On Thursday 8th October, I had the pleasure of attending my very first APM Women in Project Management (WiPM) Conference, representing Training ByteSize alongside my colleagues Molly and Amelia.
As Silver Sponsors, we were delighted to support the event. At Training ByteSize, we work closely with the Association for Project Management (APM), and APM qualifications are consistently among our most popular training courses. It was therefore a fantastic opportunity to support an organisation we have such a strong relationship with, while celebrating the people and community behind the project management profession.
For a little background, I’m Hannah, Marketing Executive at Training ByteSize, where I’m involved in everything from digital marketing and content creation to events, exhibitions and promoting our project management training courses.
Having only joined Training ByteSize earlier this year, I’m still relatively new to the world of project management and industry events. Our Managing Director, Victoria, was keen for me to experience one of the conferences we regularly attend, particularly an event dedicated to celebrating women in the profession. It was a brilliant opportunity to gain some first-hand experience, meet our audience, gather market insights and see what these events are all about.
And what an introduction it was!
First Impressions: A Welcoming and Supportive Atmosphere
One of the first things that stood out to me was just how well organised the event was.
From arriving and checking in to being shown where our exhibition stand was located and getting everything set up, the APM team couldn’t have been more helpful. Everyone we encountered was so friendly, welcoming and professional, which made the whole experience feel straightforward and enjoyable from the very beginning.
As someone attending an event of this scale for the first time, that warm welcome really made a difference.
But what impressed me just as much was the atmosphere throughout the day.
I was amazed by just how many women had come together in one place, all connected by a shared interest in project management. It was far busier than I’d imagined, and I quickly realised just how extensive and diverse the women in project management community really is.
There was such a positive energy in the room. Everywhere I looked, women were introducing themselves, sharing experiences, making connections and encouraging one another.
What I particularly loved was the sense of equality and mutual support. Regardless of someone’s role, experience or background, everyone seemed to be there with the same intention: to connect, learn and celebrate the project management profession.
It was refreshing to see such a strong sense of community alongside the professionalism you’d expect from an industry conference.
Celebrating Women in Project Management: A Personal Perspective
Perhaps my biggest personal takeaway from the conference was realising just how diverse the project management community is.
Throughout the day, I met and spoke with women from different backgrounds, cultures, age groups and stages of their careers. From graduates beginning their professional journeys to experienced senior project managers with years of industry knowledge, there was an incredible range of people in attendance.
Before attending, I don’t think I’d fully appreciated the scale of the community or the variety of career paths that can lead someone into project management.
On a more personal level, I’ve always been incredibly proud to be a woman and passionate about supporting and celebrating other women. I strongly believe in equal opportunities, particularly in professions such as project management, which have historically been male-dominated.
Even today, I think events like the APM Women in Project Management Conference are so important. They provide a dedicated space to recognise women’s achievements, encourage professional development and continue conversations about equality and opportunity.
And it’s not just about women supporting women. Events like this offer something valuable to everyone, regardless of gender.
The keynote sessions offered attendees the opportunity to hear from inspirational women sharing their personal and professional journeys, the challenges they’ve faced and the successes they’ve achieved.
Although I wasn’t able to attend the speaker sessions myself, as I was busy on our exhibition stand, it was lovely to hear positive feedback about the talks from delegates throughout the day.
I think there’s so much value in listening to other people’s experiences, learning how they’ve navigated challenges and considering how those lessons might apply to our own lives and careers.
For me, seeing so many women brought together by a shared profession was genuinely inspiring and it reinforced just how important it is to keep creating opportunities for women to connect, learn and support one another.
Conversations, Connections and Career Development
Of course, a big part of our day was spent representing Training ByteSize at our exhibition stand.
Alongside Molly and Amelia, I had the opportunity to speak with a wide variety of delegates, from individuals exploring their next career move to organisations looking to develop their project teams.
We also ran our lucky dip competition, where every visitor was a winner!
It was lovely to see so many people getting involved, having a bit of fun and stopping for a chat. For some, it was simply an opportunity to enjoy the day, collect a few goodies and connect with others in their professional community.
For others, those initial conversations developed into some really valuable discussions about training, qualifications and career progression.
We spoke with individuals who had already achieved APM qualifications and were now considering the next step towards becoming a Chartered Project Professional (ChPP). Others were interested in exploring different project management qualifications to broaden their knowledge, develop new skills or gain a fresh perspective on the profession.
We also had some fantastic conversations with organisations looking to invest in training and development for their wider project teams.
One of the highlights was meeting people who had previously completed courses with Training ByteSize, as well as representatives from organisations we currently work with.
Hearing their positive feedback about their training experiences was particularly rewarding. It’s always lovely to hear directly from the people who have benefited from what we do.
Something that really stood out from these conversations was that professional development doesn’t stop once you’ve achieved your first qualification. Whether someone is just starting their career, working towards chartership or looking to expand their knowledge into different project management methodologies, there is always something new to learn.
Supporting Your Project Management Career with APM Qualifications
At Training ByteSize, we’re proud to support project professionals throughout their learning journeys, offering a range of Association for Project Management (APM) training courses.
Whether you’re new to the profession, looking to strengthen your existing knowledge or considering chartership, there are different development routes available.
APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)
The APM PFQ is an excellent starting point for individuals who are new to project management or looking to gain a better understanding of its fundamental principles, terminology and processes.
APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
For those looking to develop a broader understanding of project management, the APM PMQ helps build knowledge across key areas of project delivery and management.
APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP)
For experienced project professionals looking to gain formal recognition of their expertise, APM ChPP represents an opportunity to work towards chartered status.
Speaking to delegates who were considering chartership was particularly interesting, as it highlighted the ambition and commitment to professional development within the community.
Whether it’s taking that first step with PFQ, progressing through PMQ or working towards chartership, investing in professional development can open doors to new opportunities.
More Than Just a Conference: Building Industry Relationships
Another highlight of the day was having the opportunity to meet so many people from across the wider project management industry.
It was particularly lovely to meet members of the APM team in person. From the events and marketing teams who had worked so hard behind the scenes to bring the conference together, to the business development and sales teams representing APM on their own stand, it was great to put faces to names and have a proper chat.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Adam Boddison, Chief Executive of APM, who has worked closely with the Training ByteSize team. Adam was genuinely lovely to speak with and we had a great conversation with some laughs along the way. It was fantastic to meet him in person at an event.
Beyond APM, it was also a brilliant opportunity to connect with representatives from other accreditation organisations, fellow project management businesses and exhibitors from across the industry.
I really enjoyed visiting other stands, learning more about what different organisations do and having conversations with people who share a common interest in supporting and developing the project management profession.
For me, this was another important part of the experience. Industry events aren’t just about promoting your own business or generating leads. They’re also about building relationships, brand awareness, sharing knowledge, understanding the wider industry and recognising the important work being done by others.
Having the opportunity to experience all of this first-hand gave me a much greater appreciation of why Training ByteSize continues to attend and support events like WiPM.
My Biggest Takeaway from APM WiPM 2026
Looking back on my first APM Women in Project Management Conference, I can confidently say it was a fantastic experience.
I arrived not quite knowing what to expect and left with a much greater understanding of the scale, diversity and strength of the women in project management community.
What made the biggest impression on me wasn’t necessarily any one conversation or moment, but the overall sense of encouragement, professionalism and genuine support that ran throughout the day.
It was inspiring to see so many women, from those just beginning their careers to highly experienced professionals, coming together to celebrate their achievements and encourage one another to keep progressing.
I’m also incredibly pleased that we had the opportunity to represent Training ByteSize, reconnect with existing customers, meet new faces and have so many valuable conversations about professional development.
A huge thank you to the Association for Project Management for organising such a welcoming and well-run event, and to everyone who stopped by our stand to say hello.
It was a brilliant first WiPM experience and one I’m very glad to have been part of!
Continue Your Project Management Journey with Training ByteSize
Inspired to take the next step in your project management career?
Whether you’re exploring your first qualification, looking to build on your existing skills or working towards chartership, Training ByteSize offers a range of APM training courses to support your professional development.
Explore our project management training courses and discover your next step.
