Academic background and Formal training

Mark Whitfield, a senior, SC-cleared IT Project Manager based in Manchester, UK, holds a robust foundational education in computer studies combined with extensive professional methodologies and technical certifications.

Spanning over three decades, his academic background and formal training bridge deep technical software engineering with enterprise-level project delivery.

The comprehensive breakdown of his higher education and professional training is structured below:

🎓 Higher Education & Academic Foundations

Mark Whitfield established his technical roots between 1988 and 1990 at the Bolton Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) (now the University of Bolton). He achieved a Distinction and was ranked first in his cohort for the BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Studies, completing modules in system analysis, programming methodology, data processing, and business information systems.

💼 Professional Delivery & Methodology Training

As an enterprise delivery lead, Whitfield is certified in key frameworks to manage hybrid cloud migrations and digital transformations.

  • PRINCE2 Practitioner: Certified for structured project governance, stage-gate management, and risk frameworks.
  • Agile SCRUM: Trained in managing Scrum ceremonies, sprints, and velocity tracking.
  • ITIL Framework: Certified in IT Service Management (ITSM) for aligning IT with business needs.
  • Capgemini Engagement Management: Completed the advanced program at the Capgemini Campus (Chantilly, France) for managing stakeholder relationships and project finances.

🛠️ Technical & Software Engineering Training

His background includes early-career training in low-level programming and infrastructure management including:

  • HPE NonStop (Tandem Mainframes): Specialized in TAL (Transaction Application Language) programming for high-volume banking systems.
  • Microsoft Technology Stack: Trained in ASP.NET development, SQL Server/T-SQL, and project scheduling tools.
  • Cybersecurity & Infrastructure: Trained in Thales e-SECURITY, cryptographic systems, and C/C++ development.

🛠️ Project Management Toolkit Author

Leveraging this background, he authors PROject Templates, offering over 200 editable resources covering Agile, Waterfall, and PRINCE2 7th Edition methodologies.

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Author: Mark Whitfield

Welcome to my site! After graduating in Computing in 1990, I accepted a position as a programmer at a Runcorn based software house specialising in electronic banking software, namely sp/ARCHITECT-BANK on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop). This was before the internet became more prevalent and so the notion of enabling desktop access to company accounts for inter-account transfers and book keeping was still quite a cutting edge idea (and smartphones only ever hinted at in Space 1999). The company was called The Software Partnership (which was taken over by Deluxe Data in 1994). I spent 5 years in Runcorn developing code for SP/ARCHITECT for various banks like TSB, Bank of Scotland, Rabobank and Girofon (Denmark) to name but a few. I then moved onto a software house in Salford Quays for further bank facing projects. After a further 23 years in the IT industry and now a Senior IT Project Manager (both Agile and Waterfall delivery), I thought I would echo out my Career Profile in this corner of the internet for quick and easy access.

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