growth in whatever direction they’ve planned with the help of their line manager. That could be attending a work-related conference, completing a training course, studying for a qualification – pretty much anything that’s going to help them with their career goals.
Here are some of the ways we invest in our team’s career development.
Tom, Software Developer
“The PDP days away from project work also shows just how much professional development is valued here.”
It’s great to have an individual personal development budget and set development days each year. It helps you look ahead at how you can develop your current skills. PDP also gives you agency to pursue new things that interest you each year.
I used a previous annual PDP budget for a user experience testing training course which gave me a new set of skills to apply in my work. It made me think in depth about usability, customer experience and UX design.
Without the budget, it’d be harder to find ways to improve at my job – funding makes all the difference. The PDP days away from project work also shows just how much professional development is valued here.
Bonney, Product Manager
“The coaching sessions were great – they boosted my confidence as I transitioned to a new role.”
My PDP allowance funded professional coaching sessions with Mark at Bravo Coaching. The sessions were great – they boosted my confidence as I transitioned to a new role.
Mark helped me to objectively assess the skills I have, and then apply techniques to improve them. It was so helpful to explore situations where I felt less confident, and talk through better ways to approach them.
PDP days gave me the time I needed to get the most out of the coaching. The hour-long sessions were spread out over a period of five months, which gave plenty of space to put into practice what I’d learned and do the ‘homework’ set by Mark.
Jim, Legal Counsel
“Not only does the company continue to invest in me, it actively encourages me to follow my career aspirations.”
I used my personal development budget to help with my qualification as a chartered legal executive. Not only does the company continue to invest in me, it actively encourages me to follow my career aspirations.
I am more motivated at work because I get to choose how to use my personal development budget. I’m consistently encouraged to develop new skills and work towards further professional qualifications.
When you’re studying alongside work, it can be hard to get the work-life fit right and it’s easy to reach burnout. Having 5 days to allocate to PDP really helped to reduce some of that pressure.
Rosie, HR Advisor
“Completing continual professional development keeps me motivated.”
My personal development budget has gone towards completing my HR Level 5 qualification. It’s a pretty intense course, so the 5 PDP days make it easier for me to attend online classes and work on assignments.
My studies have deepened my understanding of people’s practices, and it’s great to be able to put into practice what I’ve learned. It’s also given me so much more confidence in different situations.
Completing continual professional development keeps me motivated. I can explore areas of human resources that interest me, and apply them to Cambridge Intelligence to make it a better workplace for everyone.
Jonathan, Finance Assistant
“Autonomy is key – I could choose the course that was right for me.”
I’m currently studying for my AAT-level 3 to help me move towards chartered accountant status. PDP time and budget has been so important, and I couldn’t have pursued this career trajectory without it. In my experience, there aren’t many companies that are happy to invest in their people pursuing accountancy qualifications. I get to use PDP days to revise for exams so I feel fully prepared and better equipped for success.
Autonomy is key – I could choose the course that was right for me. It’s given me more confidence and motivation at work, and I’m able to apply theoretical knowledge and practices from my studies.
It’s also great having such a supportive team around me – others in the Finance team have this qualification already, and they give me lots of encouragement.
No matter what part of the business you work in, personal development isn’t a gimmick here: it’s a core part of our culture. It’s also just one of the many benefits of working with us.
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