The world of marketing is changing rapidly and we are all acutely feeling this. The recent pandemic caused break-neck fluctuations in technology and consumer behavioural habits. Keeping up with the rapid pace of change is essential for a modern marketer.

The CIM provides excellent professional development resources and opportunities, along with a great CPD programme that is open to all members and offers a focused and logical way for marketing professionals to keep learning as their career progresses. Your CPD journey can lead to achieving Chartered Marketer status – the mark of an up-to-date, experienced and qualified marketing professional. All in all, CPD is a great way to manage your professional development, demonstrating your commitment to current and future employers by keeping up to date and learning new skills.

We have asked our CIM Midlands Board volunteers what their professional development plans are this year: 

Rachael Mabe, Chair | Contact Rachael on LinkedIn

For 2022 I want to prioritise my CPD - the last two-years of working through the pandemic has not left much time for this. The reason I love this profession is how fast changing and evolutionary it is, so CPD has always been critical and one of the key benefits of my CIM membership - which started 18 years ago! 

I’ve spent the start of the year planning my next steps; I’ve downloaded the CIM CPD app - with an aim to work towards Chartered Marketer status over the next two-years. I feel this will really help ensure I stay open to learning, remain up-to-date with industry trends and increase my confidence at work. I don’t feel equipped to lecture the future marketers here in the Midlands if I’m not staying on top of my game.  

I’m also keen to explore more training and development opportunities in sustainability marketing.  I am currently conducting some academic research into this important area for our profession, what challenges there are and how we can share best practice in this area. I’d welcome hearing from anyone in our CIM Midlands community on this topic – whether it’s feedback on how our Midlands Board can do more in this area, or to share best practice on work they are doing surrounding sustainability. 

Di Tunney, Vice Chair - Communications | Contact Di on LinkedIn  

I have been working in marketing for many years and was very pleased to have been elected as a Fellow of the CIM in 2017. I’ve been on the Midlands Board since this time and am very committed to helping the CIM grow and progress in my region. An important part of this is my own CPD, which I see as vital given how quickly things are evolving in the marketing world! 

With this in mind, I’ve started my journey towards achieving Chartered status and am committed to being in a position to apply for this by 2023. I’ve been regularly attending CIM webinars during lockdown and am really looking forward to attending live events again later this year. I also research content to share on our CIM channels and spend time reading the most recent articles and blogs published by the CIM and other marketing organisations.

In addition to running my own marketing consultancy, I’m currently working with Nottingham Trent University, delivering CIM Level 3 courses to SMEs as part of an EU funded programme and to graduates as part of the government’s Skills Bootcamp programme. To do all of these things to the best of my ability, it’s really important to stay up to date with the latest developments in marketing – particularly in the fast-moving digital space!

I would love to team up with others who are also on their Chartered status journey so would welcome hearing from anyone who would like to share their experiences and learning.

Jack Hardy, Education Ambassador | Contact Jack on LinkedIn

For me 2022 is going to be a year in which I focus on the future, for more reasons than one. My partner and I are having our first baby, which is making me think about the future a lot more than I normally would. Also, I feel that I’m at a point in my career where I am very much ready for the next challenge in terms of seniority. 

Usually, my CPD has an 80% focus on the here and now and I dedicate that time to finding new ways in which I can improve the results of my day-to-day work. I then focus the other 20% of the time on the future, where do I want to be in 1-2 years and how do I get there? Do I need to improve my managerial skills or focus on strategy?

Which I would recommend most people doing, the 80/20 split is a great way to make sure you excel at your job, and you ensure you put in the work to focus on your future. 

That being said this year I will focus 80% of my time on the future and 20% on the present. So, what does that mean for me? Since I’m using percentages a lot with this, I’m not 100% sure. I fully intend to take advantage of all the learning opportunities that come my way which will inevitably shape this year’s CPD plans.

However, I do know that I want a heavy focus on soft skills, managerial/director training, public speaking and any additional strategy knowledge I can gain. I also know that thanks to the wonderful people at the CIM I will be completing a Planning & Optimising Campaigns training course which they have kindly given me access to for renewing my membership.  

Clare Bayley, Event Ambassador | Contact Clare on LinkedIn

In 2022 I am making a concerted effort to prioritise my CPD activity more formally, by attending more marketing related webinars to support my career and making time to log the activity on the CIM CPD portal. Finding time to network is also essential. Now that things are opening up again I am keen to maximise those face to face opportunities too!

Katerina Pickup, Communications Ambassador | Contact Katerina on LinkedIn

The world of marketing is changing quicker than ever before and we, marketers need to keep learning every day. The era of year-long marketing plans printed on glossy paper, distributed to stakeholders and then executed word for word, is long gone. Today’s marketing strategy is agile and changing constantly. The world is turning to post-lockdown recovery from a global pandemic and at the same entering new uncertainty with military action in Europe not seen since WWII.

This year it will be 15 years since I began my CIM journey. 2 years ago I joined the CIM Midlands Board as a volunteer Communications Ambassador and I thoroughly enjoy supporting marketers in our region and helping everyone utilise the many resources the CIM offers.

I am working towards the Chartered status and look forward to applying for it in April. To apply, CIM membership at a minimum level ACIM is required, along with two consecutive years of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), easily done through CIM’s CPD app which you can find on the App Store or Google Play store!

I have found the ‘Skills Analysis’ section very helpful. For those who are not aware, this is located in the CPD dashboard, in the top right hand corner immediately next to your name. The assessment tests the Professional Marketing Competencies which are a framework of marketing abilities, and provides a guide to the skills and behaviours that are expected of professional marketers at varying levels of proficiency.

Once Chartered, you can use the Chartered Marketer designatory letters and logo to demonstrate your unrivalled knowledge, skills and commitment as a professional marketer. Anyone considering taking the Chartered assessment this year, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me with questions!