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"There is nothing permanent, except change" - Heraclitus, circa 500 BC
…and what a change it’s been. 25 years ago, the APM Group Ltd was formed, now APMG International.
APMG has seen many changes over the last 25 years and we’ve come a long way since our first small office in High Wycombe. We began with an idea and a single product, reinforced with a set of values and a desire to do things differently. Our basic proposition remains as it was then:
-To improve people and processes for the benefit of their employer.
Fast forward to today and although our portfolio has grown extensively, our values have remained the same. Each one of our certifications is suited to a different profession, motivation and passion. The broad diversity of this portfolio has allowed us to help millions of individuals around the world in their respective careers, and that’s something we’re really proud of.
Working at APMG has a feeling of being part of a common goal. We often quote our company values, and prioritise integrity as one of our most treasured characteristics. Integrity in our actions, choices and values we hold as individuals and as a respected organisation.
Our office views may have changed, but our perspective hasn’t
How have the last 25 years changed for APMG?
While we may have expanded over the last 25 years, our approach to quality has always remained the same - reinforced by our UKAS accreditation that we’ve held since 2000. We truly believe this approach to quality is one of the main reasons why we’ve expanded way beyond our initial expectations. Our initial approach was straightforward; expand by adding more:
- Products
- Partners
- International Offices
- Exam Languages
Our quality based approach has always attracted some of the most high-profile scheme owners. The approach to new and existing partners is simple. Understand their ambition, develop their intellectual property and work in parallel to achieve a common goal. This has led to us developing and growing some of the most widely used project management qualifications in the world.
"When we first bid to administer the OGC’s Project Management qualification in 1996 we expected exam sales to number no more than 500 per year. 15 years later they numbered tens of thousands per month and the product was recognised as a global standard."
- Michael Dallas, APMG Ethics and Standards Board.
But it doesn’t just stop at project management, our portfolio has extended way beyond this. Now we can proudly say that we look to help in all manner of professions; from business analysts to yoga instructors, to agroforestry professionals. We truly believe that our passions are what make us who we are, and our vision is to position APMG as a stepping stone in your passion and your career.
When we began, pre-internet, the structure of our operations would hardly be recognisable today, with a heavy emphasis on postage, test centres and rigorous training. Now, we are a digital company where you can self-study, find a training organisation on 6 continents, take an exam almost anywhere in the world, and display your certificate and digital badge proudly online.
As an example, our branching into the cyber industry has been the most recent and successful expansion we’ve taken over the last 25 years. It is now a blossoming area of our business with an expanding portfolio of training and certifying both individuals and companies, across various levels of experience and complexity.
A Final Note
We would like to express our thanks to every single one of our students, employees, partners and trainers who have made the last 25 years of progress made possible.. As Neil Bohr the Danish Physicist said:
"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."
So I will leave it to others to predict where APMG will be in another 25 years. For now, I will be resting.
Richard Pharro - CEO, APMG International
