To mark the group’s 10th anniversary, members past and present gathered in Aberdeen to reflect on the achievements of the PMSG since it was set up in 2014.

Located primarily in North East Scotland but with some membership from North West England, the PMSG is made up of representatives from leading oil and gas, renewables and energy transition companies and related stakeholders. 

The advisory group aims to drive and positively influence skills and competency development for project management and project leadership, with a vision to continually promote best practice project execution across the engineering construction industry. 

Initiatives have included:

• Working with the ECITB to host its biennial conferences – sharing and developing project management expertise;
• Creating the Project Collaboration Toolkit to improve collaboration at a project level;
• Supporting those in the project management community to achieve Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status;
• Launching the Project Management Mentoring Programme (PMMP).

Tony Maplesden, who was working for Wood Group at the time the group was set up, was the first chair of the PMSG.

He said: “As the first chair, I feel proud of the steering group, which has grown from strength to strength since being formed.

“The group was formed at the request of industry. At the time of its formation, there was a feeling amongst the industry that there would be benefit in forming a project management-focused body to help improve the level of project management capability and performance.

“The project management conference in 2015 had a theme of ‘collaboration for success’. The steering group really did set an example for industry in demonstrating willingness to bring parties together in a way that hadn’t been done before.

“Bringing together representatives from the client base, the tier-one contractors and other organisations within the supply chain was an important statement and provided a leadership focus within the sector.”

Tony remained chair until 2016 when Jim Thompson took on the role. He was followed by co-chairs Jim Lenton and Neil Rogerson, William Lindsay, Mark Fotheringham and Robert Crofts, who took the helm in early 2024.

Robert, who is operations manager and deals with project management functions at Subsea7, was previously involved in several PMSG initiatives, including the mentoring programme. 

In taking over as current chair, Robert said he was keen to get involved again to help the group “actively take the project management profession forward” and “continue to be a strong and influential part of the project management community”.

He said: “As we progress on our net zero journey, there will be a need for project management professionals to step up and make these energy projects a reality. 

“The ECITB with the PMSG will have a critical role in bridging the skills gap by creating development opportunities that ensure we have the individuals that can lead these projects and steer them to success.”

Infinity Engineering technical director Mark Fotheringham had been a member of the group for five years, three as chair and one as vice-chair, before passing the baton to Robert. He now sits on the ECITB board and added: “I look back at my time with immense pride in the collective achievement and in enduring friendships.

“I had the privilege of participating in and chairing the PMSG for a number of years, and perhaps most notably two conferences. The conferences brought large numbers of professionals together towards a common purpose of professional development and competency and built relationships with industry to determine their needs. 

“If I were to pick out highlights during my tenure they would be expanding our mentoring programmes across industries, growing our professional development opportunities to include chartered registration, appreciating the kindness and guidance offered by everyone around me, and continuing my own professional development to the board of the ECITB.”

The steering group meets six times a year either in-person in the Aberdeen area or virtually. There are five working groups within the PMSG focussing on competence, attraction of new entrants to the industry, project controls, the conference and diversity and inclusion.

The next Project Management Conference will take place in May 2025, with a date to be confirmed soon.