The Association for Project Management (APM) has announced that the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, has become the first organisation to be awarded its new Gold status.
The Gold status recognises APM Accredited Training Providers (APs) that go above and beyond, consistently exceeding expectations in quality and impact. The accreditation is based on clear, evidence-driven criteria to ensure decisions are fair, transparent, and grounded in measurable results.
Peter Leighton, Project Delivery Profession People Development Lead, said, “When I first heard about the news, my initial reaction was surprise. The fact that we were the first to achieve this made me realise that gold status was a bit more difficult and more prestigious than I had originally anticipated and I’ve been feeling prouder and prouder.”
Gold status extends beyond standard accreditation, recognising providers that consistently meet APM’s highest benchmarks for course delivery, learner support, and operational excellence. To achieve this level, providers must demonstrate sustained success through higher learner satisfaction, strong exam pass rates, and a learner-focused approach throughout the training journey.
Peter added, “Everything that we were assessed against was fair and within our gift to improve or get better at. Being externally measured and accredited gives us a level of credibility beyond what we could achieve on our own. It’s a good selling point for talent: you’re not just getting training – you’re getting the best training.”
Marcus Bruton OBE, Head of Project Delivery Profession for SDA, said, “Achieving the APM Gold Standard for our Project Delivery training offering is a huge accolade for the SDA. It signals to our customers, our people, and our new entrants that the SDA is a learning organisation that is prepared to invest in our people to deliver to time, cost and performance.”
APM’s Gold status marks a new milestone in the recognition of training excellence within the project management profession, highlighting the SDA’s commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
For more information on APM Accreditation and how to achieve Gold status, visit the Association for Project Management’s website.
