When we first decided to write this book, I was enthused and optimistic that we should be able to set out a framework for putting together a developmental portfolio that is logical and informative for the benefit of all psychiatric trainees, and indeed trainers. As a group, we want to pool perspectives and experience from training, administration and the ARCP panel, bringing together a coherent set of guiding principles. When I was a trainee, I often wondered whether the portfolio was a friend or an enemy. It is accepted that the portfolio, and ultimately the ARCP, requires a huge amount of work by trainees in terms of time, effort and planning. The successful portfolio can represent physical evidence of development over time, abilities and achievements. Equally, however, the portfolio is a source of anxiety and uncertainty for many trainees, especially when it comes to the ARCP. One of the difficulties is that there is no ‘right’ way to demonstrate competence and guidance has been sketchy. It is for these reasons that I am confident that this book is a useful guide for all trainees throughout their years in specialty training as well as being a reference material for trainers and educational supervisors.