Course offers chance to become NEC3 Project Manager

The publisher of the NEC suite of contracts is launching a new training course that will allow individuals working in the contractual role of client project manager to become an accredited NEC3 Project Manager.

The course will be launched later this month and will provide existing and would-be project managers with the tools to execute their role.

The course is being launched as use of the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract becomes more widespread across the industry. As well as being the contract of choice for major government infrastructure projects such as the 2012 Olympics and Crossrail, it is now being adopted on lower value contracts run via public sector frameworks.

There is also growing anecdotal evidence that the wider roll-out of NEC3 in public sector procurement has resulted in project teams running into difficulties, including with the interpretation of its “Plain English” clauses.

Another issue creating difficulties for contractors is the need to quantify the impact of “compensation events” mid-way through the contract – and the get the client’s project manager to agree. The course aims to bring together the key principles behind the NEC3 to ensure that users have a greater understanding of the responsibilities and technical requirements the role of project manager requires.

Rekha Thawrani, general manager from NEC, said: “The Project Manager Accreditation course is the first to market and will provide our users with a unique level of expertise in not only what to do as a project manager but the specific and essential skills that will need to be applied in the work place.

Thawrani continued: “We noticed that there was an increasing demand for project manager training and accreditation specific to the NEC3, therefore we wanted to create a course that focuses on the practical application of what is learnt, plus help users to master the details of the contract and feel confident in the way that they can deliver this to other parties involved.”

The course is designed to reflect the ethos of the NEC3 family, in that it promotes collaborative working and effective risk allocation. It has a heavy emphasis on scenario planning and teaching through case studies rather than lecturing.

The NEC3 ECC Project Manager Accreditation course is available from the 25 November 2013, with users able to take part in a four-day shared classroom learning session in Birmingham as well as additional online modules and assessment. NEC is also offering the option of in-house training, which will allow the course to be delivered by a tutor at a time and place to suit the user. On successful completion of the course, users will become an Accredited NEC3 ECC Project Manager.