Warren Beardall authors APM White Paper on PFI

Warren Beardall, final year PhD researcher, has just co-authored a paper for the Association for Project Management. This was a collaboration with Andrew Edkins (Emeritus Professor, University College London) and the Policy and Public Affairs Team at the APM. In November 2024 the APM made an open appeal for academics with specialism in the use of public-private partnerships (e.g. private finance initiatives) in major capital projects. Their overall aim being to develop a policy paper regarding the future use of PPP by the UK government. A first step toward this broader aim has now been published (here).

Summary

The paper contextualises what PFI was, is and could yet be in anticipation of a possible future call to action that we believe APM, and its membership will find helpful to know. UK PFI persisted in various guises for some 26 years and although not currently in use for new projects it now has returned to the discussion table for its use in future project delivery. As the APM’s mission is centred on projects, the authors have therefore asked the uncomfortably pressing question: “If the next generation of public sector infrastructure projects considers using a model based on the principles of PFI, what issues will today’s government need to  address to ensure its success?”. The authors have addressed this question in three parts. First, they remind people of why PFI emerged – starting in 1992 – and thereafter what it became. Next, a reflection on what PFI now is in the present day as we tip from the first into the second quarter of the twenty-first century. Finally, they cautiously prompt the narrative toward important questions to address if a case for future UK PFI/PPP is a serious proposition for both public and private sector project professionals to be preparing for.

Our expertise

Warren had over 20 years experience of working as a PPP insurance advisor before he commenced his PhD investigating how different intentions help us uncover conflict in PFI projects. This background put him in an ideal position to contribute to the debate on the role of PFI in government projects. Warren comments: "This had been an opportunity to apply ongoing research in collaboration with external project scholars and a professional body."

Here at Leeds Centre for Projects we pride ourselves in ensuring academic excellence remains grounded in practical application and concern; it is what all our researchers are committed to. From the perspective of our partners at APM, the resulting paper will be used to underpin a future roundtable discussion with government decision-makers. The paper is addressing a contemporary national level discussion at the heart of government and is an example of what future collaborations in this space may point towards. These kinds of collaborations show the practical application of academic focus we value and bring our knowledge ecosystem to life.

If you have any questions about the report, please feel free to contact Warren Beardall (via email at [email protected] or through Warren's LinkedIn).