Darren joined QA Ltd in 2016 as a Learning Consultant, specialising in the development and support of bespoke project and programme solutions, and is involved from initial client engagements, formal bid work and through to the creation and delivery of the solutions, which can vary from ½ day workshops through to yearlong modular programmes with bespoke qualifications.

Overview

Darren is a highly qualified individual with a track record of providing Project and Programme Management training to a diverse range of industries on a global scale. His extensive subject matter knowledge has been accumulated over the past 25 years through his practical experience of managing projects, working in a PMO environments, providing PPM Learning and Development solutions and through the achievement of numerous PPM qualifications. Darren is experienced in working with all levels within the PPM community, from Sponsors, Project Managers, Team Members, apprentices and other project stakeholders. He has utilised different delivery formats and platforms which has ensured knowledge can be easily transferred, understood and retained by the client’s organisation to allow long lasting business benefits to be realised.

Specialist Areas

Darren’s varied background makes him particularly suitable for supporting the following areas:

  1. Training delivery of accredited courses such as APM and PRINCE2 certification portfolios
  2. Public sector organisations (having supported Local councils, Primary Health Care Trusts and uniformed emergency services)
  3. Military / MoD projects / civil service depts
  4. Charities and not for profit organisations

Qulifications

  • BEng Hons Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
  • Certificate in Business Administration
  • Management of Portfolios (MOP) Practitioner
  • Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner
  • Association for Project Management Qualification (APMQ)
  • Management of Risk (MoR) Practitioner
  • Better Business Case Practitioner
  • Agile Project Management
  • APMG Change Management
  • APM Earned Value Qualification
  • Belbin Associate
  • TAP Delivery

Industry Experience

Darren began his involvement with Project and Programme Management working in a Project Management Office, supporting bid work for a large MoD contractor. A major internal IT upgrade was needed and a specialist role was created to provide End User training for the Project Management division, which Darren successfully undertook and is where his passion for training began. He spent the next 7 years, working for a number of well-known Industry suppliers of training, helping them to achieve and maintain ATO status for the PRINCE2 and APM portfolios and became Lead Trainer managing a team of 5 permanent staff and 20 associates. A 3-year period working as a freelance Project Management Consultant followed, before an opportunity presented itself to join Thales Learning and Development (part of Thales UK) as a Project Management Specialist. The role focussed on the upgrade and implementation of the APM and IPMA (level A-D) academy programme support 2000 personnel on a global scale, He also designed strategic learning solutions to support the internal Bid and Project Management community, expanded the external training portfolio capability by 35%, and conducted Competency Framework assessments and Maturity Modelling assignments