cdiuk.org

What It Is

Consultancy and Development International (CDI) is a UK-based consulting and training organization led by Tony Lavender as Director. According to its website, it provides consulting advice and training in the UK and overseas, with its flagship program being Essential Consultancy Skills. The program is connected to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Professional Consulting Award and Certificate. CDI is also authorized by the Institute of Consulting to provide support, guidance, and information for candidates pursuing the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) qualification.

Core Assessment

In terms of subject focus, CDI specializes in management consulting and professional consulting skills. Its positioning is relatively niche, making it more suitable for people who already have a clear consulting career goal rather than those looking for general management courses. For delivery format, the listed course locations include Gloucestershire, London, Manchester, and Dubai, suggesting a clear emphasis on in-person training. The site also mentions that online consultancy work was completed for Brunei and Malaysia during the pandemic, but it does not clarify whether courses are available as live online classes, recorded lessons, or one-on-one instruction. Certification is its main strength: CDI is a CMI Registered Centre and can offer CMI’s Professional Consulting Award and Certificate; it can also support CMC candidates. On the instructor side, Tony Lavender has credentials including MBA, FRSA, FCMI, and CMC, has achieved Chartered Management Consultant status, and has received ISO 20700:2017 training, giving the program a strong professional endorsement.

Pricing and Enrollment Information

The website does not disclose course pricing, payment methods, course duration, syllabus details, assessment methods, or certificate fees. The current course status also shows that some UK sessions have already been reserved, while places are still available for the Dubai session, requiring direct contact for inquiries. This suggests that CDI operates more like a small-scale professional training or customized enrollment provider rather than a standardized online course platform.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are clear credentials, a specialized course focus, and connections with consulting industry certification systems such as CMI and CMC, making it suitable for learners who value professional certification and industry recognition. The drawbacks are limited transparency, with no pricing, learning pathway, student reviews, or explanation of the online learning experience. It is not particularly user-friendly for those who want to quickly purchase online, study by module independently, or compare course content in detail.

Who It’s For and Access from China

CDI is better suited to professionals in the UK or overseas who want to improve their consulting capabilities, apply for the CMI Professional Consulting Award/Certificate, or prepare for the CMC qualification. The website does not state whether users in China can access the site directly or whether Chinese payment methods are supported. If you need Chinese-language instruction, recorded online lessons, or local payment options, it would be worth comparing domestic management consulting bootcamps, business school executive education programs, or officially authorized training providers for international consulting certifications.