Good news (Renewables, Small Nuclear Reactors), Not So Good news (Major project audits, Green Energy, Nuclear regulations), Other Project news (Green planes, Airport expansion, Airport project challenge), Cranes, Storks, Ospreys, a Stone Age Project and a (not so) secret project (UK Project Management Roundup)
REPORT
By Dr. Miles Shepherd
Executive Advisor & International Correspondent
Salisbury, England, UK
INTRODUCTION
Unusually, this has been a busy month in the UK project world with encouraging reports of small modular reactors, a number of major projects with problems and old favourites like the airport expansion debate. We also have late news of a major housing expansion programme and, dare one whisper, a secret project – so it is on with the report.
GOOD NEWS
Renewables. This seems a little like déjà vu, but my energy imp tells me that for the first time, the majority of Britain’s energy needs have been met from renewable sources. Government statistics for 2024 show wind, solar and biomass produced 50.4% of the total electricity supply, topping the 46.5% for the previous year.
Wind generation increased to a record 29.5% (84.1TWh), up from 28.1% (82.3TWh) in 2023, due to higher wind speeds and increases in capacity. Offshore wind generated 17.2% (48.9TWh) and onshore wind 12.3% (35.1TWh).
Image: Crown Estate and Chris James
Solar provided 5.2% (14.8TWh) and nuclear 14.25% (40.6TWh) of the total electricity. Low carbon sources (renewables and nuclear) generated a record 65% (185.2TWh), while fossil fuels fell to levels last seen in the 1950s at 31.5% (89.7TWh).
Analysts claim the Government is on track to achieve its goal of 95% clean power by 2030. However, record amounts of renewable generation will need to be added to achieve the goal. Much of this will need to come from solar and offshore wind which will need to triple, according to the National Energy Systems Operator. Analysis also warns that despite sufficient projects in the pipeline, planning permissions will need to be speeded up and zombie projects (see my report for June) to be weeded out.
Small Modular Reactors – Home and Away. Rolls-Royce is chasing a target of becoming the country’s largest company by market value according to press reports. Already Britain’s largest engineering firm, this target bodes well for large projects as in order to achieve this objective, more projects will need to be undertaken to supplement the aero engine programmes.
Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic is placing his eggs in the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) basket where he sees advantage from their involvement with the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines. Rolls-Royce have signed deals with the UK and Czech governments, and they have reached the final stage in Sweden’s competition to select a nuclear partner.
NOT SO GOOD NEWS
Major Project Audit. Readers will know that Government Departments have ambitious, complex and costly projects. In the good old days, these fell under the auspices of the IPA. Note this IPA was the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, not India Pale Ale although some PMs are known to prefer the latter for support. Well, now the portfolio is the responsibility of NISTA or National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. NISTA also absorbed the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). What does all thus have to do with your summer reading, I hear you ask? The answer is NISTA has just launched its annual report on the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
More…
To read entire report, click here
How to cite this report: Shepherd, M. (2025). UK Project Management Roundup, report, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue IX, September. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pmwj156-Sep2025-Shepherd-UK-Project-Management-Roundup-report.pdf
About the Author
Dr. Miles Shepherd
Salisbury, UK
Dr. Miles Shepherd is an executive editorial advisor and international correspondent for PM World Journal in the United Kingdom. He is also managing director for MS Projects Ltd, a consulting company supporting various UK and overseas Government agencies, nuclear industry organisations and other businesses. Miles has over 30 years’ experience on a variety of projects in UK, Eastern Europe and Russia. His PM experience includes defence, major IT projects, decommissioning of nuclear reactors, nuclear security, rail and business projects for the UK Government and EU. His consulting work has taken him to Japan, Taiwan, USA and Russia. Past Chair and Fellow of the Association for Project Management (APM), Miles is also past president and chair and a Fellow of the International Project Management Association (IPMA). He was, for seven years, a Director for PMI’s Global Accreditation Centre and is immediate past Chair of the ISO committee developing new international standards for Project Management and for Program/Portfolio Management. He is currently Chairman of the British Standards Institute project management committee. He was involved in setting up APM’s team developing guidelines for project management oversight and governance. Miles is based in Salisbury, England and can be contacted at miles.shepherd@msp-ltd.co.uk.
To view other works by Miles Shepherd, visit his author showcase in the PM World Library at http://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/miles-shepherd/.
