Plymouth City Council

Improving Project Management

John CowlingSenior Learning & Development AdviserPlymouth City Council

Background

Plymouth City Council striving to be an excellent authority in 2012

Introduction of Corporate Improvement Priorities to help us achieve this aim.

14 Priorities spread over Improving our customers experience Improving our city Improving our Council

Asked sponsors and managers of the Improvement Priorities to identify any learning needs.

Need identified to improve Project Management skills in order to support Improvement Priorities

As priorities only had a 3 year life important to provide speedy support to managers

Had a meeting with Higher Level Skills team who researched possible solutions for us.

Chose this team because they go across the higher education spectrum

Discussed possible solutions with the team who then arranged for us to meet with possible providers

Team quickly arranged possible dates for courses.

Excellent courses provided by College and University

Good take up from managers because

They recognised need for the skills

Choice of level

Both provided accredited learning Courses have both been repeated and have just

agreed dates for courses in 2009. Am now talking to team about further

management skills and looking at possible solutions.

Would we use the team again Yes

Why?

Expertise of team

Speed at which they can get things done

They understand the needs of organisations

We are looking forward to our next collaboration and am sure it will be as useful to the Council