Corporate Partner Case study – Southern Water

What is your company name, what sector do you operate in and how long have you been a corporate partner of APM?

Southern Water is a privately owned water utility company, providing essential water services to 2.6 million customers, and wastewater services to more than 4.7 million customers across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We have been a corporate member of APM since September 2019.

Why did you become a Corporate Partner of APM?

Southern Water recognises that APM as the “go to” organisation for best practice in project, programme and portfolio management. Through corporate membership and accreditation, and alignment with APM’s new gold standard ChPP qualification for aspiring professionals, we are looking to attract and retain the best of talent, to help us meet future challenges, and consolidate our position as an employer of choice.

What challenges or opportunities have APM helped with/overcome?

The water industry is changing at pace to meet increasing efficiency targets set by our regulators, delivering real reductions in the cost of customers’ water services, whilst maintaining investor confidence. To deliver this step-change in performance, Southern Water is transforming and improving its project management capabilities, using APM standards as best practice, to achieve reliable and efficient project and programme delivery.

How does the corporate partnership programme benefit your employees?  

At Southern Water, we recognise that our employees are fundamental to achieving our strategic business priorities and so we are committed to developing potential and performance. Within our Engineering and Construction team, the APM’s Competency Framework is being used for self-assessment to shape training plans, provide opportunities for professional development and achieve professional ChPP qualifications. In addition, a one-year apprentice programme has started, providing practical support towards APM PMQ, with the help of an APM-approved training provider. Via the corporate membership, employees also have access to a wealth of resources to help them at all stages of their development.

Why would you recommend that other organisations within your sector become Corporate Partners of APM?

A standardised approach, and the ability to share success going forward, can only benefit the wider industry. Corporate membership of APM, APM accreditation, and close adoption of the APM’s routes to ChPP status, means we can develop a highly qualified project management community.

“By joining APM as a corporate member, and in pursuing accreditation, Southern Water has signaled to those of us in its project delivery community a real commitment to enhancing project management capabilities. The adoption of APM’s Competency Framework at the core of our training, and support for formal qualifications with APM, gives a clear direction of travel for career progression, from our new apprenticeship programme for those starting their journey at APM PFQ and PMQ, through to the final steps towards Chartered status, something I am working towards. It also equips me in the best possible way to adapt to the changes I face as our business evolves quickly from project management into programme management”.

Richard Money, MAPM, Practitioner Qualification (PQ).