Our Mission is to provide the Royal Artillery with the best possible service and support in the personal and professional development of its soldiers.

The Royal Artillery Centre for Personal Development (RA CPD) is a thriving and successful provider of vocational and academic qualifications to the Gunners. Its primary aims are: to offer progressive learning opportunities to RA soldiers throughout their career; to improve their professional and personal skills; to enhance recruitment of high quality young men and women; and, to improve retention through raising self esteem and morale. 

The RA CPD was established in 1998 within HQ DRA, in the form of a Charitable Trust, in response to the Army’s requirement for soldiers to gain nationally recognised (civilian) qualifications. In 2003 it assumed its current title, and in 2005 the Charity was incorporated as a company. It has been graded twice as ‘Excellent’ in government inspections (Ofsted) and has national quality recognition as a ‘Beacon’ standard training provider. In 2009 it was a finalist in the government- sponsored STAR Awards for the best providers in the FE sector, and in 2010 it won the regional CIPR Gold Award for its newsletter, PD News.

The RA CPD enables RA personnel to achieve civilian professional qualifications in telecommunications, logistics, horse care, management and leadership, IT and teaching. Last year, RA CPD recorded nearly 10,000 registrations on programmes, ranging from Basic Skills literacy and numeracy at Level 1, to Teacher Training at Level 4 and Management at Level 5. The total number of registrations since 2000 is over 60,000.

The RA CPD's 69 staff is equally divided between its Head Office at Larkhill and the regular RA regiments. Each regiment (less 14 Regiment RA) is supported by an in-house PD Advisor who works directly for the regiment enabling better support to CLM and Basic Skills achievement, as well as being the PD focus for all personnel. Each regiment also has a Learning Centre, staffed by a full-time ICT tutor who offers both taught IT courses and a vast range of e-learning opportunities up to Level 2 through learndirect to all personnel and their dependants. At 14 Regiment RA, a large and well equipped Study Centre offers every Phase 2 soldier both the support to improve their numeracy, literacy and IT skills, and the opportunity to achieve those qualifications at Level 1 or Level 2.

In each regiment the assessment of the NVQ qualification is carried out by WOs and NCOs who achieve the valuable national assessing qualification (CAVA). Annually RA CPD commits ca £47,000 to the financial reward of Assessors; additionally each regiment receives funds to spend on their PD activities and support.

Since 2008 RA CPD has offered sponsorship of PD-enhancing activities. The Sponsorship policy allocates up to £3,000 per regiment each year.

The RA’s annual Personal Development Awards recognise and reward the individual’s effort and commitment to their own development, with the consequent benefits to the Gunner’s core business. Prizes worth £8000 are presented in six categories during the annual RA Conference, including £2000 to the best regiment and £500 to the best individual learner.

The Board of Trustees is chaired by Maj Gen N H Eeles (late RA) and includes two senior artillery commanders and the Commandant Royal School of Artillery, in addition to four civilians with relevant experience.                                                               

"Personal Development is for everyone; it is not limited by rank, location or trade."                                                             

Maj Gen N H Eeles, Chairman RA CPD.