CDI National Conference and Dinner 2025

18 & 19 November 2025 | The Studio, Birmingham 

The CDI National Conference is the annual must-attend event for everyone working across career development. The conference was last held as a two-day event on the 18 and 19 November 2025 at The Studio, Birmingham.

The conference theme was Career Development: Meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow. We explored how career development supports individuals to thrive and contribute to society, its role in driving economic growth, and how we can strengthen the profession’s identity, visibility and impact.

As the pre-eminent event covering all areas of career development, the conference featured keynotes and panel sessions covering key areas of interest, as well as workshops focused on specific aspects of career development provision for young people and adults in educational institutions, public careers services, organisations and private practice. 

The full 2025 programme is available here.

With thanks to 2025 supporters

National Conference Dinner

Our conference dinner took place at the end of the first day (18 November) at Malmaison Birmingham. This was a great opportunity to network with friends and make new contacts while enjoying a delightful three-course meal and drinks. 

Dinner dress is business/casual.

Dinner schedule:
7.00 pm : Drinks reception (Mezzanine)
7.30 pm : Dinner (Work and Play, 3&4)
9.30 pm : Music and networking
11.00 pm : End of event

Please note that the venue will contact you closer to the time of the conference to make your menu choices and notify them of any dietary requirements. 

What's included

• Welcome drinks upon arrival
• 3 Course meal
• 1/2 Bottle of wine with dinner - Non-alcoholic alternatives available. 

Why attend?

Continuous learning is at the core of being a career development professional, whether that is through gaining new experience, reflecting on previous interactions, gathering feedback or attending CPD events such as this one. Your attendance at the conference is an important part of maintaining and building on your knowledge and skills, benefiting you and your clients.

We limit the keynote and panel sessions to focus on select key topics that will be of interest to all attendees. Then, for the rest of the day, you will have the opportunity to choose from several concurrent workshops covering an array of topics that will help enhance your area of practice.

This enables you to make this your conference, creating an agenda that best suits your needs and interests.

Getting to the conference venue

The conference will take place at: The Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP

For directions via train, car and by foot, including a map, please visit the venue's website.

The nearest car parks are Birmingham Snow Hill Car Park and New Street Station Car Park. It is a few minutes walk from either car park to the venue. 

If you are driving, please check your route and allow plenty of time to get to the venue, as the Birmingham Christmas Market is open and there may be route changes or road closures.

On arrival, please go to the second floor where the Conference will take place.