The Brigade has for a number of years recognised the immense value to be gained from the application of good project management techniques to support and undertake specific service objectives of the organisation.

The Programme Office, in addition to the undertaking of complex and major projects, also provides technical and project management support to a wide range of Brigade activities. The Programme Office is managed by Assistant Chief Officer Steve Worrall, who leads a trained and experienced team comprising Ged Edwards, Alison Pritchard, Helen Jones and Louise Goodhead.

Project management support is delivered in accordance with the principles and practices of the government’s de facto standard ‘PRINCE2’ (PRojects IN Controlled Environments), this assists in maintaining project direction and accountability. PRINCE2 is a process-based approach, providing an easily tailored, and scaleable method for the management of all types of Brigade projects. Each process is defined with its key inputs and outputs together with the specific objectives to be achieved and activities to be carried out. As a project process, it has proved invaluable on numerous occasions in keeping projects on track, within budget and within defined quality standards.

Each member of the Programme Office provides a unique and distinct contribution to resource planning, quality assurance, consultation, statistical analysis, and strategic planning; adding value to each of the projects undertaken. The combination of structured project support at the outset of any given Brigade initiative, coupled with meaningful and accurate statistical monitoring techniques to measure the outcome, has resulted in an efficient and effective system of work to support the Brigade’s strategic aims and objectives.