We are often asked the question by potential students “Will PRINCE2 training enhance my project management career prospects?” There is a very simple answer to this – Yes!

Most people considering PRINCE2 qualifications do so for career and/or personal development reasons. In the current economic climate, this is often driven by a change of job or career direction, sometimes not by choice. There is strong evidence that indicates that having up to date PRINCE2 qualifications could be the difference between being selected for a new position, whether you have years of project management experience or not. It could, in certain cases, be the difference between selected to stay in your current position or being released.

Over the past few years, PRINCE2 has become the recognised international standard for project management and many advertised positions now state PRINCE2 qualifications as a prerequisite, without which an application may be rejected. As an example, a recent query on the UK website ITJOBSWATCH (April 2010) indicated that over 60% of permanent IT project management jobs on the site now include PRINCE2 qualifications as a requirement.

However, PRINCE2 is a generic project management method and its use is not restricted to the IT sector. After a relatively slow start following its launch in 1996, the demand for PRINCE2 qualifications has surged in recent years. This is due to organisations across all industry sectors recognising the benefits of implementing a structured approach to project management and its effects on delivering projects. This has, not surprisingly, led to a surge in demand for PRINCE2 qualified staff.

Having originated in the UK Public Sector, the method is understandably widely used there. It is the standard method for project management across the Public Sector. PRINCE2 is used by all Central Government departments such as the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Home Office and the department for Business Innovation and Skills. It is also used across the National Health Service and the Local Government sectors, some examples being Manchester City Council and Norfolk County Council, both long-term users of the method. Consequently, project management positions in the public sector are likely to demand PRINCE2 qualifications.

The growth in demand for PRINCE2 qualifications though has not been driven entirely by the Public Sector. There has been very significant growth in recent years through the adoption of the method by many other organisations. Some of these represent suppliers to the public sector, where having PRINCE2 trained staff is a requirement for bidding for work on Government contracts and these suppliers are likely to require PRINCE2 qualifications for project management positions. However, PRINCE2 is currently being used very widely across all industry sectors in the United Kingdom, including Banking, Construction, Engineering, Transport, Utilities, IT and Telecommunications.

Despite its UK roots, demand for the qualifications has also surged internationally. The latest figures from APMG (the examiners of PRINCE2) indicate that over 400,000 students worldwide have successfully passed examinations in PRINCE2. To fulfil this demand there are over 175 accredited training organisations internationally. The PRINCE2 manual is currently available in 9 languages and examinations are available in English, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Danish, Polish, Spanish and Chinese in 89 countries worldwide.
The United Nations adopted PRINCE2 for the UN Development Programme a number of years ago and has implemented PRINCE2 internally in 150 countries. There is also growing interest from the USA where they have started to recognise the benefits of using the PRINCE2 method alongside their existing standard for project management, the Project Management Institute Body of Knowledge (PMI/PMBOK).

From UK Public Sector beginnings, PRINCE2 has become the international standard for project management and PRINCE2 qualifications are now in demand worldwide. Having up to date PRINCE2 qualifications could be a passport a new position or even to an international career in project management.

This article was written by Ian Rosser on behalf of AFA. AFA deliver are accredited by the APM Group to deliver PRINCE2 Training Courses. Assisting you to deliver change whether at the personal, team, project, programme portfolio or organisational level.