Mentoring Matters at APM this Volunteers’ Week

Project management in the UK is a fast-growing profession.  This growth is driven by factors including the increasing complexity of projects, and the need for skilled professionals to manage them. Qualified project managers are key to delivering most major business activities - from major infrastructure projects to organising music festivals and delivering net zero programmes.  In fact, research by APM, shows that the project profession in the UK employs approximately 2.32 million full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, up from 2.13 million in 2019, and contributes around £186.8 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) annually to the UK economy. 

Professional mentoring is an invaluable way to help improve the skills and development in project management . This Volunteers’ Week (2nd - 8th June) APM is celebrating the importance of professional development, and how this is being supported through its network of volunteer mentors from around the UK. APM’s Mentoring Programme, currently has 363 mentors (and 281 mentees) all giving their time to help others gain invaluable

learning and development opportunities. The Mentoring Programme, launched by APM in 2022 supports the professional development of its members, connecting experienced mentors with those seeking guidance in various project management career stages, including those early in their careers, returning to work, or new to the profession. 

Debbie Bird, APM’s Community Manager, says: “Our volunteer mentors are the cornerstone in supporting the growth and success of the profession here in the UK. Through their quality guidance and support, our mentoring programme has been a huge success in nurturing individual talents and unlocking potential through the insights and support given by mentors.

“We are also excited to be a launching our new ‘Mentoring Matters’ webinars for APM members in June, which shows our ongoing commitment to continuous learning and development for project management mentors, providing them with valuable insights to enhance their mentoring skills.” 

Athos Ritsperis, a Project Delivery Adviser at National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, talks about his mentoring experience with APM.

“I am a strong advocate for professional development for both myself and others, and being a mentor, particularly for APM Chartership, enables me to support others practically on their development journey.  As a project delivery professional, I enjoy the thought that I am doing something tangible to support the development of my colleagues, and through that, the profession as a whole.

“I was fortunate that my organisation provided me with a professional mentor when I was going through my Chartered Project Professional application, which I really benefited from and who has acted as a sounding board for the career decisions I have made.  I find that passing on knowledge and experience to others helps me to crystalise learning in myself, and to critically evaluate things that I may have taken for granted beforehand.”

 James Wiley, a Senior Product Specification Design Manager at Royal Mail also comments:

“I wanted to become a mentor to support my team and colleagues in their career journey. From not having any dedicated professional mentoring in my early career, it has made me want to support others in making sure they get the opportunities to progress and grow.

“One of the best parts of mentoring is seeing the journey that mentees are on, that small element of time that you can give them to reflect, change direction that turns into a plan for growth, change in mindset, and achieving that goal at the end.

“I never expected the amount that I learn while I’m with my mentees, from their roles, their situations and how they are approaching their next steps in projects. This has helped me reflect on my journey and what my next steps may be in supporting the next generation getting into project management.

 “This Volunteers Week it is great to spend time with other volunteers and get to understand the challenges others are facing in the professional and the wider environment. “

Find out more information about APM’s Mentoring Programme and APM Membership