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Association for Project Management calls for employers to invest in skills through apprenticeships

Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession, is calling on employers to invest in the better delivery of projects through project management apprenticeship schemes for their staff and new apprentices. The call comes ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 7-13 February 2022.

A recent APM survey of over 1000 project professionals reveals that of the respondents who say their company runs project management apprenticeships, the majority (77 per cent) consider apprenticeships to be beneficial to project work. Furthermore, 40 per cent per cent say that apprentices help to create a more diverse workforce, 39 per cent say that apprenticeships are a good way to recruit and retain talent, and over a third (36 per cent) who say apprentices bring new ideas into the organisation.

Two London based companies, Pearson, the world’s leading learning company and global media agency Wavemaker currently run project management apprenticeship programmes. Pearson launched its apprenticeship programme in the UK in 2017, available for the organisation’s employees and new apprentices joining the company, including the Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship, and the Level 6 Project Manager Integrated Degree Apprenticeship, both which include APM’s Project Management Qualification (PMQ).

Anne Ashworth, head of employee apprenticeship at Pearson, says:

“The project management apprenticeship programme is fast becoming one of our most popular roles in the business, with four individuals currently participating on the scheme. It has been incredible seeing people from across different levels of our business stepping up to the challenge and completing their apprenticeship. As a result, they are bringing so much value to our organisation with improved project management skills, generating efficiencies in projects and ultimately improved consumer satisfaction.”

Wavemaker launched a project management apprenticeship programme in 2020, partnering with education technology start-up Multiverse (co-founded by Euan Blair). The 18-month programme is focused on professionalising project management skills amongst its employees. Staff participating in the programme learn essential project skills via virtual classroom training with one-to-one coaching delivered by Multiverse and Wavemaker’s global team of experts.

Dan Jennings, head of Project Management Office (PMO) at Wavemaker UK says:

“My ambition is to have 60 Wavemakers fully trained and accredited by the end of 2022 through our apprenticeship programme - with the skillset embedded across our client teams, media, data, technology, production and content specialisms. It has been incredible seeing people from all levels of our business - with experience from a few years at the agency to 25 plus years - stepping up to the challenge of the Associate Level 4 Apprenticeship and APM’s Project Management Qualification (PMQ).

“Project management skills are crucial to our business going forward, and this comes from the very top of our organisation here in the UK and worldwide.”

With the rise in the ‘projectification’ of work, more businesses will depend on talented project professionals.

Jackie Martin, director of education and lifelong learning at APM, says:

“We would urge employers to invest in developing skills through apprenticeships for the value they can bring and for the long-term benefits to project delivery.

“As the chartered body for the project profession, we are committed to promoting and encouraging better skills development and training. The growth of project-based working means more project professionals will be needed to help organisations succeed. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help plug the gap since they blend a professional qualification with supported learning and development while in a full-time role.”

For further details about project management apprenticeships, APM has a dedicated page on its website £[apm.org.uk/qualifications-and-training/apprenticeships/national-apprenticeship-week(http://apm.org.uk/qualifications-and-training/apprenticeships/national-apprenticeship-week)

APM also offers free Student membership to students and apprentices aged over 16. Student members can benefit from a range of online resources, networking opportunities and events. Visit apm.org.uk/membership for further details.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by APM .