The Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC) East of England recently hosted one of the region’s largest construction education Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events, bringing together more than 250 lecturers, curriculum leaders, managers and support staff from colleges across the East of England. The event forms part of CTEC’s commitment to raising the quality, relevance and impact of construction education through collaboration, innovation and employer engagement.
Held at West Suffolk College, the day showcased the very best of industry-led professional development. Attendees benefited from a programme of keynote presentations, practical demonstrations, specialist workshops and networking opportunities designed to strengthen teaching practice and ensure construction training remains aligned to current and future industry needs. The event featured contributions from employers, awarding organisations and leading construction suppliers, alongside an extensive exhibitor zone highlighting the latest technologies, equipment and digital learning solutions.
A key highlight of the day was the strong involvement of employers and industry partners, who provided hands-on demonstrations and insights into emerging trends. This direct engagement enabled teaching staff to gain valuable industry knowledge that can be immediately embedded into curricula and classroom practice, ultimately benefiting learners across the region.
The event also demonstrated the growing influence of CTEC East of England as a regional hub for collaboration. Representatives from colleges across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire came together to share best practice, explore new approaches to delivery and strengthen partnerships that will support the future construction workforce.
The overwhelmingly positive feedback received reflects the success of the event and the appetite within the sector for high-quality, employer-led professional development.
Liv Bradley – CTEC Director stated “We were absolutely delighted with the success of this year’s CPD event and, in particular, the way colleges and their staff from across the region engaged throughout the day. Building on this success, we are already planning an even bigger and better event for 2026/27, creating further opportunities for colleges, educators and industry partners to come together to shape the future of construction skills across the East of England.”
This CPD event is another example of how CTEC East of England is making a tangible impact across the region, connecting education and industry, increasing collaboration between providers and ensuring construction training evolves in line with employer and workforce needs.
