Michael Scholfield, Operations Manager at Jacobs, was one of ten project professionals who gained Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status from the Association for Project Management (APM) in 2024.
We caught up with Michael to find out more about his experiences on the programme and his recommendations to others.
Already a Chartered Engineer and having completed Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) chartership in 2016, Michael explained what ChPP adds to his professional qualifications: “Having moved from a technical to a management role, the ChPP gives me industry recognition for my leadership and managerial skills.”
The ICE chartership was just after the birth of his first child, so was challenging to balance the day job, workload from the programme and his family life. For this reason, he took an extended break from further professional development.
“Since completing my ICE chartership back in 2016 and the level of effort this took, I was very cautious coming into the application process for the ChPP.
“I wanted to gain chartership but needed something structured to help me to juggle my time with a busy job and family life. The course guided us through and I don’t feel that it was overly onerous.
“Sure, it took some time in the evening between each workshop session and incorporating comments from the tutor. But I think it would have been more onerous had we not had the structure that the programme provided.
“I do not believe I would have been able to give this the time it would have needed if I completed it outside this programme.”
Michael Scholfield
Operations Manager at Jacobs
ChPP ‘best way’ to get chartership
He praised Eddie Kilkelly of Changescope, the tutor who led the programme. He said: “Eddie is a brilliant and knowledgeable tutor. The course is designed to minimise the amount of input required for those busy with day-to-day roles whilst providing the confidence needed to excel at the interview stage.”
Michael started in construction in 2009 as a project engineer. He became a project manager in 2015 before moving to senior project manager and operations manager in 2022.
“As well as the professional recognition, the programme has given me external confirmation of my project management ability,” he said. “It has reinvigorated my desire and confidence for professional development. I am now looking into a fellowship and getting more involved in the APM.
“I can honestly say, for those wanting chartership, this is the best way to go about it! It gives you an organised process to do it so that there is not too much on your plate at one time. The programme gives you good networking opportunities for the job too.
“I have recommended this course to several colleagues throughout the industry and at least one of them has already signed up.”
The ECITB fully funds the ChPP programme and has doubled the number of places it will support for the 2024/2025.
