BBC and B&Q triumph at APM Awards

First time finalists BBC and B&Q both won at Monday nights APM Project Management Awards.

BBC walked away with the Programme of the Year award, sponsored by Program Framework (right). It's W1 Programme delivered a state-of-the-art creative hub in the centre of London that brings together 5,500 staff from the BBCs national and international journalism, BBC Television services, BBC Network Radio, online teams and professional support services in the redeveloped, iconic Broadcasting House.

Accepting the trophy at the London Hilton on Park Lane, BBC director of operations, Dominic Coles said: Winning this prestigious award is a significant achievement for the BBC. It recognises both the skills and hard work of the project team involved, and the collaborative approach of the many areas of the BBC who successfully came together to support the delivery of this major project.

'Prestigious award'

W1 Programme director, Andy Griffee said: Winning such a major national industry award against such stiff competition is quite an achievement and testament to the collective efforts of all those involved in this 10 year project.

B&Q fought off tough competition from Turner & Townsend and Moorhouse to win the coveted Project Management Company of the Year award (left). Within 18 months the DIY retail giant ambitiously set up a programme management office (PMO) from scratch that has transformed the multinational organisation at every level.

Head of PMO Karan Bawa explained the decision behind creating a PMO at B&Q: We realised that we were spending a lot of money on project management and we werent doing it very well.

This is the team that is changing a just get on with it culture, common in retail, to one that is considered and measured throughout the selection and delivery of projects.

APM chairman Mike Nichols significant contribution to the profession was recognised with the prestigious Sir Monty Finniston Award, the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award.

Known for working on some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects and major business change initiatives, Mike provided the inspiration behind APMs challenging and ambitious vision of creating a world in which all projects succeed.

London Undergrounds Simon Addyman was named Project Professional of the Year by ceremony host and Radio 4 presenter Fi Glover. Simon said: This means a lot, not just to me, but the whole team. We couldnt have achieved what we have without a good, cohesive team and I am glad to accept it on everyones behalf.

Young Project Professional of the Year, sponsored by QA, went to Martin Monaghan from DHL Supply Chain. Martin admitted that it was actually quite nerve racking to collect the accolade. He said: I didnt expect to win at all because its DHLs first year of being recognised by APM so we were just pleased to get to final few. To win is an amazing achievement for DHL.

Another mail service had their hard work recognised as Royal Mail was presented with the eminent BNFL Award by APM president Tom Taylor. This award was in recognition for the unique way Royal Mails London Programme was managed and its transformation of the mail processing operation in the capital.

'Big accolade'

Lesley Field, programme office manager at Royal Mail, said: The people challenge was huge as was the property challenge made at Mount Pleasant. To deliver with no disruption of service was huge.

Its a big accolade for the team to be recognised by the profession.

Project of the Year, sponsored by QinetiQ, was awarded to NATS for their Radar Replacement Programme. The 12 year collection of works resulted in a seamless replacement of 23 radars across Britain with new radar technology that has improved the safety of one of the busiest airspaces in the world.

NATS project manager Kevin Harris said: It feels fantastic to have won this award. Its been a long journey the best part of 13 years and its been a huge team effort. We are all delighted."

Sellafield Ltd won the Shell Award for embedding a health, safety, security and environment excellence culture in their project. Their team had the remarkable task of decommissioning and removing the hazard posed by the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo a storage facility for nuclear waste while remaining a vanguard of international safety practice.

Social Project of the Year, sponsored by Project magazine, went to EC Harris LLP (right) for their construction of a new 20m special educational needs school and short break centre in the London Borough of Brent.

Kevin de Groot, partner at EC Harris, said: It has been a very special project right from the beginning. When we started we didnt really know how special it was going to be.

The APM Academic Awards, sponsored by BAE Systems, saw Shane Forth from AMEC walk away with the Geoffrey Trimble Award for the best masters post-graduate dissertation. Following on from her presentation at the APM Conference in June Barbara Chomicka from EC Harris LLP collected the Herbert Walton Award. Her PhD dissertation addressed drivers and cost implications of quality failures in commercial offices. Allan Fox from the Ministry of Defence was awarded the Brian Willis Award for the years highest mark gained in an APMP exam.

Awarding excellence

The APM Project Management Awards has become the most prestigious night in the professional calendar and has been awarding project management excellence for over 20 years. Recognising the very best in the profession, winners of the most sought-after trophy have demonstrated the invaluable contribution project management and project professionals make in all sectors of society. The finalists and winners attract national publicity and a deserved career boost as a result, both at business and at individual level.

Those who have walked away with an APM Awards trophy can be proud to claim to be amongst the best project management professionals in the country.

See the complete list of APM Project Management Awards 2013 winners.

APM Awards 2013 E-zine: Discover more about the winners and what they had to say about their successes in this special online supplement.

The APM Awards is once again supported by some of the professions leading names.

Ibis Trading Ltd, registered in England No: 6536096, is a subsidiary of Association for Project Management, which is registered as a charity in England & Wales (No: 290927). Registered Office: Ibis House, Regent Park, Summerleys Road, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 9LE.