Congratulations to the 2026 APM Project Management challenge winners

The winners of the 2026 Association for Project Management (APM) Project Management Challenge were announced recently, recognising the hard work and achievements of several teams across the UK.

The Project Management Challenge is an annual competition hosted by a number of APM Regional Networks based throughout the UK and it provides potential and emerging project professionals the opportunity to increase their project management experience, working as a team to deliver a real project from concept to completion.

To celebrate the 2026 edition, we spoke to the winners:

London - Atkins Realis

Team SuperNova

Team Super Nova partnered with Tower Project to reopen and redevelop Haggerston Perk Café as a vibrant, inclusive social enterprise supporting people with learning disabilities and autism: a group with only 5% in paid employment.

Kadiatou Bah, Degree Apprentice Management Consultant, said: “Winning the challenge meant so much to our team as it wasn't just about delivering a project - it was about creating meaningful social value and growing together as a team. This experience showed us that successful projects go beyond technical delivery - they rely on strong relationships, trust, open communication and a proactive mindset. From managing risks early to supporting one another, we learned that true collaboration is about creating an environment where everyone feels confident to contribute, take ownership, and drive the project forward.”

Midlands - Cadent Gas

Milestone Makers

The Priority Services Register (PSR) helps utility companies support customers in vulnerable situations during disruptions by offering tailored assistance including priority reconnection, appliances and accessible communications. However, it struggled to meet sign-up targets. To address this, the team piloted workshops for people over-65 where attendees created draught excluders using deadstock materials and recycled Cadent PPE and office wear. The approach was successful with all eligible attendees signing up.

Benjamin Neale, Project Management Graduate, said: "The greatest lesson we learnt is that to deliver an effective project, you must make contact and build your stakeholder relationships as early as possible. We were lucky to liaise with some amazing people, both internal and external, from the very start of the project which made it super easy to plan and deliver what was required to progress the project further."

North East– Turner & Townsend

Critical Pathfinders

Critical Pathfinders partnered with Tees Rivers Trust to install a native oyster nursery in the Tees Estuary, designed to test whether oysters can survive in local conditions and inform the feasibility of a larger future reef.

Joe Williamson, Assistant Project Manager, said: “Winning the North-East PM Challenge means a great deal to us – we’re really proud of the work we’ve done with Tees Rivers Trust, supporting their incredibly valuable environmental restoration work. Our advice for future entrants is to be ambitious, but plan your risk management and mitigations carefully early, so you can keep momentum if/when things change. Also, we found it valuable to ask for advice and lean on the experiences of others and use it to steer your decision making throughout the project.”

North West- Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NDA Cumbria Graduates

The NDA Group Graduates launched a Beach Clean Initiative, creating a scalable, repeatable model for coastal clean-ups. Collaborating with Cumberland Council and recruiting 67 volunteers, they coordinated cleans across West Cumbria, removing 237kg of waste and restoring 6km of coastline.

Madeline Wright said: “Taking part in the APM Challenge has been a fantastic experience. The process has helped me develop key project management skills, build my confidence and gain valuable practical experience as someone new to project management.” 

Cem Uyumaz said: “The Challenge was an amazing opportunity to apply the APM Competency Framework in a live project setting but also as a catalyst for collaboration. Collaboration not just within the project team, but with wider internal SMEs and community stakeholders who were instrumental to the success of the Beach Clean Initiative."

Scotland- NRS Dounreay

Deans of Dounreay

Deans of Dounreay, teamed up with the Thurso Beach and Town Initiative to help them bring in more helping hands. By creating a structured social media strategy, they gave the initiative a clear voice to connect with their community.

Niamh Campbell, First Year Graduate, said: “The win really energised the group and strengthened our sense of teamwork and shared success. It also gave us valuable insights into what makes a strong submission - particularly the important of clear communication, structured thinking, early collaboration and choosing a cause close to you heart - which is imperative learning for this challenge and for future work we all do."

South Wales and West England- Babcock International

Dockyard Dynamos

The project aimed to optimise and future proof iSightCornwall, a charity focused on giving equal opportunities to those with sight loss, by increasing awareness, reach and fundraising through a high quality gaming livestream event. The team aimed to increase viewers and followers by 170 people and increase fundraising by £170 to mark iSight's 170th anniversary, achieving 1,315 followers, 1,497 viewers and raised £480.

Abigail Rainey, LFE Manager, said: “One of the biggest learning points from our project was the how important it is to be able to adapt. We lost a team member early into the project and had to restructure the team to ensure we met the deadline for the first report. Although this could have created a problem within the team our ability to adapt ultimately made us stronger as a team. The advice that I would give to future entrants would be to exploit the opportunities. It is very easy to focus only on the threats as the project has such a short duration, but it is the opportunities that will ensure the biggest benefit is delivered the chosen charity”

Thames Valley- Tony Gee and Partners LLP

Team Tony Gee

Small Steps, Big Changes delivered interactive sustainability workshops to primary school students, supporting them to engage with sustainable behaviours. Exceeding initial KPIs, the project has reached over 260 students so far and demonstrated keen engagement with evidence of behavioural change. Delivered efficiently with minimal cost, the project generated social value and tangible benefits for students, volunteers and Tony Gee.

Amy Thomas, Graduate Engineer, said: “To know that our 8 months of hard work, collaboration and dedication have paid off is brilliant - especially given the quality of other teams' presentations. Whilst the achievement itself is a proud moment, seeing the real and lasting benefits of our project was just as much of a win. Throughout the process we gained valuable knowledge and experience, which we will carry forward into our future careers.”

Wessex - Southampton Solent University 

United for Impact 

The Give What You Can (GWC) project was a 17-week student-led initiative addressing rising food insecurity among Southampton Solent University students and strengthening the long-term sustainability of the SU Exchange Food Pantry. Key deliverables included an Amazon Wishlist donation platform, four sustainable partnerships, and a website prototype, establishing a sustainable framework to support future food pantry operations and student wellbeing.

Ignatia Manjong said: “Winning the Wessex APM Project Challenge is a proud moment for our team. What began as an idea to strengthen the SU Exchange Food Pantry grew into a project that allowed us to create meaningful impact within the student community. This recognition reflects the dedication, resilience, and teamwork that carried us through every stage of the journey.”

Oluwafunmito Babatunde said: "Winning the APM Challenge was a proud achievement that reflected our team's ability to transform a meaningful idea into a sustainable solution through collaboration, leadership, and effective project management. More importantly, it demonstrated that projects create their greatest value when they deliver lasting impact for stakeholders and communities. For United for Impact, this achievement represents much more than a trophy or title. It validates the hard work of our team, the support of our mentors and stakeholders, and the belief that student-led projects can create meaningful and lasting change. It is a reminder that when people come together around a shared goal, they can make a positive difference in the lives of others.”

Ifrah Ahmed Abdi said: "Along the way, we gained valuable insights that future entrants can benefit from. Clearly defining roles early on helps avoid confusion and improves efficiency , while regular communication and quick alignment checks strengthen decision-making under tight timelines. We also learned the importance of focusing on stakeholder needs from the outset and keeping solutions simple, practical, and aligned with project objectives. Together, these lessons shaped our success and will continue to guide how we approach impactful project delivery."

Yorkshire & North Linconlshire – Yorkshire Water

Paint it Forward

Team Paint It Forward delivered a sustainability-focused project in partnership with Bradford Community Repaint. Funded through wreath-making workshops and APM support, the team engaged schools and community groups to drive sustainable awareness. They delivered sustainability workshops to 90 children, using creativity to inspire learning.

Rebecca Taylor, Programme Graduate, said: “It means a lot to know that the work we put into the project has had a positive impact. Winning the challenge reinforced how important early stakeholder engagement is to project success. We would definitely encourage future entrants to fully embrace the experience, make the most of each team member’s strengths and differences, and not be afraid to think creatively. The challenge is the perfect platform to get out of your comfort zone and just have a go with a big idea.”

If you are interested to learn more about the APM Project Management challenge, click here.