Press Releases

Government to Strengthen Skills of Civil Servants to Aid Delivery in Project and Programme Management.

PRESS RELEASE 13/03

Civil Servants experienced in project and programme management are to be offered new career support to help strengthen the skills required to manage major projects and programmes, especially those related to construction, IT-enabled business change and property.

Today's announcement is a joint initiative between the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and Cabinet Office Corporate Development Group.

An overview of the "Programme and Project Management Specialism" (PPMs) was given in a speech this morning (Thursday 19 June) by the Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce, Peter Gershon.

Today's announcement builds on from the launch, in September last year, of the creation of the Successful Delivery Skills programme (SDS) and the creation of Centres of Excellence, announced in February, to be established within each major government department, to oversee large scale construction and IT projects.

Successful delivery is top of the Government's agenda and research shows that better programme and project management will improve Departments' capability and capacity to deliver the Government's Reform Agenda.

The PPM Specialism will provide help, advice and support for its members to develop their skills and careers within the Civil Service.

The Specialism links with the Successful Delivery Skills Programme that aims to improve delivery skills across the public sector, and the Centres of Excellence initiative on delivering programmes and projects.

Taken together these three strands fit within the framework the Prime Minister outlined for a step change and reform in the Civil Service and the wider public sector.

OGC Chief Executive Peter Gershon said:

"This initiative will be flexible in nature. Participants are likely to experience a strong upward magnetic attraction to develop their career within this specialism. However it will also be porous at the sides allowing those participating to move freely in and out if they see acquiring these skills as valuable experience in the development of their wider civil service careers.

"A longer-term aim is to provide a central source of expertise and advice on programme and project management for all members of the Civil Service who are involved in programme and project delivery."

Individual civil servants are now registering their interest ahead of a major conference in the autumn at which all the specialists in programme and project management are being invited to attend.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Who is the PPM Specialism for?

The PPM Specialism is for staff at all grades in the Civil Service who have experience in programmes and projects and who wish to develop their skills in this area. There are two levels of membership - full and associate.

Staff working for Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) will be able to choose whether to take part.

Full membership is for those who have experience and/or qualifications in programme and project management. Associate membership is for those who have limited experience in a project role and are willing to gain programme and project management qualifications.

What is the PPM Specialism?

The PPM Specialism is being developed and members and departments will have the opportunity to influence its final shape. Initial ideas are that Cabinet Office Corporate Development Group and OGC will provide a range of opportunities and information, including:

• A Website for programme and project management vacancies, guidance and discussion forums;

• Promotion and marketing of programme and project management within government;

• Information on rewards and recognition;

• An annual conference for members;

• An annual awards scheme for individuals, teams and organisations

• A cross-government network opportunities; and

• A continuous development scheme
  

What's in it for Departments?

Departments have set up Centres of Excellence and one of their major tasks is to advise their management boards on their capability and capacity to deliver their delivery agendas.

The PPM Specialism will help Centres of Excellence and Human Resource teams develop that capability and capacity.

It will support the application of programme and project management in policy and other areas not currently recognised as demanding such expertise. It will also help senior managers to deploy and use these skills efficiently, effectively and economically.

What's in it for Individuals?

The Specialism will help individuals experienced in programme and project management develop their careers.

Whichever route they take to develop their careers in PPM, they will have access to a cross-government community of programmes and project managers to share experiences and best practice; to vacancies in other departments and to advice on qualifications available and ways of gaining appropriate experience.