DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY APPOINTS PARALLEL PROJECT TRAINING AS PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROVIDER

1^st June, 2010: Parallel Project Training, an innovative new specialist training provider in APM project management training
and APMP certification, has been appointed by Serco Docklands Project team to provide cost effective and flexible project management training for their project management team working on projects across the Docklands Light Railway. The training will begin this August in London.

Recognising the need to reduce costs and continue to develop and train staff at Serco, Chris Ottley, Programme Manager, selected Parallel Project Training to provide an integrated and accommodating training programme that follows the same structure as the APMP syllabus. Serco staff will enhance their skills and best practice knowledge in project management and learn how to apply the APM principles to their own projects as well as achieving the APMP qualification at the end of the course.

This appointment is yet another encouraging development for Parallel Project Training following an excellent response to its first set of training courses earlier in the year achieving a 100% pass rate. Parallel Project Training aims to offer businesses a wide variety of training options starting from £935. Many students have commented on the fact they have learnt more in the first morning of a Parallel Project Training course than in the entire six days of courses run by other training providers.

Commenting on why he chose Parallel Project Training, Chris Ottley said: “Serco staff are always busy and we needed a flexible approach to project management learning that combined a wide range of course study options over a variety of formats suitable for the each team member. Flexibility, good value and a wide range of learning materials were key, as well as the training providers experience in the transport sector.” We are also looking to enhance our skills to deliver projects better and more efficiently for our client DLRL, to help them achieve their objectives.

Paul Naybour, Business Development Director of Parallel Project Training said “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to work with one of Britain’s great transport organisations, the DLR has expanded faster than any other railway in the UK and we are proud to be supporting Serco’s staff development scheme. We are looking forward to training the Project Managers
at Serco and are confident we can offer them a flexible, user friendly and accessible project management training course. We have had a 100% customer pass rate so far and are sure Chris’s staff will be just as successful too.”

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About Parallel Project Training

Parallel Project Training was formed in October 2009 by John Bolton and Paul Naybour and is supported by a pool of associates, advisers and consultants. Paul’s background is in the management of rail and infrastructure projects, leading major training programmes for many of the key players in the rail and transportation sector. In addition to rail experience, John has a strong pedigree in major programmes in the software and services sectors along with significant involvement in the management and development of professional project managers. Both are very highly experienced project management professionals, each having over ten years experience as project management development professionals. Parallel Project Training is based in Reading and offers a highly innovative approach to project management training. The courses include APMP, planning, risk management, estimating, and project leadership and will lead to accreditation where available. They are delivered using a combination of printed study material, e-learning, podcasts and classroom workshops. Parallel offers exceptional value for money with their innovative approach to efficiency and reducing impact on the environment – offering more for less.

About Serco Docklands

Serco Docklands is the franchise operator of the Docklands Light Railway, one of Britain’s great transport success stories. Serco has operated, maintained and marketed east London’s light railway since 1997. During this time the railway has grown from 27 to 40 passenger stations, passenger numbers have increased from 16 to 69 million journeys per annum and reliability has increased from 89% to 98%. One of the first light rail systems in Britain, with one of the world’s most advanced automatic train control systems, the DLR has expanded faster than any other UK railway. Since opening in 1987 it has extended to Bank, Beckton, Lewisham, London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal. Serco Docklands’ Projects Team has commissioned each new extension, integrating the new infrastructure into passenger service and has undertaken many projects to enhance and develop the railway. Serco Docklands is part of Serco Group plc, one of the world’s leading service and outsourcing companies.