CPD at Rockley: Where Passion Meets Progression

To get a true sense of what that looks like in practice, we sat down with Nathaniel Hagon, Senior at Rockley Point, who has grown from a first-year student with no qualifications to a respected leader and instructor. Nathaniel’s story reflects the culture we are so proud of here: curiosity, commitment and a shared love of being on the water.

“Rockley has a very forthcoming view on CPD. There are lots of opportunities to get involved and it forms a big part of the culture.”

You can feel it the minute you are here. With RYA courses running all the way through to Trainer Selection, there truly is something for everyone to learn, shadow or mentor. The energy is not confined to office hours either. Paid CPD evenings often mean heading out on the water to sail different boats, try new kit, or chase wind on a windsurfer.

When it is windy, you will find instructors rigging sails almost instinctively. They are driven not just by training targets, but by pure love for getting out there and enjoying the environment we work in. That enthusiasm is infectious, and it is one of the reasons our team builds skills so quickly. CPD here is not a chore, it is what we would be doing anyway.

Something we pride ourselves on is taking a person-centred approach to development. During induction, every instructor is invited to share their goals, and we use that to shape their training journey throughout the season.

“We do not just roll out a general programme. We ask what each instructor wants to achieve and support them to get there.”

Weekly paid evening sessions run throughout the year, open to anyone who wants to take part. Whether you are building confidence, progressing towards instructor qualifications, or expanding into new disciplines, there is always an opportunity close at hand.

Ask any of our instructors how far CPD has taken them, and the answer is the same. It is transformational.

“I started as a Year 1 student with no qualifications. Four years later I am now an RYA Senior Instructor and Powerboat Instructor. Rockley’s CPD definitely helped me get here, but it has been a two-way commitment.”

That is the magic of this place. We match your dedication. Bring the effort, and we will open the doors.

What Makes Rockley Different

We know every centre says they invest in their staff. At Rockley, we put structure behind it:

• Tailored learning plans built around each person’s goals
• Shadowing opportunities at every level, from Stage 1 courses to Trainer Selection
• Freedom for experienced instructors to guide their own development as they progress

We are even trialling a new model where senior staff can allocate their own training hours, giving long-standing team members the freedom to advance in the areas that inspire them most.

We do not train just to tick boxes. We develop real instructors, real confidence, and real careers.