New Heights
he schemes supporting PRINCE2, the project management method, owned by OGC (The Office of Government Commerce) are accredited by UKAS as fulfilling the requirements of EN 45011 and EN 45013. The Certification Body, the APM Group Limited, is the first organisation to achieve this status for a qualification scheme aimed at Project Management Professionals.
Accreditation by UKAS recognises and underpins both the professionalism and independence of the existing schemes, which have been very well supported since their launch in October 1996. APMG have approved over 40 Accredited Training Organisations who are successfully steering nearly 10,000 candidates per year through their PRINCE2 examinations. At present UKAS accreditation is restricted to the PRINCE2 programmes in the UK, there are plans to extend accreditation to APMG’s activities in Australia and The Netherlands.
This Accreditation extends to the following, in accordance with EN45011 and EN45013.
- Training Organisations
- Trainers
- Consultants
- Practitioners
The Director of Research and Delivery Division at OGC, Tony Betts, is delighted with this achievement as it reinforces PRINCE2’s position as the defacto UK standard and fits with OGC’s agenda of improving Project performance throughout the UK public sector. Richard Pharro, APMG’s managing director explained that the decision to seek UKAS accreditation came from the increasing number of international organisations adopting PRINCE2 who are seeking independent verification of individual’s ability. Given the British Government’s recognition of UKAS as the sole national body for the accreditation of certification bodies, and others, it was the obvious choice from whom to seek accreditation.
The PRINCE2 training community have been very supportive of the scheme as it further demonstrates the quality of their systems and training material and increases their ability to deliver courses leading to a well recognised qualification to their clients throughout the world.
CCTA/OGC
*CCTA has been an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce in the Treasury, since April 2000. CCTA was fully integrated within OGC in early 2001. The establishment of the OGC focuses in one body the responsibility for achievement of value for money in Civil Government’s relations with its suppliers.
CCTA’s transfer into the OGC reconfirmed the agency’s role as a key player in the Modernising Government agenda. As part of HM Treasury it also confirmed its commitment to providing the public sector ICT community with unrivalled procurement and best practice guidance and support.
OGC’s portfolio of Best Practice guidance helps organisations to get best value from their IT services at a time when IT is being used as a key enabler of business change in general and Modernising Government in particular
Contact the Service Desk on +44 (0)845 000 4999 or view the web site at www.ogc.gov.uk
UKAS
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole accreditation body recognised by the British Government, against internationally recognised standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.
Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these evaluators.
UKAS is a non-profit-distributing company, limited by guarantee, and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government through the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.