APM Members' Review: 2024-2025

| "Our business year has been one of significant milestones and one that has built on the foundations we have previously worked so hard to establish."

Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive, APM

| "I really enjoyed reading the list of 50 inspiring projects which we highlighted as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations."

Milla Mazilu, Board Chair, APM

Average salary for project professionals has increased

The average salary for a project professional increased by just over 10% since the 2023 financial year, from £47,500 to £52,500. This is the first time the average salary has risen since pre-COVID-19 times. This increase is the first in four years and compares favourably with the average gross annual earnings for full-time employees in the UK, which stands at £37,430, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

📖 APM Salary and Market Trends Survey 2025 

Confidence in projects

Despite a turbulent financial year, the overall confidence business leaders had in their organisation’s ability to deliver projects was high. It was encouraging to see this confidence steadily increase throughout the financial year, beginning on 59% and ending at 74% - an overall net increase of 15%. Similarly, the number of respondents who said they were unconfident throughout the year, starting at 21% and ending on 9% - an overall net decrease of 12%.

📖 APM Business Leader Survey Index 2024/25 

Diversity and Inclusion 

The gender pay gap has widened. Compared to 2023, the gender pay gap has increased from 24% to 35%. There has also been a decrease of women in senior roles. For example, the proportion of female Project Directors is down from 28% in 2023 to 18% in 2025. However, there has been an increase of women in junior roles, up from 53 to 58%.

Ethnic minorities have reported a more positive experience in the profession. In 2025, 37% said that their ethnicity has had a positive impact on their professional development (of whom 20% said the impact was very positive). This is up from 30% in 2023.

📖 APM Salary and Market Trends Survey 2025 

Mental health and wellbeing in the profession

Over 60% of full-time project professionals say that their mental wellbeing has been negatively impacted by working on their main project. However, this was actually an 11% drop when compared to the previous 2023 edition of the same survey. Workplaces are supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its employees through encouraging flexible working arrangements (41%) and monitoring their employee workloads (41%). These percentages have increased since 2023, indicating that these measures have proven effective in mitigating stress and promoting a healthier work/life balance for people working on long projects.

📖 APM Censuswide quarterly survey 2024/25.

Net Zero

Over half (52%) of project professionals are very confident that the UK will meet its net zero targets by 2050. This is compared to just 31% who were asked the question by APM back in 2023. Of the minority of respondents (4%) who say they aren’t confident, the main reasons given was that not enough action was being taken by their industry sector (47%) and that the 2050 target has always been unrealistic (37%). This is a decrease from 2023, where just over 9% of respondents were not confident in the UK being able to meet its net zero targets.

📖 APM Censuswide quarterly survey 2024/25

Five of the most popular blog pieces

Why Lesson Learned Libraries Are Critical For Successful Project Management - Chris Goddard  
Lessons learned is a huge element of the project management process as it supports continued development for both project professionals and organisations. This blog explores the importance of lesson learned libraries in project management and the best ways for organisations and project professionals alike to identify and record them for future projects. 

The Importance Of Inclusive Working Environments - Sarah Outterson 
Everyone knows the importance and benefits of an inclusive workplace, from reduced turnover rates to improved employee engagement, innovative thinking and potential improvement in wellbeing and positive mental health. This blog explores the ways in which we can create inclusive project environments.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Modern Project Management Opportunities And Challenges - Preet Kukreja
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are turning out to be game-changers in project management. This blog explores the key opportunities that come from AI and ML, the potential challenges that possess, and what the future looks like as AI and ML become more integrated into the project profession.

Engagement work 

We were instrumental in the creation of a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Project Delivery in the UK. The APPG will champion project success, extol the value of the project profession, and outline the importance of project skills throughout Westminster and society. 

We have been directly working with C-suite members and business leaders to change the narrative around the project profession. We have undertaken several business leadership campaigns that addresses their commonly held misconceptions and helps them understand how the profession can help address the challenges facing businesses today.  

We launched two new Regional Networks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). These are in addition to APM’s current Regional Networks throughout the UK, Channel Islands and the Greater Bay Area of Hong Kong.  

We have also launched several new Interest Networks this year including Built Environment, International Space Sector, Sustainability and more recently AI & Data Analytics.  

Sales of APM books increased by 16% in 2024/25 compared to the same period in 2023/24. Total orders were up by 20%. The figures show two significant spikes in summer 2024 and spring 2025. This coincides with the launch of the PMQ Learner Study Pack in July and APM Body of Knowledge 8th edition in April. Other notable titles Project Controls in the 21st Century and PRAM 3rd edition have contributed to the uptick in orders.  

APM Conference 

Our APM Conference was held in CBS Arena, Coventry and it was the first time the conference was held two days to great success, reaching a total of 732 attendees.  

APM Women in Project Management (WiPM) Conference 

The 2024 WiPM conference was another sell out event, with the largest number of attendees ever attending this conference. The theme for this year was ‘Leadership Unpacked’ and there were three streams of sessions dedicated to this.  

APM Project Management Awards 2024 

Held on 18 November, project professionals across the world came to the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge for our Project Management Awards. We were proud to award Overall Project of the Year to the Core Valley Lines project – Transport for Wales.  

Research 

APM has continued to be at the forefront of ongoing conversations and debates that are shaping the future of project management. Research we published between April 2024 and March 2025 included: 

Projecting for the Future Harmonising Energy and Environment – March 2025 

This piece was conducted to provide insights into what the profession sees as the most important future trends that are likely to impact the way project managers practise their profession, to identify what might need to change in our professional practice as we progress.  

Improving the early-career experiences of racially diverse project professionals – September 2024  

This research explores the early-career experiences of racially and ethnically diverse project professionals in the UK and Australia within the business and construction sectors. It examines the comparative experiences of diverse early-career project professionals, including both women and men from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, when searching for work in both countries. 

Caring for employee wellbeing in the rise of modern methods of construction – June 2024  

This research examines wellbeing management in project work environments from the perspective of care, focusing on the construction sector and exploring how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) impact employee wellbeing. While MMC offers opportunities for improved work environments and productivity, it also introduces challenges like fragmentation and job insecurities.  

Are we ready for net zero in project management? – May 2024  

This piece investigates the preparedness of the project profession for achieving net zero by 2050 through identifying challenges faced by project professionals when planning and delivering current major projects and programmes in the UK. 

APM The Golden Thread - A Study of the Contribution of the Project Profession to the Uk's Economy – April 2024  

This study provides insights into trends, growth sectors and challenges the profession faces. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the profession's future, reflecting its enduring importance to the UK economy. 

Recognition for the profession 

Dhruv Patel, founder and CEO of Nisai Group, was the latest recipient of our Honorary Fellowship. Dhruv’s work to provide education for children who couldn’t attend traditional schools due medical issues, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), or behavioural issues earned him this award. 

We were also pleased to see that our former Vice President, Dr Paul Chapman, Senior Fellow in Operations Management at Saïd Business School, was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours list. This Honour was awarded to Paul in recognition for services to the project delivery profession. 

Impacts the profession is having 

Our The Golden Thread 2024 research found that the number of people working in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) roles in the project profession across the UK has grown to an estimated 2.32 million, compared with 2.13 million in 2019. The Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy has risen to £186.8bn, increasing by more than £30bn since 2019. 

These figures account for 8.5% of the total UK FTEs and 9.2% of the total UK GVA. Reflecting on the 2019 Golden Thread study, these numbers represent an 8% growth in project management FTEs and a 19% increase in annual project management GVA. 

Our Future Lives and Landscapes campaign was created to bring attention to the social good that projects bring and highlight that their impact goes further than the financial bottom line. Once the campaign had concluded, our research found that, of the 1,000 project professionals we surveyed, 70% said they had heard of Future Lives and Landscapes. Of those, 82% said they are more aware of the social value of projects as a result of the campaign than they were previously and 84% said the campaign has made a difference to the way their organisation approaches projects. 

Collaborations 

Alongside Project Management Institute (PMI), we announced that our Project Management Qualification and PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) ® Certification had both been approved as recognised assessments on the new pathway to Chartered Project Professional status.  

Together with PWC, we launched the Golden Thread research report in April 2024.  

We collaborated with the following universities to publish research reports authored by their respective researchers: 

• UK 
• University of Manchester 
• Queen Mary University 
• University College of London 
• Heriot-Watt University 
• Australia 
• RMIT University 

We were proud to support and sponsor the inaugural Change and Project Partnership Award at the Change Awards 2025. It was important for us to sponsor this award to recognise and highlight the people and companies who are making a real difference to our profession. 

Throughout the year, we worked with Project Management Global (PMG) to develop thought leadership content for their email newsletter and host webinars for people in the Middle East and Ireland. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 

Our approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is based on the principle of making changes that are ‘vital for some, valuable for all’: 

During our most recent Personal Development Day, we ran neurodiversity training sessions which helped people gain a greater understanding of neurodiversity and how differently our brains work. The training created a safe space for employees to learn and engage in discussions about neurodiversity.  

To mark International Women’s Day, we hosted an online webinar to discuss the theme of inspiring inclusion. We also continue to celebrate the achievements and contributions women have made in project management through our popular Women in Project Management Interest Network.  

We also remain committed to raising awareness and supporting our employees (both female and male) about issues related to the menopause. We currently have four Menopause Champions, who provide a safe listening space, organise initiatives such as informal meet-ups and signpost to further accessible resources internally and externally.  

Qualifications and standards 

We launched the new APM Project Management Qualification exam in September. Aimed at candidates with 2-3 years of experience as a project professional, this new Project Management Qualification exam allows candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the syllabus through a new mixture of question types designed to remove barriers to success.  

We launched a new pathway to Chartership in September that brought greater clarity and new Recognised Assessments. The update includes a name change of ‘routes’ to ‘pathways’ and the recognition of validated professional practice through some of the profession’s most sought-after achievements – APM’s Project Management Qualification and the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Project Management Professional® certification. This means people who have validated experience with PMI will be eligible to apply for chartered status. 

Focusing on core skill areas 

APM is a professional body for all project professionals, including those working in project controls. Some of the work we have done this year in the project control space includes: 

Planning, Monitoring and Control Interest Network which raises awareness of the benefits of planning, monitoring and control in the project profession and provides a unique meeting place for experts, beginners, specialists and generalists from all industry sectors. 

Project Controls in the 21st Century, written by Paul Kidston and Carolyn Browning, offers a comprehensive guide to effective project control and management.  

At the 2024 Project Controls Expo event held in Wembley Stadium, we were proud to sponsor the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Our CEO, Professor Adam Boddison OBE, also gave the opening remarks and welcome speech.  

Getting APM fit for the future 

In November 2024, we launched our new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This large-scale project took two-and-a-half-years to complete, requiring seamless collaboration with members from every level of APM to be successful.  

The rollout of the new CRM has led to significant benefits for APM, our members and our customers, including increased system stability, which is key to supporting our operations and customer experience, an improved user experience from the new functionality and integrations that will allow users to adapt their dashboard to suit their needs, reduced technical issues, more efficient financial reporting, cyber essentials accreditation, and more accurate data which enables a better understanding of our customers and pipeline opportunities. 

Creating great workplaces 

We were proud to be recognised as the best Not for Profit organisation to work for in the Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work For 2024. APM was selected for its outstanding contribution towards employee engagement in its sector. 

APM achieved a two-star accreditation rating in the latest Best Companies survey, representing outstanding levels of engagement. Its positive influence on employee engagement, together with a commitment to employee wellbeing and learning and development has been recognised for helping to inspire others and showcase the power of businesses to drive positive change. 

Thank you to our volunteers 

Our volunteers continue to play a vital part in the success of APM, contributing to our events, online and in person, blogs and publications. This year especially, they have gone above and beyond for us and the project profession. We cannot express our thanks enough for all they have contributed and shared with us over the past year.    

International growth

We introduced new Regional Networks in Europe, The Middle East and South East Asia that connected project professionals with each other. The response from the profession has been hugely positive, and we expect this growth to continue into the next financial year, with several new international Regional Branches set to be announced over the coming months. 

Operating independently

This new chapter brings exciting possibilities for both APM and IPMA to advance individually and together, for the benefit of the project profession as a whole. Although we proudly collaborated with IPMA as a Member Association and certification body for over five decades, as we've grown, matured, and expanded our capabilities, we identified a strategic opportunity to further strengthen the project profession and amplify our global impact.  

Supporting projects

Our mission to advance the science, theory and practice of project management in the UK and internationally is more critical than ever. Through focusing on our strategic goals and international ambitions, we are better positioned to contribute to the global project landscape by strengthening our presence in new territories, increasing recognition of our qualifications and promoting Chartered Project Professional status as the global standard 

Accessibility

We also expect to launch a version of our qualification in a second language. This will give candidates a more inclusive and learner friendly experience, whilst still keeping the qualification’s high standards. We look forward to announcing the language later in the year.