“Isn’t project controls just the same as project management?”
This is a question we get asked a lot at the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) as we look to meet the rising demand for project controllers across the industry’s different sectors.
While it can sound on the surface that project controls and project management are the same thing, it’s important to understand the difference between the two in the context of the engineering construction industry (ECI) and why you need different types of people in both roles.
The reason that engineering construction companies talk about training people in controls and estimating is because the projects that are happening in the ECI are complex projects, often with a high degree of risk, and this requires much more detailed analysis and interpretation of the data involved.
Project controls v project management
Whether simple or complex, all projects have a project manager that makes decisions and is accountable for delivery.
Complex, large projects that take place over many years with lots of resources involved, such as those with a high degree of risk from a commercial, safety, environmental or legal perspective, need controllers – especially where independent assurance and verification of technical information is required.
These controllers provide data analysis and insight, which requires skills such as estimating, planning, scheduling, cost control and project control.
The role involves setting detailed objectives against which progress is tracked, analysing progress and then providing robust recommendations and recovery plans for the project manager.
This enables the project manager to be able to make decisions and keep the project on track.
The need for project controls training
Demand for project controllers in the industry is increasing due to the growth in planned construction and infrastructure projects.
With skills gaps and a shortage of project controllers, especially in the nuclear sector, the ECITB’s role is to help fill this gap by providing more detailed training to independently assure that somebody has the knowledge to do the role of project controller.
As the custodian of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for project controls, the ECITB has a suite of training standards, short courses and qualifications that have been tweaked and continually reviewed since working with industry to develop the first apprentice standard for project controls in 2007.
The ECITB’s project control training courses and qualifications provide skills training and occupational verification for all roles from technician to professional project controllers, estimators, planners, schedulers and cost engineers.
Developed with industry stakeholders, they focus on developing technical expertise as well as honing communication skills, fostering governance acumen, promoting continuous improvement, leveraging data analytics and contributing to carbon reduction and environmental sustainability.
Working with an industry-led working group, the ECITB is looking to drive forward the take-up of project controls training to help meet this skills shortage.
Project controls consultation
The ECITB will be doing a final consultation on the updated National Occupational Standards (NOS) for project controls, estimating, planning, scheduling and cost control in September 2024.
If anyone in industry is interested in providing expert input into the NOS and future qualification and training course developments, please contact Lead Product Delivery Manager Catherine Lambert on email:
Professional and management programmes
Project controls products form part of a suite of ECITB professional and management courses, tests and qualifications focused on project and team management. They support the professional competency and career progression for supervisors, project managers, project and cost controllers, estimators, planners, schedulers and engineers.
