Careers

Approved Trainer Assessment Service

SPOCE offers an Approved Trainer programme to companies and individuals who are looking to progress to accreditation status. The following text provides information this service.

Approved Trainer's CD containing:

Practitioner Event Visuals (Powerpoint & PDF)
Foundation Event Visuals (Powerpoint & PDF)
Introduction/Overview Event (Powerpoint & PDF)
Board Room Briefing Visuals (Powerpoint & PDF)
Practitioner Event Manager's Pack (PDF)
Understanding PRINCE2 (Book & PDF)
Pre-Event Reading (PDF)

Identification of a Mentor at SPOCE

The Mentor (an experienced Approved Trainer) will provide help and support during the period leading up to APMG Approved Trainer status. This will take the form of email and telephone support to help understand the training materials and their delivery. The intention is to have someone to discuss approaches and to interpret and expand upon the information provided on the Trainer's CD.

The trainee must accept that there will be times when the Mentor is not available – particularly when the Mentor is delivering training and consultancy. If required, a meeting at SPOCE offices could be arranged to go through key points.

"Drop-in" Facility on SPOCE Open/Public Training Events:

The "Drop-in" gives the trainee the opportunity of attending any SPOCE Open/Public training event provided notice is given. This is intended to provide a chance for observing how the training sessions are run. This is for observation only, although the trainer running the course will endeavour to answer the trainees questions where possible after the training course has closed.

A Plan leading to APMG Approved Trainer Status

The trainee should draw up a plan leading to a Train-the -Trainer course or the Assessment by an APMG examiner. The period of the service will run from payment of the initial fee to 18.00 hrs on the day of the formal assessment and interview by the APMG examiner. Should a re-assessment be required, this will be subject to a further agreement, similar to, but outside the scope of this one.

Standard assessment services run for 6 months, with a maximum period of twelve months from the date of signing and payment of the initial fee.

Presentation of Material to the Mentor and Trial Interview

The trainer service enables the trainee to discuss course content and present sessions to the mentor at SPOCE's premises in Poole, Dorset. The purpose of this will be for the trainee to practise delivery of the material and to receive feedback before delivering on a 'live' event.

Presentation on "Live" Events:

The trainee should attend a full SPOCE Practitioner event and observe a full course (possibly over several events to observe different trainers' styles).

The trainee will need to deliver two or three sessions (approximately 1½ hours each session) on "live" SPOCE courses in preparation for the APMG Approved Trainer Assessment. APMG rules allow a non-approved trainer to deliver sessions provided an Approved Trainer is present. This will give the trainee experience of a real life environment. However, before this can be allowed, SPOCE require the trainee to have done at least one ‘Session Delivery Day’ at SPOCE offices in preparation for the "live" event delivery.

This opportunity to deliver on SPOCE "live" events will be at the discretion of the Mentor and must not risk the professional delivery of the live SPOCE event. Where this opportunity is offered and accepted, the trainee must undertake to attend the event for the full three days of input (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on a Practitioner event).

Mock-Assessment by SPOCE

During the four weeks leading up to the final APMG assessment, a half-day “mock” interview will be provided (if requested by the trainee)at SPOCE premises in Poole, Dorset. The purpose of this will be to prepare the trainee for the interview which follows the presentation to the APMG examiner.

Assessment by the APMG Examiner

When the trainee (and mentor) feel ready and confident, SPOCE will arrange for formal assessment by the APMG. The assessment will take at least half a day and will involve delivering a session (possibly two at the APMG examiner's discretion) on a live course, followed by an in depth interview (about 1½ hours) with the APMG Assessor.

The interview will test the trainee's detailed knowledge of PRINCE2 and will examine detailed knowledge and understanding of PRINCE2 in the context of project management. The interview questions will be based around what is contained in the PRINCE2 reference manual and some areas not directly addressed by the reference manual – (eg what improvements could be made to the Method; how formal change control should/not be applied to Management Products etc).

Next Steps

For costs associated with this Approved Trainer programme, please send an email to SPOCE's Lead Trainer Richard Lampitt.

SPOCE - Project Management Limited