PRINCE2 – not a new minor royal, but a project management system

The drive to increase professionalism in the voluntary sector presents a number of challenges. One of the issues facing small voluntary and community groups is access to quality, affordable training. Without such training, the sector cannot gain the skills necessary to improve its project management.

Earlier this year, Birmingham CAN! offered the voluntary sector in Birmingham the opportunity to undertake training in Project Management. After researching the training available, the Programme decided to offer a 5-day course, leading to a recognised qualification – PRINCE2.

Prince (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a structured method for effective project management. It is a de facto standard used extensively by the UK Government and is widely recognised and used in the private sector, both in the UK and internationally.

As a public domain method, Prince offers best-practice guidance on project management. It embodies established and proven best practice in project management. It provides a common language for all participants in a project and encourages formal recognition of responsibilities within a project. It focuses on what a project is to deliver, why, when and for whom.

The delegates have all found the course challenging and interesting, and have exhibited a high level of commitment to the training. PRINCE2 training is designed to be intensive and the exam standard is tough. The 11 delegates, from a wide variety of voluntary organisations in Birmingham, have now completed the Foundation exam; they are due to take the Practitioner’s exam in September, which will enable them to disseminate the skills and techniques they have learned throughout the voluntary sector.

This course was a pilot for Birmingham CAN!, and feedback from those undertaking the course will help to shape any future project management training the Programme might fund.