Arras People’s Gary Holmes Decorated by Association for Project Management
Dec 21st
Gary Holmes was recognised by the APM today for attaining the APMP certification.
HEYWOOD, LANCASHIRE, 21 Dec 2011 – Arras People Project Management Consultant Gary Holmes was recognised today by the Association for Project Management (APM) by attaining the APMP qualification.
Following a long process of study and an October examination certified by the APM, Gary was alerted by the leading professional body for project management that he had indeed successfully completed this monumental step in his continued commitment to professionalism in project management.
Throughout the studying process, Gary provided Arras People’s general blog, How to Manage a Camel, with a running series of posts about his approach to passing the APMP examination. Attainment of the certification, according an APMP Guidance Notes document from APM, required “a three hour paper where candidates must answer ten from sixteen questions covering 37 syllabus topics”. The syllabus of reference for those 37 topics was the APM Body of Knowledge 5th Edition.
Now having been notified of passing the exam and receiving the APMP certification, Gary can point to the news as a great professional Christmas gift.
“I’m really delighted to have passed the exam and its great receiving my results just before the Christmas break. Getting the right result is obviously fantastic, but even without it I feel the work leading up to the exam has been tremendously worthwhile in terms of cementing my project management experience and knowledge,” Holmes said.
By attaining APMP certification, Holmes’ status within project management is now aligned worldwide with the International Project Management Association (IPMA) Level D classification.
Gary’s achievement serves as another indication of how project management consultants at Arras People find it essential that they remain committed to the ideals, standards and trends within the practise of project & programme management. As a former practitioner within project management, Gary’s history within projects lends himself well to speak to the current events and practise to begin with.
Prior to becoming a project management consultant, Gary worked in financial services in PMO, programme coordinator and project coordinator roles. Since his arrival at Arras People in 2008, Gary has consulted with thousands of fellow project managers and liaised with firms looking to improve their project management capabilities, all whilst offering personalised careers advice to struggling candidates through the Arras People Project Management Careers Clinics.
“The knowledge I have acquired in this process will undoubtedly aid me moving forward, not only in terms of how I interact with clients and customers but also with candidates and the wider PM community. As a Project Management qualification I would certainly recommend APMP to those who are looking to attain formal accreditation,” Holmes said.
John Thorpe, managing director of Arras People, praised Gary’s achievement today.
“We are really happy that Gary has been able to convert his experience and hard work studying into this accreditation. This is good news not only for Gary and Arras People but also sets the standard that all clients should demand of project management recruiters.” Thorpe said.
ABOUT ARRAS PEOPLE
Arras People is a Project Management company that is predominantly working in the Recruitment and Resourcing areas of Programme and Project Management where they bring Programme and Project knowledge and experience to the marketplace. Arras People works with some of the Top 20 project management consultancies in the UK, public sector (central and local government), IT, engineering, marketing/media organizations, not for profit and charities placing Permanent, Interim and Temporary Project Professionals.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
John Thorpe, Managing Director
Arras People
Arras House, 47 York Street, Heywood, Lancashire OL10 4NN
Tel: 0845 680 6444 Fax: 0845 680 8047
enquire@arraspeople.co.uk
http://www.arraspeople.co.uk
FOR MORE ON THIS PRESS RELEASE:
Dan Strayer, PR/Marketing Coordinator
Arras People
Arras House, 47 York Street, Heywood, Lancashire OL10 4NN
Tel: 0845 680 6444
dan.strayer@arraspeople.co.uk
http://www.arraspeople.co.uk
Project Management Census Aims to Shed Light on Project Management Practices in 2012
Dec 14th
The 2012 Arras People Project Management Census was opened to project management professionals across the globe this week.
Now in its seventh year, the Project Management Census – once collated – will provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of what is happening in the project & programme management fields both in the UK and worldwide. The subsequent Project Management Benchmark Report (PMBR) is regarded by fellow professionals and students of the industry as the most comprehensive report available for the project management marketplace.
New for 2012 is the reach of the Census, looking at the project management marketplace and outlook for 2012 across the globe. Alongside practitioners of project management, the Census also solicits the views of those hiring project management staff.
The Census will give us a clearer view of what is happening in the project management marketplace and focuses on issues such as;
- Project & programme-related training and accreditation
- Remuneration & bonus details
- Job sectors
- Contracting-specific traits
- Permanent employment-specific traits
- Job searches & sector relocation
“This year we decided that the project management population is ready for its own Census. We have increased the focus beyond the UK to help give a truly global view on where project management is at now and what is in store for us in 2012” said John Thorpe, Managing Director/Founder of Arras People. “The Census includes demographics from current practicing project professionals as well as those responsible for hiring. This will help us to understand if the current project management profession is meeting the demands of those who require their services”
The PMBR has been cited often in many different presentations worldwide since its inception in 2005; additionally, project management professionals have repeatedly cited the Report when looking to present current data and trends in the profession. The Arras People study remains the only report targeting the climate of project & programme management through the direct polling of practitioners and professionals within PPM.
Participants in the Census will have the opportunity to receive a free copy of the final PMBR upon its release, which is tentatively scheduled for early February 2012. Non-participants in the Census will not have access to the report until mid-2012.
Individuals can take the Census online > Project Managment Census (all responses are confidential)
More details on the Census and access to last year’s report are available at: Project Management Benchmark Reports
APM pick up the Arras People Report
Dec 12th
The Association for Project Management (APM) released this news last week based on Arras People’s information on the project management marketplace. The new project management census for 2012 is now open for anyone to take part with an interest in project management, it takes up to 10 minutes to complete and you will receive the new report early February 2012. >> Take part now
APMP qualification can earn PPM practitioners an extra £10k
The recent Salaries and Day Rates Review for Project Management Personnel, based on the 2011 Project Management Benchmark Report from recruitment specialists Arras People, shows that project and programme managers could earn up to £10,000 more per year if they hold the Association for Project Management’s APMP qualification.
“It would appear that for most programme and project management practitioners the reality is that accreditations are not only becoming increasingly mandated when looking for a new role, but more importantly they are also rewarded with higher salaries and day rates.” said the report’s author and Arras People managing director John Thorpe.
The survey of programme and project management practitioners suggests that APMP can have a positive impact on both remuneration and contractor day rates with 52% of those with the qualification commanding fees of £400 to £600 per day.
The popularity of the ubiquitous PRINCE2® accreditations, long seen as an industry standard methodology, is also reflected in the survey, although the overall impact on salary is “not significant” due to the fact so many practitioners hold the accreditation.
“Many project managers have hit mandatory requirement that they have PRINCE2® which rightly or wrongly has achieved the de facto standard” said John Thorpe “The PRINCE2® accreditation does have a positive impact on the PPM practitioner distribution by salary across the whole and also when reviewed for just project managers. As expected, because it is now a baseline accreditation the actual difference is not significant reflecting its ‘me too’ position.”
With the profession facing tough economic times and jobs and contracts at a premium, increasing numbers of professionals are turning to the APMP qualification to provide an edge in the employment market. A shortened route to APMP, launched in 2010, specifically for those holding the PRINCE2® Practitioner qualification is especially attractive to those wishing to stand out from the rest.
Liz Wilson, head of Professional Standards and Knowledge at APM said: “Those who have achieved the APMP have had their project management knowledge professionally recognised by APM. These research findings from Arras emphasise that employers place a high commercial value on this achievement, too.”
APMP is part of the association’s suite of qualifications providing support for professionals throughout their career. Accredited at IPMA Level D and SCQF Level 7, APMP is a knowledge based qualification for those wishing to achieve a broad level of project management knowledge sufficient to participate in projects from individual assignments through to large capital projects. Candidates can study for APMP on a variety of different courses run by accredited providers or should there be a desire to undertake self study, candidates can enter one of four open examinations run by the APM.
For more information visit the APMP webpage.
PRINCE2® is the Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries.
Arras People Kicks Off the APM Roadshow Season
Sep 1st
The latest dates for the APM Roadshow talks are – Derby 13th October, Leeds 25th October, Milton Keynes 24th November. Just click through to book your place.
Over the last three years, the project management marketplace has seen winners and losers. Demand for project managers has increased significantly in some sectors whilst others have suffered through cutbacks and redundancies. John Thorpe kicks off the presentation with an overview of the current conditions in the project management marketplace.
John will be presenting answers to these crucial questions;
- How are the salary and rates currently holding up?
- Which sectors are experiencing a demand for project management talent?
- What are organisations looking for in their project professionals?
The project management recruitment market has seen changes over the last three years. It has become increasingly competitive, with many project professionals experiencing frustration in finding the right opportunity and successfully interviewing for roles.
Lindsay Scott shares her experiences and insights into how project managers can differentiate themselves and standout in a crowded marketplace. Lindsay will provide practical guidance on how to find the right career opportunity; how to present yourself (against what organisations are looking for); and the project management CV.
John Thorpe and Lindsay Scott are Directors of Arras People, a project management recruitment specialist. From 2002, Arras People have worked with organisations across all industry sectors and business functions placing project professionals in contract and permanent roles. Arras People are also known for their annual project management benchmark report and quarterly project management salary guides.
>> Visit the APM events page for more details and bookings
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The team at Arras People are kicking off a series of Project Management Careers and Marketplace talks at the Association for Project Management (APM) Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire 
branch meetings. Meetings held in the region will feature a main topic presenter followed by a short, punchy 30 minute project management careers based talk by Arras People.
The series starts on the 12th July 2011 with John Thorpe, Managing Director at Arras People who will be looking at the Current Project Management Marketplace. The talk will cover current salary and rate levels; current demands in training and qualifications from organisations looking for project management talent; and key information from the Project Management Benchmark Report which covers the market in 2011.
Dates are also scheduled for 21st September and 5th October where Dr Michael Hides and Lindsay Scott, respectively, will be talking about current topical areas in project management careers development and the marketplace.
Each session promises to be a practical thought provoking look at how the project management marketplace is operating at key points of the year; investigate key themes that impact a project professional’s career and provide insider tips on the recruitment market.
“We’ve been corporate members of the APM for a number of years and the branch meetings are well attended by everyone at Arras,” said Lindsay Scott, Client Services Director of Arras People. “This short and sweet style of talks gives us an opportunity to take some of our project management careers advice to a wider audience and it doesn’t matter how experienced the audience is in project management there is always something new to learn about the marketplace.”
Philip Smelt, Chairman of the Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Branch of the APM said “we seized upon this opportunity offered by Arras People to keep our members informed of the project management job market, particularly in these difficult times.”
Attendance at APM Branch meetings is free for APM members and £10 for non-members.
Events can be booked through the APM website at: http://www.apm.org.uk/events
The first event on the 12th July can be booked directly at: http://www.apm.org.uk/event/influencer-power-change-anything-0
Arras People Seeking Views on Higher Education and PPM
Aug 4th
Arras People, the project management recruitment specialists, are currently soliciting the views of a variety of personnel affiliated with both higher education and project management ties to better understand where the development of tomorrow’s project managers is heading in the near future.
Take the Higher Education & PPM Survey from Arras People today!
Here are some of the areas available to those who wish to make their voice heard on these matters:
- Take part in the short survey (takes just 3 minutes!) about the training & development preferences on PPM personnel, including those who use training companies, higher education, CPD, on-the-job experiences and many other tools in their development (the survey can only be taken once).
- On LinkedIn, we’ve started a discussion on degrees & PPM that has grown considerably in popularity. The discussion leads the action on the Arras People Group page, but we’ve also received some early feedback from other groups as well, including The Association for Project Management, Project Managers on Twitter and the PMOSIG. Members of LinkedIn are encouraged to join any or all of these groups to add your two cents.
- At the APM website, we’ve opened up a dialogue within the Association for Project Management’s forum community on this topic, hoping to better understand the organisational view.
“Social media outlets have shown themselves to be a great way to gather the pulse of what is going on in the PPM world, particularly as the industry moves toward professionalised accreditation status,” says Dan Strayer, editor of Project Management Tipoffs, and coordinator of media projects for Arras People. “We’ve long believed that a universities directory is overdue for public consumption, and it’s our feeling that the information from our social media undertakings in the weeks ahead will provide the directory with a great lead into the collective PPM students’ conscience.”
The September Tipoffs issue, which is available free to subscribers, is due to be released 15th September, with the directory for Higher Education’s release date still to be announced. Previews of the Higher Education issue and other upcoming editions are available on the Tipoffs Production Schedule page, and you can also have a look at past issues in our Archives section.
Arras People Presents PPM Insider White Paper on Quarter 2 Market Conditions
Jul 21st
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.
Best Practice Showcase Roundup
Jun 29th
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
Meet Arras People at the Best Practice Showcase
May 25th
Come along to the popular Best Practice Showcase in London on the 17th June 2011 and meet Arras People throughout the day. Arras will be hosting five sessions throughout the day on “How to Differentiate Yourself in the Marketplace”
With the UK private sector slowly showing signs of economic recovery and the continued uncertainty in the public sector, the UK job marketplace has seen a number of changes which have impacted the job seeker. In these sessions we explore the changes, such as;
- What are employers looking for now in their project management hires?
- How can you improve the way you represent yourself – tried and tested methods Vs doing things differently
- Hints, tips and advice on how to differentiate yourself from the competition in the recruitment process – focused on CVs, interviews, where to look for opportunities.
Delegates will leave the session having gained an insight into how the recruitment market has changed over the last three years and the steps they need to take to ensure success when looking to secure their next project management opportunity. These sessions are an excellent opportunity to gain an insight into the kind of advice we offer through our Careers Clinics as well as receiving real and practical advice on the day which you can start to implement straightaway
The Best Practice Showcase is free to attend and is being held at the Grange St Paul Hotel near St Paul’s Cathedral. If you are interested in coming along you need to register for your place. You can then register for the sessions you would like to attend. If you’ve never been to a Showcase event it is well worth attending for a number of reasons. It’s free, it’s CPD, great networking, great food and that’s even before you consider the sessions on offer. The “birds of a feather” format is basically 12 of your peers around one table learning, discussing and debating the topic you’ve chosen from the programme. The format is much more interactive than a presentation or seminar plus it aids networking.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Arras People to Exhibit at PMI Global Congress Event
Apr 11th
HEYWOOD, LANCASHIRE, 11th April 2011 – Arras People, the project management recruitment specialists, will be in attendance at the three-day PMI® Global Congress EMEA this May in Dublin.
The worldwide decorated event, to be held at Convention Centre Dublin 9-11th May, is a grand networking opportunity for those within the project management profession to network and sample the expertise of over 800 practitioners in the field of project management. Run by the Project Management Institute (PMI®), the three-day professional extravaganza will give PPM peers sufficient opportunities to discuss common issues within the trade, as well discover innovative solutions and best practices while discovering more about the latest trends, tools and techniques from project management experts worldwide.
Arras People will send John Thorpe (Managing Director) and Lindsay Scott (Client Services Director) to the conference to display as part of the Careers Central recruitment booths in the exhibit hall of the Congress, which offers a highly targeted platform for companies to target & recruit top project management talent.
Scott currently maintains a quarterly magazine column for PMI’s American trade magazine PM Network that targets careers-related issues for the professional project management audience. Both Scott and Thorpe have served as directors of Arras People since its 2002 inception. Since those beginnings, both continue to look forward to any opportunities that allow them to interact directly with project management professionals and provide project management careers expertise.
“Being at the EMEA Global Congress is a great opportunity to provide the same kind of practical advice I cover in the PM Network magazine,” Scott says. “Each day Arras People provides 1-2-1 careers advice and consultations to project professionals so I know how popular and welcomed the opportunity is to talk to a third party about careers and opportunities. It will certainly be a busy three days for us.”
Opportunities to attend this event are still available, and it’s unclear to date if this internationally-renowned PMI event may not come as close to UK shores again in the near future. Check out the PMI Global Congress 2011 website (http://congresses.pmi.org/EMEA2011/) to learn more about this event.
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About Arras People
Arras People is a Project Management company that is predominantly working in the Recruitment and Resourcing areas of Programme and Project Management where they bring Programme and Project knowledge and experience to the marketplace. Arras People works with some of the Top 20 project management consultancies in the UK, including public sector (central and local government), IT, engineering, and marketing/media organizations, as well as several not-for-profit and charities placing Permanent, Interim and Temporary Project Professionals.
Arras People’s Job Search Support Service draws to a close
Mar 30th
Since April 2009, Arras People have been working in conjunction with the DWP and Job Centre Plus in offering unemployed professionals our Jobsearch Support Service. The scheme was designed to help unemployed professionals back into work and over the past two years we as an organisation have worked with over 600 professionals, providing an individually tailored service to help them approach the job market with vigor.
Unfortunately due to recent changes in government policy it is now time for us to draw the service to a close following a successful two years. During this time we have seen huge numbers of candidates flourish in the job market, using the advice we have provided around CV Development, Job Applications and Interview Technique to successfully find themselves new opportunities.
So what now for candidates who are still looking for careers advice? Well, the most obvious answer to that would be our Project Management Careers Clinics. Again, this is an individually tailored service focused around helping candidates get the most out of their CV whilst providing guidance on anything from next career steps to choosing potential qualifications. The service is conducted via telephone so you don’t need to leave the comfort of your own home, and the 30 minute private consultation has proven to be an invaluable investment for a whole host of project professionals since its inception.
The service is incredibly straight forward to sign up for and we have slots to suit most people’s availability, so book today if you are looking to take your project career to the next level!
