Network Rail is committed to a major projects improvement programme and, recognising the skills challenge, went out to tender for the supply of training and development for all their project, portfolio, programme, sponsor roles, as well as project specialists. Areas for development included estimating, risk management, value management and possessions planning.

Opportunity

The challenge facing Network Rail managers is considerable. They have to deliver commercial benefits within demanding financial, quality, health & safety and legislative parameters, within a complex stakeholder environment.

This presents challenges far beyond the traditional understanding of engineering programmes, whose principal goal is frequently seen to be the delivery of engineering solutions.

Approach

In the face of tough competition, CITI was delighted and proud to be selected as the supplier for all project, programme, and sponsor level development for Network Rail.

“We have already piloted six of the core courses – each followed up by a course review day to establish the impact and effectiveness of the programme. Of particular note from the reviews is the fundamental importance that the role of portfolio manager has to overall programme and project delivery,” remarked Thomas Docker, CITI Client Director for Network Rail.

CITI’s portfolio management course was tailored to include Network Rail specific cases. As Alistair Kirk, Director of the Programme Control Office identified, “The long-term goal is to have in place a centre of excellence, and we are currently assessing how to implement it. In the short term, we are focusing on increasing the level of competence prior to rolling out best practice systems and practices”.

Outcome

Network Rail’s commitment to improving project management is reflected in a series of one-day seminars that the organisation puts on, at which invites are extended to other enterprises. CITI is working with Network Rail on the next seminar to be run later in the year. The topic area will be project controls – seen through the eyes of portfolio, programme and project managers.