Tag: IT Training

Mark Whitfield – Career IT Training by Era and Year

Mark Whitfield‘s career training courses and certifications span over three decades, evolving from low-level mainframe engineering roots to advanced enterprise cloud agile delivery and stakeholder engagement governance.

Mark Whitfield, Career IT Training by Era and Year
Mark Whitfield | Career IT Training by Era and Year

The detailed breakdown of his professional training is organized below by chronological career era and year:

💻 Era 1: Early Engineering & Technical Analysis (1990–1995)

During his early software development years at The Software Partnership and Deluxe Data, his training focused entirely on low-level mainframe performance and fault-tolerant architecture configurations.

  • 1993 – TANDEM Guardian Principles Course: Covered core Tandem fault-tolerant operating system architectures and file security configurations.
  • 1994 – VPS 7000/9000 Series Application Development (VOS 4.3): Specialized training in legacy platform application configuration and system engineering.
  • 1995 – TANDEM TAL (Transaction Application Language) Programming: Focused on high-performance, low-level systems programming optimized for secure transaction monitors.
  • 1995 – TANDEM Performance Analysis and Tuning: Code profiling, identifying infrastructure bottlenecks, and mainframe system optimization.

🏦 Era 2: Senior Development & Product Management (1995–2013)

As Whitfield transitioned from pure core engineering into product and delivery management at Insider Technologies Limited (ITL), his training balanced web application engineering, modern databases, and his first structured project management credentials.

  • 1997 – C++ for Non-C Programmers: Covered object-oriented application design, memory management, and structural code transitions.
  • 1998 – Microsoft Project ’98 Certification Series: Advanced training in Critical Path method modeling, timeline layouts, and project tracking metrics.
  • 1999 – Managing Multiple Projects, Objectives and Deadlines: Focused on multi-project tracking, prioritization techniques, and timeline optimization.
  • 2000 – Fundamentals of Successful Project Management: Early career certification exploring project initiation frameworks and core management mechanics.
  • 2006 – How to Design Attention-Grabbing Brochures, Catalogues, Ads, Newsletters and Reports: Desktop publishing formatting, layout typography, and corporate design principles.
  • 2007 – Developing MS ASP.NET Web Applications using MS Visual Studio .NET (Course 2310B): Deep dive into building scalable web components, data binding with ADO.NET, web controls, and XML Web Service integration.
  • 2009 – Querying Microsoft SQL 2000 with Transact SQL (M2071): Scripting, database querying architectures, and data manipulation.
  • 2009 – Website Visibility and Promotion by Design: Explored search engine discoverability metrics and web application positioning mechanics.
  • 2009 – Writing for the Web: Focused on content architecture and copy optimization for digital platforms.
  • 2011 – PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner: Formal training in structured waterfall project governance, stage-gate management, and risk frameworks via ILX Group.
  • 2011 – Agile SCRUM Training Course: Sprint ceremonies, user story mapping, agile delivery mechanics, and backlog prioritization via RADTAC.
  • Unspecified (Insider Tech Era) – Selling Insider Technologies Successfully: Focused on strategic relationship building, value proposition mapping, and enterprise software sales processes.

☁️ Era 5: Enterprise Cloud, Integration & Public Sector Leadership (2016–Present)

Note: During Era 3 (Professional Services Banking Delivery, 2013–2014) and Era 4 (Digital Sportsbook Transformation, 2014–2016), Whitfield focused on direct portfolio delivery. He heavily updated his training credentials again upon entering senior enterprise delivery at Capgemini.

  • 2017 – Advanced Engagement Management Course (Level 2 Exam): Certified at the Capgemini Campus (Serge Kampf Les Fontaines in Chantilly, France), focusing on enterprise stakeholder management, delivery financials, and large-scale delivery mechanics.
  • 2017 – Microsoft Excel 2010 (Expert Skills): Complex variance mapping, financial track design, and cross-functional project tracking sheets.
  • 2019 – Engagement Manager eLearning & Group Training: Covered Capgemini operational workflows, anti-corruption policies, and corporate IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) risk mitigation protocols.
  • 2022 – AZ-900 Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals: Cloud architecture concepts, cloud security protocols, and core Azure deployment ecosystems.
  • 2024 – Microsoft Excel Refresher Course: Modern data analysis formulas, validation tracking, and programmatic report structures completed via Udemy.
  • Ongoing (Capgemini Era) – ITIL Framework: IT Service Management (ITSM) and aligning enterprise IT operations with business outcomes.

Also between 2016 and 2025 :

Capgemini Group Mandatory Learning

  • Code and Business Ethics (25 mins)
  • Understanding IPR (15 mins)
  • Group Anti-Corruption (45 mins)
  • Group Competition Laws (60 mins)
  • Cybersecurity Essentials (5 modules, 6–12 mins)
  • Understanding Privacy (45 mins)

Foundation Level & Certification Training

  • My Passport to EM (80 mins)
  • Transition Webinar (60 mins)
  • LEAD Programs (2–80 mins)
  • UPM/USM Modules (30–60 mins)
  • UniQue (5 mins)
  • Bluebook & Lean (30 mins)
  • CCNG (60 mins)
  • CAF (30 mins)
  • Commercial Management 101 (90 mins)
  • RapidStart (45 mins)
  • Estimation and Measurement (45 mins)
  • Transition Detail Modules (4–6 mins)

Local UK Business Unit (BU) Training

  • EM Refresher (1 day)
  • Commercial Training (0.5–1 day)
  • Project Financial Management (1 day)
  • e-Tools (3–5 mins)
  • Maturity Matrix (5 mins)

Mark Whitfield – Education, IT Training & Career Timeline

Mark Whitfield is an established, UK-based, SC-cleared Senior IT Project Manager and Engagement Manager at Capgemini UK with over 35 years of experience spanning the entire Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).

Mark Whitfield IT Project Manager Education and Career Summary
Mark Whitfield | IT Project Manager | Education and Career Summary

Specialising in complex digital transformations, hybrid cloud migrations, and API-led system integrations, he has successfully directed multi-million-pound initiatives for major blue-chip clients, including Barclays, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Royal Mail Group (RMG), and the Bank of England.

Beyond corporate consulting, he is the founder and author of PROject Templates, an open repository containing over 200 professional project management resources and frameworks.

🎓 Education & Higher Learning

Mark Whitfield built his technical foundation in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Greater Manchester:

  • Higher Education: Graduated with an HND (Distinction) in Computing (1988–1990) from the University of Bolton (formerly known as the Bolton Institute of Higher Education).
  • Further Education: Studied at Leigh College, completing preliminary computing and technical certificates.
  • Secondary Education: Attended Park High Secondary School.

🛠️ Professional IT & Management Training

Throughout his career, Whitfield has continuously updated his project governance credentials across Agile, Waterfall, and technical infrastructure ecosystems:

Project Management & Framework Governance

  • Advanced Engagement Management (Level 2): Certified at the Capgemini Campus (Serge Kampf Les Fontaines in Chantilly, France) for enterprise client delivery.
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner & Foundation: Registered practitioner status achieved through the ILX Group.
  • Agile SCRUM Framework: Advanced agile mechanics and sprint methodology training completed via RADTAC.
  • ITIL Foundation: Certified in ITIL service management infrastructure.
  • Project Management Fundamentals: Completed specialized tracks including “Managing Multiple Projects” via Skillpath.

Cloud Infrastructure & Technical Programming

  • AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals: Certified in cloud architecture concepts.
  • Mainframe & Enterprise Systems: Highly trained in HPE NonStop/Tandem architectures, including GUARDIAN, TAL (Tandem Application Language), Transaction Handlers, and SQL performance tuning.
  • Programming Languages: Formal background in C, C++, Transact-SQL, COBOL85, Java/Android development (via Eclipse), and the ASP.NET framework.
  • Cybersecurity & Cryptography: Completed specialist technical courses with Thales e-Security covering PayShield hardware security modules (HSM), SRM, and SafeSign configurations.

💼 Comprehensive Career & Project Breakdown

1. Enterprise Cloud & Integration Era (2016–Present)

Role: Senior Engagement Project Manager at Capgemini UK

  • Hybrid Cloud Migrations: Spearheaded massive cloud transformation workstreams migrating legacy on-premise infrastructure into Microsoft Azure and AWS ecosystems.
  • MuleSoft Delivery Management: Augmented into MuleSoft (a Salesforce company) as a Delivery Manager. He directed API-led connectivity frameworks across the Anypoint Platform to seamlessly unify decoupled enterprise systems.
  • Key Client Engagements: Managed high-stakes project deliveries for strategic portfolios, including Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Royal Mail Group (RMG), Euroclear, NATS, and the Bank of England.

2. Digital Sportsbook & Retail Transformation Era (2013–2016)

Role: Senior Agile IT Project Manager at Betfred & Wincor Nixdorf

  • Betfred Mobile Sportsbook: Acted as Senior PM delivering complex, high-concurrency mobile sports betting applications and integrated web payment gateways. Managed continuous integration pipelines during critical sporting events under strict regulatory frameworks.
  • Wincor Nixdorf Automation: Delivered software pipeline deployments for automated teller machines (ATMs) and banking point-of-sale (POS) hardware terminals across European retail networks.

3. Technical Consultancy & Product Management Era (1995–2013)

Role: Product Manager & Project Manager at Insider Technologies Limited (ITL)

  • Multi-Product Lifecycle Control: Directed the end-to-end SDLC of four core automated system management products. Focused on real-time transaction tracking and Service Level Agreement (SLA) monitoring for global mainframes.
  • International Banking Deployments: Headed multi-disciplinary engineering squads to build and deploy high-volume transaction surveillance systems based on BASE24 ATM architectures.
    • Delivered major implementations for HSBC (2008) and Al Rajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia (2012).
    • Collaborated with joint architects at Alliance & Leicester (now Santander) to design, construct, and execute an advanced ATM/POS performance tracking engine.

4. Early Software Engineering Era (1990–1995)

Role: Core Programmer / Software Developer at The Software Partnership (Acquired by Deluxe Data International in 1994)

  • Electronic Banking Mainframes: Began his career immediately after graduating, authoring COBOL85, TAL, and NonStop SQL code for pioneering electronic banking systems.
  • sp/ARCHITECT-BANK Platform: Maintained and enhanced core terminal software running on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop). Implemented corporate inter-account desktop transfer modules for global institutions such as TSB, Bank of Scotland, Girofon (Denmark), and Rabobank.

📊 Industry Contribution: PROject Templates

Outside of corporate project delivery, Whitfield publishes structural planning toolkits widely referenced across modern PMOs. His platform, PROject Templates, focuses on accelerating fast-track client-facing deliverables through downloadable blueprints:

  • Core Artifacts: Customisable MS Project Plans (MPP) and advanced Excel Financial Trackers.
  • Governance Frameworks: Comprehensive, cross-functional RAID Logs (Risks, Actions, Issues, Dependencies), RACI Assignment Matrices, and Plan on a Page (POaP) timelines.