Project Management Training Case Study:

Sponsor Training

Northumbrian Water Limited serves 2.6 million people in the North East of England with water and sewerage services, trading as Northumbrian Water, and 1.7 million people in the South East of England with water services trading as Essex & Suffolk Water.

Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL) has been operating a project management approach based on PRINCE for over 15 years, and is an integral part of the Asset Management Process. The approach details the role of Sponsor as the connection of the project to the business environment. Projects in NWL typically have Sponsors drawn from the operational area within the business that will benefit from working on the project. Historically, Sponsors had been expected to undertake their role with no formal training. The Sponsor’s understanding and knowledge of the role, and hence their approach to the role, was largely determined by their personal experience. Consequently, there was no consistent approach to sponsorship in NWL.

An internal review of project delivery identified that excellent sponsorship was a primary component to the successful delivery of projects. In order to achieve a consistent approach that would have a positive effect on successful project delivery, NWL decided to undertake a series of workshops for existing and potential sponsors covering the roles and responsibilities of a sponsor.

It was decided that the workshop would be delivered in partnership with an external training provider. PMProfessional Learning (PMPL) was recommended by Northumbrian Water’s HR Director who had previously engaged PMPL to develop bespoke project management training at a previous company, Entec UK Ltd, with excellent results.

From the start of the commission, PMPL demonstrated their flexibility and ability to combine local processes and terminology with appropriate reference material, best practice and the latest thinkings from the project management industry to best effect. The APM’s ‘Directing Change: a guide to governance of project management’ was used as a framework to analyse NWL’s approach to sponsorship. PMPL also worked closely with the water company to ensure that the behavioural aspects of sponsorship were considered and were aligned to the core values and performance management processes of NWL. 

A pilot workshop with the key stakeholders of the Asset Management process proved invaluable as PMPL provided critical feedback which resulted in a number of modifications being made to the workshop structure and materials prior to rollout to the wider sponsor population.

"The workshop was delivered to over 60 delegates within NWL at its offices in the North Ease and South East. All who attended provided positive feedback - from those who had several years' sponsorship experience to those who were just about to embark upon the role more importantly, there has been some noticeable changes in the approach to sponsorship within NWL. There is now a better understanding of the role of the sponsor and greater recognition of the contribution that the sponsor makes to project success. Subsequently, the role is being given greater commitment in terms of time and focus, with the sponsorship workload being shared accorss a wider community". 

Richard Seales' Distribution Operations & Maintenance Manager (Water), NWL.