The need for skilled professionals in the industry has never been greater. But that’s only part of the story. Role requirements for flood specialists are constantly changing and evolving, making career pathways more opportunistic and less predictable, and, as in many other sectors, JBA are developing, sharing and implementing skills and knowledge in new and innovative ways. JBA’s approach has always been to embrace these challenges with curiosity, seeking to empower its employees, suppliers and clients with opportunities to learn, develop and grow.
A proven legacy of learning and development
Over the past 30 years, JBA’s commitment to sharing knowledge has transformed into a dynamic portfolio of accredited courses, strategic partnerships, and innovative delivery formats that continue to shape professional development. Tied into their competency-focused Learning and Development Scheme, in the last year alone JBA has delivered 106 formal training courses to JBA colleagues and a further 69 internal CPD sessions, upskilling staff at all levels across topics including health and safety, personal development and technical skills.
JBA also invests in its trainers through its in-house ‘Train the Trainer’ programme, helping technical specialists become confident, inclusive, and engaging educators.
Impact at scale
JBA’s client-focused training delivery allows them to continually reinvest in learning and development. Since 1995, JBA has delivered thousands of training days to more than 10,000 delegates drawn from all corners of the industry. Building on insights gained over three decades, their goal has always been focused on offering attendees practical, evidence-based learning that makes a real impact.
Responding to the industry’s changing needs, today JBA offers pay-as-you-go places on more than 35 courses across a wide range of disciplines, ranging from asset management and climate resilience to flood hydrology and coastal management. Of these courses, 18 are CIWEM-accredited. Their climate adaptation programme has additional recognition from leading professional bodies such as CIWM and IEMA.
Direct client commissions – tailored to need - are fundamental to JBA’s offering. Over the last 12 months, they have delivered 26 bespoke training courses to several different clients, including the Environment Agency, Natural England and Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland).
Academic excellence meets real-world insight
JBA’s flagship remains its long-standing partnership with Lancaster University to deliver the Postgraduate Certificate in Flood and Coastal Risk Management. This flexible, part-time qualification allows professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge while continuing to work. Blending the best of academic learning with practitioner-led industry know-how, this programme is a must for anyone seeking a comprehensive skills-led introduction to the industry, as well as those wishing to build on their own experience by enhancing knowledge. Additional pathways to a Diploma or Masters degree make this programme a powerful investment in career development. From November 2025 onwards the course modules can also be attended individually as standalone CPD without committing to the academic assessment or the wider programme.
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The team behind the training
Behind JBA’s successful training programme is a dedicated team, led by JBA’s Head of Learning and Development, Maxine Zaidman FCIWEM FLPI. Quality and relevance are central to their approach from initial concept right through to final delivery, including focussing on learner needs and tailoring content to ensure delegates are equipped with practical skills and confidence to make a meaningful impact in their work. The team also explore innovative ways to deliver training, whether through interactive workshops, online modules, or blended learning formats, making courses accessible and engaging for professionals at all stages of their careers. By continually reviewing feedback from delegates and trainers, and refining content to keep pace with industry developments, JBA’s portfolio is constantly kept fresh.
“It’s my job in JBA to make sure colleagues can identify clear development pathways, set goals accordingly and find targeted learning to help them meet their goals. Whilst JBA is widely known for our generous internal training provision, my recent focus has been on understanding changing learner needs and guiding course updates to ensure that training has a tangible and quantifiable impact to each and every learner. This concept applies equally to our portfolio of open courses, where our future-focussed approach keeps content aligned with emerging industry trends and priorities, changing best practice and new software releases.”
Maxine Zaidman FCIWEM FLPI – Head of JBA’s Learning and Development
What sets JBA training apart?
JBA’s training offer combines expertise, flexibility, and practical relevance. Courses are delivered by industry-leading professionals with years of hands-on experience, ensuring every session is grounded in real-world knowledge and best practice. Whether you’re seeking CPD, academic qualifications, or bespoke organisational training, JBA’s programmes are here to support your journey. From practical workshops to flexible online learning, JBA offers opportunities that fit around your schedule. For organisations seeking scalable solutions, JBA can transform concepts into customised learning, ensuring organisations have training solutions that fit their exact requirements.
Above all, JBA’s commitment is to create impact - empowering individuals and organisations with the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen resilience in the face of growing environmental challenges.
Looking ahead to 2026
Aligned with JBA’s commitment to keeping their training portfolio relevant and responsive to industry needs, they are introducing four new courses in early 2026.
Water Resources Planning and Management is designed for professionals involved in Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs), regional plans or related disciplines, whether they are new to the field or have existing experience. The course introduces key concepts, national challenges, regulatory frameworks and sustainable approaches to water resource planning. The course also explores practical approaches to developing WRMPs, assessing supply–demand balances and making informed decisions through options appraisal and risk-based planning.
The new “Developing Community Engagement Skills” course will explore the difference between communication and engagement, providing tools for planning and evaluating effective strategies. Building on this theme, the follow-on module “Tools and Techniques for Creative Community Engagement” will introduce innovative approaches to engagement, featuring real-world examples, hands-on design, and evaluation guidance.
Also launching is the “Adopting Innovative AI and ML Solutions to Improve Flood Resilience”, a cutting-edge course designed to build confidence in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to flood risk management. Using real-world case studies and JBA projects, delegates will learn how these tools can enhance risk detection, forecasting, real-time response, and post-event recovery.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer abstract concepts of the future – they are here, evolving rapidly, and already transforming how we approach resilience to climate risk. But for decision-makers in the flood and water sector, the challenge isn’t learning how to prompt ChatGPT. It’s knowing which of the many AI approaches have real potential, and how to apply them responsibly and effectively in your work.
Our new course gives decision‑makers a clear view of AI/ML across the resilience cycle, so you can see where it will genuinely improve forecasting, response and recovery. We make it tangible through real JBA case studies - from image‑based coastal monitoring to AI‑enhanced terrain modelling and Natural Language Processing for incident data - paired with practical guidance on ethics, governance and risk.
I’m looking forward to delivering this course with my expert colleagues, Jenny Roberts and Roman Collinge, because it will support flood risk managers development from curiosity to confident application. Supporting their investment in innovation that’s resilient and ready for day‑to‑day use.”
Jennifer Grist – Associate Director
This article was featured in Issue 10 of Flood Industry magazine (Jan/Feb 2026). You can view it here.