A key factor was that most government project leaders did not have the right skills to deliver complex projects.⁴⁶⁴

In response, the United Kingdom invested heavily in building the capabilities of government project managers and lifting the status of project management as a rewarding long-term career option. This included establishing a Major Projects Leadership Academy in 2012 to train senior project leaders for complex major projects.⁴⁶⁵ The academy is underpinned by a comprehensive Project Delivery Capability Framework that builds the capacity of civil service project management practitioners throughout their careers and provides guidance for career discussions and promotion decisions.⁴⁶⁶ These initiatives provide a common approach for practitioners to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to deliver projects across all areas of government. Over 500 participants have graduated from the programme and it has been highly rated by past participants.⁴⁶⁷