Our Chief People & Culture Officer, Catherine Falla, summarises what it takes to be Platinum accredited year after year.
It’s a genuine pleasure to write this post. Not just because of the news I get to share, but because it gives me a moment to reflect on the incredible energy and dedication of the people who make Medialab what it is.
It fills me with pride that we have once again received IPA CPD Platinum accreditation. In our industry, this is the gold (rather platinum) standard for professional development, but for us, it’s much more than a certificate on the wall. It’s a promise that professional growth remains a priority for us, ensuring every Medialabber has access to industry-leading development, the best tools to master their skills, and a supportive environment where their career can truly flourish.
Maintaining this level of excellence year after year isn’t about luck; it’s about a deliberate, human-centric strategy. Here is what sits at the heart of our Platinum culture.
A Culture Where You Can Truly Flourish
At Medialab, we don’t just “provide training.” We live our values. To us, “committing to doing the right thing” means investing in our people at every single stage of their career – from Bootcamp to Board. My goal as Chief People & Culture Officer is to ensure we create a workplace where every Medialabber feels a deep sense of belonging where they can bring their authentic self to work every day. When people feel safe and empowered to be who they are, they don’t just work; they flourish. Our CPD program is simply the engine that helps that growth happen.
Mastering the “Brilliant Basics”
You can’t reach for the stars if your feet aren’t on solid ground. We place a massive emphasis on “getting the basics right” so our teams feel confident and equipped to be brilliant. This takes many forms:
- Professional Rigour: 50% of our agency now holds IPA mandatory qualifications, ensuring a high baseline of industry expertise.
- Leadership Growth: Our “Managing at Medialab” training ensures our line managers are mentors, not just supervisors.
- Futureproofing: Our AI Learning Hub keeps us at the cutting edge of a rapidly shifting landscape.
- The Power of Feedback: We use Radical Candor to ensure that feedback – both giving and receiving – is a kind, direct, and constant part of our evolution.
Digging Deeper to Understand Better
One of our core values is to “Dig Deeper to Understand Better,” and we apply this just as rigorously to our people as we do to our media strategies. To stay at the Platinum level, we can’t be complacent.
We use a two-stage training feedback survey based on the Kirkpatrick model. We don’t just ask if a session was “good”; we measure the actual learning, the change in behaviour, and the real ROI for the individual and the business. This ensures our learning and development is truly diverse, accessible, and beneficial for everyone, regardless of their role or background.
Judge’s Comments:“Medialab demonstrates what it looks like when CPD is genuinely woven into the fabric of a growing agency. Learning is purposeful, evidence-based and connected directly to the outcomes that matter most to the business and its people.”
While we celebrate this Platinum milestone, our focus remains on the people behind the achievement. The media world will keep changing, but as long as we keep digging deeper and putting our people first, I know the future of Medialab is in very talented hands.
Interested in joining a Platinum-accredited team? Check out our Careers Page to see our latest roles.
