APM Wessex branch PM Challenge November 2017

2 November was International Project Management Day and Wessex branch embraced this with their PM Challenge Knockout event featuring nine teams made up of apprentices and students, for many of whom English is not their first language. This year’s Challenge welcomed newcomers Solent University as well as returning Bournemouth & Southampton Universities along with BAE Systems. Each team presented their proposed project to the Project Board for 5 minutes before being questioned for any missing aspects.

 Competition was tough, especially when we broke halfway through the presentations, to get to the front of the food queue to ensure they were well fed and watered, but also to allow the Project Board to take stock of what they had heard so far.

Presentations on the night included board games, card games, various publications on PM related topics and secondary school activities to promote PM.

When all the presentations had been made and with the Project Board away making their decisions on who to put through as finalists we were treated to a summary of his PhD on Developing Reflective Practitioners by Paul Summers. Paul is a good supporter of the branch and has over 40 years’ experience in the workplace with the majority involved managing P3M activities at Portsmouth City Council. For the last five years he has been teaching PM at each of the Universities within the Wessex catchment.

The Project Board eventually returned and announced that six of the nine teams had been selected to proceed. The majority of the sixty-nine people present on the night were therefore happy. Congratulations to:

• Team Phoenix – BAE Systems
• Team Coath – Bournemouth University
• Team Synergy – Bournemouth University
• My Mix – Solent University
• JJPink - Southampton University
• Seekers – Southampton University

Each of these teams now receive budget and a mentor to assist them deliver their projects.

It was unfortunate that the following teams were not declared a finalist but every best wishes for a successful project delivery nonetheless to:

• Team Prime – Bournemouth University
• Les Quizerables – BAE Systems
• SOTONique – Southampton University

 Follow Wessex on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/APMWessexBranch/  or Twitter @APMWessexBranch

Russel Jamieson Events Lead