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PPM-Insider-Newsroom

Arras People Presents PPM Insider White Paper on Quarter 2 Market Conditions

Arras People released their fourth PPM Insider white paper today regarding the current state of the project & programme management recruitment market in the UK.

The latest edition of PPM Insider points to a variety of discoveries about the market at large during Quarter 2 (Apr-June 2011). For one, project management personnel remain apprehensive about changing jobs despite the anticipated impacts of inflation, low pay rises, negative media and even fears about the true status of the economic recovery.

We once again pitted public versus private sector remuneration, learning that the long-held view that within the private sector sat greater worker pay and benefits might no longer be the reality. Using data from both the ONS and Policy Exchange, Arras People surmised that private sector pay needs a jolt in order to begin keeping pace with a recovering economy after cutbacks and sacrifices became a temporary norm only a few years ago.

Issue 4 also reveals that more candidates are refusing job offers in recent months than in previous quarters. The driving force seems to be candidates’ need to settle down into the “right role”, another perspective alteration that parallels recovery-based thinking. Employers’ ability to meet their recruitment requirements may suffer for increased job seeker self-confidence.

“This, linked with the lack of candidate churn, may well lead to increased recruitment costs and extended recruitment cycles for many potential employers,” PPM Insider reveals.

Managing Director John Thorpe traditionally collates the report for Arras People. He said recently, “The lack of churn in the market caused by ongoing fears and insecurity amongst candidates will have a significant impact on companies ability to fill open vacancies with appropriate talent over the coming months. Whilst there may be job seekers, this does not always equate to suitable talent. As such companies will have to review again how they can tempt people to change organisation and which channels will help them identify suitable talent in the programme and project management domain”.

The PPM Insider is a quarterly publication launched in November 2010 and produced by Arras People, the UK Specialists in Project & Programme Management Recruitment Services. The report features original data which has been collected and compiled by Arras People in order to produce the most up-to date picture of the UK’s PPM sector including salary and day rate data.

Copies of the report are available on subscription from Arras People. Those interested in receiving the quarterly paper should get in touch with Arras People via email at PPMI@arraspeople.co.uk. Alternatively, those interested in receiving a copy should go to http://www.arraspeople.co.uk/project-management-recruitment-agencies/project-management-salary-rates-salaries-ppminsider/ to learn more about this quarterly compendium of analysis of UK free market and PPM personnel.

Arras People

Best Practice Showcase Roundup

The Best Practice Showcase, organized by APMG-International, took place this month at the Grange Hotel near St Paul’s Cathedral, London. The venue – an architecturally striking new hotel, provided the perfect backdrop for a day of genuine discussion, debate and learning focused on getting the most out of programmes and projects.  Arras People ran 5 sessions throughout the day, meeting over 50 delegates to discuss “How to Differentiate Yourself in the Project Management Marketplace”

The format of this year’s event – which was launched in 2002 – featured only round table sessions so delegates could focus on the subjects of interest to them. There was a host of interesting sessions, from why communication is so important in projects, how earned value keeps projects on track, to how much programme and project managers can earn in the current economic climate.

During the event, some of the candidates who passed new APMG examinations in Agile Project Management and Management of Value, were given their certificates. There was also time to celebrate the achievement of London Underground for its recent Level 3 Maturity Award. Mike Strzelecki, Director of Safety and Doug Norman, Head of the Centre of Excellence, were presented their certificate by Mike Ward, the Accredited Consultant who assessed London Underground. The Maturity of the organization has meant they have been able to save hundreds of millions of pounds while upgrading the tube, and keeping it running.

Richard Pharro, CEO, APMG said, “It’s good to take time to acknowledge the achievement of both candidates and organizations who strive to improve, so I was delighted to be here today. The format of Showcase has evolved over the 9 years we have been running it – it used to be the traditional exhibition and seminars. But we listened to what delegates said they wanted – being able to discuss issues, talk to each other, ask questions and be part of small groups. We have been delighted with the feedback we’ve got and of course from the support of our sponsors.”

If you are interested in the session Arras People ran; take a look at the new page “Differentiate Yourself in the Marketplace” which includes a new podcast to compliment the session