This is a county wide programme to strengthen design skills in local planning authorities and promote collaboration with the private sector.
The Kent Planning Officers Group (KPOG) wanted to address the high cost of CPD for officers and members and drive up commitment to design quality in the rapidly growing county. In response we developed Kent Design; a cost effective CPD and networking events programme that brings people together to shape a better built environment.
The programme is designed to help participants address the specific challenges in the county and events are delivered in a variety of venues across the county. The events attract a multidisciplinary audience, and bring the public and private sectors together, fostering networks and promoting collaboration.
Though open to all with online ticket booking, the programme is funded primarily by public and private sector memberships and subscriptions. Members benefit from reduced prices and become part of the growing Kent Design network. Members also receive additional benefits, for example, opportunities to attend invitation only events. Now in its 7th year, the member network includes every planning authority in the county and a growing number of private and third sector organisations.
Working with the membership we organise the annual programme around members training needs, delivering CPD through a range of formats including workshops for officers and members, roundtables for industry leaders, national conferences, study tours and visits to exemplar projects and an urban design summer school.
Kent Design events attract large audiences and the training sessions are consistently fully booked.
For information on the current programme click here or go to www.kentdesign.org.