APM Project Management Training – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Parallel Project Training Podcast, host Ruth Phillips is joined by Becky Willmott, Senior Training Consultant, to discuss their career journeys in project management in recognition of International Women's Day and its theme, "Give to Gain."

Becky shares how she entered project management through public procurement in the NHS, later moving into logistics and eventually becoming Head of a Project Management Office (PMO). The conversation highlights the wide variety of roles within project management, particularly the often-misunderstood role of the PMO. Rather than being purely administrative, PMOs provide vital support through governance, reporting, data analysis, and specialist expertise that enable project managers to deliver successful outcomes.

Ruth and Becky also explore the different career paths within the profession, from project coordination through to programme and portfolio management. They emphasise that project management offers a dynamic, flexible and highly transferable career, with opportunities across many industries.

The episode concludes with practical advice for anyone interested in starting or developing a career in project management, including gaining experience through workplace projects, exploring training and professional qualifications such as the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification, and taking advantage of networking opportunities within the profession.

Finally, the discussion looks ahead to the future of project management, considering how AI may reduce administrative workload and allow project professionals to focus more on leadership, stakeholder engagement, and organisational change—while also creating opportunities for greater diversity in the profession.

22. Budgeting and Cost Control - This budget discusses the ability to estimate costs, develop and agree budgets and monitor actual costs against forecast costs, and covers:

a) How to create a budget (including the use of a cost breakdown structure) and the different costs included in a budget (fixed, variable, direct, indirect etc.)

b) How to forecast and refine budgets using cost control techniques e.g. earned value.

c) How to monitor and report financial performance (including different types of financial reports).

d) How to close down finances at the end of a project. 

21. Resource Management - This podcast discusses the ability to identify and schedule the required internal and external resources, and covers:

a) How to determine the resources required and their availability to deliver activities within a project.

b) How an organisational breakdown structure is used to create a responsibility assignment matrix (RACI).

c) How resources are categorised and allocated to both linear and iterative life cycle schedules.

d) The differences between resource smoothing and resource levelling.

20. Schedule Management - This podcast discusses the ability to undertake time-based planning with an emphasis on activities and resource, and covers:

a) How to define scope in terms of outputs, outcomes and benefits (including the use of product, work and cost breakdown structures).

b) The links and dependencies between activities within a project and business-as-usual activities, for example how business-as-usual activities, costs, quality, risks and scope can all impact the schedule for the project. 

19. Integrated Planning - This podcast discusses the ability to incorporate multiple plans and processes into an integrated project management plan, and covers:

a) The format for an effective integrated project management plan and its typical contents.

b) The importance of producing an integrated project management plan.

5. Procurement - This podcast discusses securing the provision of resources, choosing strategies for obtaining best value from supply chains, and covers:

a) The purpose and importance of a procurement strategy and the typical contents of a procurement strategy.
b) The stages of a supplier selection process, including how to plan the procurement process and conduct negotiations (for example ZOPA, BATNA and 'Win Win'). 
c) The features of different contractual relationships and why different methods of supplier reimbursement are used and when it is appropriate to use them (including fixed price, cost plus fee, per unit quantity and target cost). 

17. Solutions Development - This podcast discusses the ability to determine the optimal solution to satisfy agreed requirements, and covers:

a) How to evaluate and prioritise requirements in order to deliver the optimal solution, and the different approaches for different life cycle models, e.g. the use of MVP and MMP in iterative life cycles.

16. Requirements Management - This podcast discusses the ability to capture and monitor the requirements of a project, and covers:

a) How to establish scope through requirements management processes (such as gather, analysis, justifying requirements and baseline needs).

b) How to manage scope through configuration management processes (such as planning, identification, control, status accounting and verification audit).

10. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management - This podcast discusses the ability to work with people internally and externally to achieve intended outcomes, and covers:

a) The relationship between stakeholder analysis, influence and engagement.

b) The relationship between stakeholder analysis and an effective communication management plan.

c) The benefits to a project of a communication plan.

d) The importance of managing stakeholder expectations to the success of the project.

e) The range of communication methods available and the importance of tailoring messaging to meet stakeholder requirements.

f) The factors which can positively or negatively affect communication.