The CPD Wake-Up Call: Why It’s Key to Member Engagement & Growth

In this episode of The Digital Drop Podcast, we sit down with Katherine Bunting, a leading expert in professional development within membership organisations, to unpack the real power of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) — and why it might just be the most underused tool for growth and engagement in 2025. Whether you're already offering CPD or just starting to explore it, this conversation will give you actionable insights to improve your strategy, boost retention, and better serve your members — without burning your budget. If you've ever wondered why your CPD programme isn’t landing or why engagement is stalling, this episode is your wake-up call. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & why CPD is more relevant than ever 02:17 – Katherine’s journey from drama to development 05:00 – What is CPD, really? How it fits into professional life 08:40 – Why CPD matters for member engagement & retention 12:35 – Common mistakes: Why members don’t engage with CPD 16:20 – How to tailor your CPD for early, mid & late-career members 20:15 – Member value: Why CPD should be peer-led and sector-specific 24:10 – The impact of COVID on training: Online vs In-person 28:50 – Creating hybrid CPD strategies that actually work 34:20 – How to maintain quality & credibility in CPD content 39:30 – The power of gamification & automation in CPD delivery 44:00 – Starting from scratch: How small orgs can launch CPD 49:00 – Should CPD go beyond your industry? (Spoiler: Yes!) 51:10 – The collaborative advantage of membership CPD 54:05 – Katherine’s top 3 tips for organisations doing CPD 57:45 – Where to connect with Katherine for further insight Key Topics Covered How CPD drives engagement and revenue Using feedback loops and member input to guide your learning offer The role of technology, LMSs, and gamification When to partner with third parties for content How to start offering CPD (even on a tight budget) Why hybrid delivery is here to stay Don’t forget to like, share & subscribe for more deep dives into digital strategy for the membership sector. #CPD #MembershipGrowth #DigitalStrategy #MemberEngagement #LearningAndDevelopment #HybridLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment #DigitalDropPodcast