DanStrayer
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Arras People’s Michael Hides to Speak at BCS ASSIST Event
Sep 8th
Arras People senior project management consultant Michael Hides will speak to Association for Informatics Professionals in Health and Social Care (ASSIST) delegates from London and the South East at their event in London 22nd September.
Michael will be one of five different speakers at the one-day “Facing the dark clouds and winning” event for the specialist interest group chapter under the heading of the British Computer Society (BCS). His expertise in the job market for project management, particularly in healthcare and IT, will allow him to speak with authority on matters concerning market trends in Healthcare IT jobs. Michael intends to use his experience as a senior consultant at Arras People to show how prospective job candidates can exploit their experience and maximise opportunity in both their current and future roles.
Michael is currently scheduled on the itinerary (.PDF) to speak at 1.15pm. Those who wish to book a place at the event can do so whether they are an ASSIST member (free) or not online. Michael is also a chartered engineer that has worked on projects and in organisations both large and small. He joined Arras People in 2007, bringing with him relevant skills and experience from project management and in sectors including engineering and manufacturing.
Arras People’s bevy of project management consultants and directors are readily available to speak and present at events and conferences geared toward careers, recruitment, project & programme management, PMO and P3O (programme, project and portfolio office). We have previously spoken at events for:
- Association for Project Management (APM)
- Best Practice Showcase 2010
- APM Aberdeen
- Guardian Careers Live Forum
- Maven Training
- University of East London
- APM London
If you’d like book one of Arras People’s speakers for your upcoming conference or event, contact us today.
Arras People Sponsors the September PPSOSIG Event
Jul 15th
Arras People, the Project Management Recruitment People, are sponsoring the 10th anniversary bi-annual event for the Programme and Project Support Office Specialist Interest Group (PPSOSIG) this September in Coventry. Scott, one of the key principal organisers for all events and activities with the PPSOSIG, will oversee “Back 10 The Future: 10 Years of the PPSOSIG“, a two-day gathering of delegates 15th-16th September that aims to look back, monitor the here-and-now, and also maintain a solid vision of the future of Project and Programme Management Offices by helping the profession continue its development of a strong foundation.
PPSOSIG will have popular speakers and experts from previous annual events, including Sue Vowler (P3O author), Craig Kilford (Portfolio Management), Melanie Franklin (Maven Training), Donnie MacNichol (Team Animation). In keeping with the event’s vow to look to the future of PMO, new guests including Michael Finer (Project Office Simulation), Peter Taylor (Lazy PM) and Accenture consultants Adam Cowmeadow and Michael Cooch will also lend their expertise to the delegation.
“Delegates have opportunities throughout the two day event to network and take part in interactive sessions which has proved one of the most popular aspects of the PPSOSIG conferences over the last ten years,” Scott said.
You can register your spot at the September meeting under our early-bird discount offer of 335 immediately, but this rate changes to 385 after 15th July. Your registry for the two-day event at the Village Hotel, Coventry, covers two days of activites, all meals and overnight accomodation. Complete your booking today.
Arras Peoples Lindsay Scott Named Top Project Influencer
Apr 22nd
Manchester, UK, 21 April 2010 – Arras People co-Director Lindsay Scott has been named one of ten key influencers in the project management industry by the Association for Project Management (APM) in the April 2010 edition of Project magazine.
Scott, who has served with the the project management recruitment firm based in Heywood since its 2002 inception, was praised for her contributions to the project management market, lauding Scott for her work in social media, stating she has “blazed a trail in social media, working with project managers online to share knowledge and promote professionalism.”
“Outlets like LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging and online resources are very important for us as a business,” Scott says in the article, which has been re-printed in the PM Industry Notes section of the Arras People website. “We’re project managers first and it’s to our advantage to enhance the professionalism of the industry in any way we can. Social media is another great tool to push the message. We work with like-minded project managers to spread the message and share knowledge of how to go about it the right way.
“When we learn, hear or observe things through other project managers in our networks, and that includes social media, that we deem to have integrity, we want to share that with the wider project management community. We use our own social media platform to enable project professions to share their experiences through things like blogging and newsletters.”
Twitter has been a particular boon to career-minded personnel, and Scott maintains a strong network of project management compatriots on Twitter under the identity of @projectmgmt (http://twitter.com/projectmgmt). A former project management office (PMO) guru with Hewlett-Packard, Scott regularly tweets and re-tweets links to blog posts, slideshows, articles and more from some of the industrys leading figures, including those from Arras People and their variety of social media outlets.
Scott believes that despite the current economic struggles, continuing advances in social media gives candidates and clients alike the capacity for growth and success.
“I believe that social media is still in its infancy and will certainly increase its influence in the field of programmes and projects, not to mention recruitment over the coming years,” she says. “Communication and collaboration are the cornerstone of effective programme and project management, so how could it not?”
Arras People’s Lindsay Scott featured in Project Magazine
Apr 6th
Lindsay Scott of Arras People was featured in the April edition of Project magazine as one of the UK's most influential personalities in project management.
Lindsay Scott, co-Director of Arras People, the project management recruitment people, was honoured in the April 2010 issue of Project magazine as one of the 10 “most influential figures in project management” this week. In a profile article titled “Social Climbing”, Lindsay’s prowess in the social media marketing field was lauded by Project “for blazing a trail in social media, working with project managers online to share knowledge and promote professionalism.”
Lindsay, who has spent nearly the entirety of her professional career in and around projects since being hired by Hewlett-Packard 12 years ago out of university, has since gone on to build a unique social media profile using popular tools including Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs in such an effective manner as to inspire a re-think about how social media can influence PPM professionals in a positive manner.
“Outlets like LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging and online resources are very important for us as a business,” Lindsay told Project. “We’re project managers first and its to our advantage to enhance the professionalism of the industry in any way we can. Social media is another great tool to push the message. We work with like-minded project managers to spread the message and share knowledge of how to go about it the right way.”
“When we learn, hear or observe things through other project managers in our networks, and that includes social media, that we deem to have integrity, we want to share that with the wider project management community. We use our own social media platform to enable project professions to share their experiences through things like blogging and newsletters.”
In addition to the possibilities for marketing and knowledge sharing, Lindsay senses great opportunities for better collaboration in project teams through improvements in online and social media communication tools.
“Project managers and their project teams should really look closer at the tools and software which allow for better collaboration. There’s a bounty of tools (which just keep getting better and better) for project professionals to pick up and use to drive better communication in a project setting. It’s what many projects have been waiting for really, something that helps improve that key element of successful project delivery – communication.”
The Project article on Lindsay is available primarily to subscribers, but those wishing to read the original article in its entirety can do so through the Arras People PM Industry Notes webpage. Further details on Lindsay Scott are available on About Arras People’s Directors page. You can collaborate with Lindsay via social media portals including Twitter (twitter.com/projectmgmt), the How to Manage a Camel blog and LinkedIn.
Arras People, PM Network Want Job Related Questions
Mar 11th
Arras People, the project management recruitment people, congratulates co-director Lindsay Scott, who is writing a regular Career Q&A advice column for PM Network, the American-based magazine published by the Project Management Institute.
The latest edition was published in February, where Scott answered questions related to a variety of questions from job seekers about the market. Answers to specific questions from the article are available in the Arras People Industry Notes webpages.
Both PM Network and Lindsay would like to answer the questions job seekers have at the moment regarding recruitment issues, finding the next great job opportunity, or improving skills as a job seeker. If you have a question for a recruiter, send an email to pmnetwork@imaginepub.com or simply drop a line to Lindsay.
Arras People Plans to Help Aberdeen APM Members Improve CVs
Jan 29th
Arras People, the Project Management Recruitment specialists, will host a CV Workshop at the Association for Project Management (APMs) Aberdeen branch conference in February. Leading project management consultants Michael Hides and Gary Holmes from Arras People will conduct the session as part of the “Development Your Skills for Successful Projects” one day conference.
The conference will feature a series of forums and practical assistance sessions in addition to the CV workshop from Arras People. Sessions from the event intend to address:
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and preparing for Chartered Status
- Assessing competence in a project team
- APMs competency framework
- Assessment of the attendees CPD profile
- Planning your CPD
Arras People have offered free CV workshops & reviews previously at Project Challenge in Birmingham last March, and were overwhelmed by the immediate response. Similar to the Project Management Careers Clinics on offer from Arras People, next month’s CV Workshop opportunity aims to help project professionals improve their attractiveness of their CVs in an increasingly cutthroat job market.
Hides, a chartered engineer that has worked on projects and in organisations large and small, joined Arras People in 2007, bringing with him relevant skills and experience from project management and in sectors including engineering and manufacturing.
“The CV Workshops for the APM are based on our popular project management careers clinics,” Hides said. “The session will be targeted directly at project management professionals which makes the opportunity pretty unique for conference attendees, there is no other careers advice and CV workshops specifically for project management professionals available in the marketplace.”
Holmes brings a solid background in Project Coordination and PMO Support to his work in helping candidates build and develop their CVs for better client attraction. Having worked primarily in the Financial Services sector, Holmes has experience using best practice processes and procedures whilst serving as the lone coordinator of the entirety of projects within a single programme.
“The advice we give to project management professionals is based on eight years experience of working within the project management recruitment field,” Holmes said. We know what organisations and employers want to see in professional CVs so the session is all about passing on advice, hints and tips that help job seekers make the most of their CV.”
The event is scheduled to be held from 9am-5.30pm 16th February at the Hilton Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen.
NOTES ABOUT THE ABERDEEN APM MEETING
“Developing Your Skills for Successful Projects” is not open only to members of the APM or even Aberdeen APM branch members. To learn more about booking your place at the event, go to www.apm.org.uk/scotland/eventDevelopi2.asp?pdate=0-0&branch=9.
For more information on the project management careers clinics at Arras People
www.arraspeople.co.uk/cand/careers_clinics.html.
Arras People Attains National Acclaim with JobCentre Plus
Jan 19th
Arras People, the Project Management Recruitment people, attained an unexpected high mark last week when they crossed a threshhold set by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) of 300 referred candidates to their JobSearch Support Services for Newly Unemployed Executives, Professionals and Graduates.
The revelation came to be shortly after advisers from JobCentre Plus branches across the UK brought to our attention that our accounts had been “suspended” last week. Puzzled, we got in touch with our contact at the DWP, who laid out what was happening. When a Third Party Provisions Provider like Arras People has received exactly 299 referrals for the Services, the reference code attached to that provider is immediately suspended from use, as computers have deemed it obsolete. Once the new reference code has been established in the database, JobCentre Plus advisers can go back to referring to the Third Party Provider as they did before.
Subsequently, the reference code has now been changed to BOY / 29867, and all referrals should run smoothly until the next 299 candidates are put through.
The need for the change illustrates that Arras People’s popularity as a provider had swelled to the point that accommodations had to be made. Statistics have illustrated this, primarily through the figures surrounding repeat referrals from both specific advisers and branches, which have been a constant since Arras People began providing the Services last April. The examples pop up each month, including an intriguing scenario early in January when an adviser made his first ever referral to Arras People, then quickly followed with three more that same day. It remains the highest referral day to Arras People since we’ve commenced offering the Services.
Other examples include the current list we have of referring branches, which list data as of Monday 18th January 2010. The findings denote that:
- Arras People have received referrals from 142 branches across the UK.
- 50 branches have referred to Arras People more than one time (35%).
- 25 of the branches have called in referrals at least three times (17.5%)
- 13 (9.1%) have at sent at least five candidates our way.
- Those 13 branches alone make up 38.4% of all referrals to Arras People.
- Three branches have referrend 10 or more candidates.
Other factors that drive the popularity include feedback from referred clients:
“Nicola’s forthrightness, attitude and demeanor are a breath of fresh air in the industry, and it does nothing less than give Arras a reputation for hiring quality people, in my humble opinion. Please feel free to ask me anything else about my experience with your company, or otherwise. I made sure I notified the JSA of the job you did, and recommended you for continuing services through them.” - LS*
“The CV feedback combined with other things I was doing enabled reformating the information, so people are now calling me about jobs. I think the service is efficient in terms of giving specific industry advice.” – FP
“I like the idea of the consultancy being quite flexible – it was advertised as improving your CV, but because I had already done that through Arras, I asked if I could use the consultancy for interviewing skills and Mick Hides agreed. I have told the JobCentre that I would recommend it to anyone and have asked them to flag it. I thought it was a great service.” - BM
“A highly professional service offered by experts in their specialist sector. With the job market providing so little feedback to enable candidates to revise their approach to be successful, the Arras service is invaluable!!” - MS
*Initials of commenters are used to protect their anonymity
For more information about the JobSearch Support Services from Arras People, go to our DWP web page.
Arras People’s Director Named Expert For Guardian Careers Live Forum
Jan 7th
Lindsay Scott, Director of Recruitment at Arras People, will answer your questions about project management live online Tuesday from 1-4pm GMT.
Arras People, the Project Management Recruitment specialists, can reveal that one of their leading PM experts has been formally invited by Guardian Careers to participate as an expert panellist in an online Live Q&A about project management next week.
Lindsay Scott, Director of Recruitment at Arras People since the companys 2002 inception, will serve as one of four renowned experts during the live online question and answer session on Tuesday, 12th January between 1pm 4pm. Details of how to join in the live forum are listed below.
Noted for her expertise in project offices and project co-ordination recruitment and skills, Ms Scott previously worked for Hewlett-Packard as a Project Co-ordinator and later as a Project Office Manager. Her service with HP led to the development of skills working with a variety of markets, including e-commerce, retail, telecoms, public sector and defence. As Project Office Manager, Ms Scott established and fine-tuned the UK project office for HP while also guiding and supporting the companys European project office functions.
A tireless student & expert on project office support issues, Ms Scott is also an active member of the Programme and Project Support Office Specialist Interest Group (PPSO SIG). This endeavour has allowed her to provide voluntary assistance in areas such as web development, media and conference arrangement.
As a project management recruitment specialist we provide advice to job seekers everyday so taking part in the Guardian Careers Forum will be an extension of that, Scott said. Im looking forward to providing advice to a cross section of people and hopefully Ill be able to provide some real practical hints and tips for people looking for a career in project management.
Ms Scotts expertise has been in demand in recent years. She has contributed worldwide to periodicals including Project Manager Today, Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Magazine and PM Network, as well as blogging regularly at Arras Peoples project management weblog, How to Manage a Camel. That demand results in large part due to the success of Arras Peoples annual Project Management Benchmark Report, a survey of UK project management professionals on the trends and issues currently affecting the profession. The 2009 report covered matters including salary, rates, experience and working climate in the recession. Data from that survey revealed that 84 per cent of PMs feel that they have a significant role to play in helping the UK economy out of its current economic difficulties.
The 2010 report, the fifth annual edition of the survey findings offered by Arras People, is due out on February 1.
The report has been a really useful guide to project management professionals in the UK over the last four years, Scott said. Its particularly useful for people wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the current project management marketplace and the salary or contractor rate levels for the sectors.
Other panellists include Tarquin Bennett-Coles, director of RSA Interims; Fergus OConnell, founder of ETP; and Steve Armstrong, lecturer and chair of the project management course at the Open University.
NOTES ABOUT THE LIVE Q&A
The session can be found by clicking the Project Management link under the Live Q&A page inside the Forum tab on the Guardian Careers website. The full URL is available here: http://careers.guardian.co.uk/forums?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3afbe1954f-19a7-4006-82a3-08b5319f4c1dForum%3a7296f258-6ce7-4743-b359-795e7661e245Discussion%3ace5d8eb3-4138-497c-9756-8b007c6a68e1
