Brighton & Hove Education Academy (BHEA) logo
Contact Us

Project Management Fundamentals

Build real skills to improve any workplace

Start Date: 5th October 2026
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: 3rd Floor Mezzanine, The Dance Space, 2 Market Square, Circus Street, Brighton BN2 9AS

Whether you’re looking to get back into work, move into project related roles, or simply want practical tools to make your workplace run better. This course includes a NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Techniques, which is a nationally recognised qualification.

Project Management Fundamentals: Teaches you the methods used by leading organisations to eliminate waste, improve processes, and build effective teams.

This course is ideal if you’re:

  • Looking to return to work after a break
  • Seeking a career change into operations, quality, or project-related roles and to formalise your skills with a recognised qualification
  • Building confidence to take the next step in your career.

What you'll learn

  • Project Management Principles – understand core concepts such as project lifecycles, roles and responsibilities, risk management, and effective planning to deliver successful outcomes
  • Lean thinking fundamentals — understand the principles behind the Toyota Production System and how to spot the 8 wastes (TIMWOODS) in any workplace
  • Continuous improvement tools — apply Kaizen, the PDCA cycle, and 5 Whys root cause analysis to solve real problems
  • 5S workplace organisation — create clean, efficient, well-organised work environments using a proven five-step method
  • Visual management — design boards, indicators, and signage that keep teams informed and processes on track
  • Team leadership and motivation — learn what makes teams effective, how to resolve conflict, and how to support and motivate team members
  • Productivity needs analysis — identify gaps in performance and build a business case for improvement
  • Process mapping — create professional flowcharts, swim lane diagrams, and standard work documents
  • Portfolio and evidence building — compile a professional portfolio that demonstrates your competence to employers.

Career roles this course prepares you for:

  • Process Improvement Coordinator
  • Team Leader / Supervisor
  • Quality Assurance Assistant
  • Operations Support Officer
  • Continuous Improvement Practitioner
  • Lean Champion / 5S Coordinator
  • Project coordinator

Your 4-week journey

Foundations

Session 1 — Introduction to Lean Thinking

Discover where lean comes from, why it works, and how to identify the 8 types of waste that slow every organisation down.

Session 2 — Effective Teams and Teamwork

Explore what makes teams tick — from understanding different team types and structures to identifying your own role using Belbin’s model.

Tools and Techniques

Session 3 — Kaizen and Continuous Improvement

Get hands-on with the improvement tools used in industry: the PDCA cycle, 5 Whys analysis, and Gemba walks.

Session 4 — Workplace Organisation and Visual Management

Learn the 5S methodology and design visual management systems — boards, colour coding, and indicators that keep a workplace running smoothly.

People and Analysis

Session 5 — Team Leadership, Motivation and Support

Develop your leadership toolkit: resolve conflicts constructively, motivate your team, support individuals, and manage change effectively.

Session 6 — Productivity Needs Analysis

Learn to diagnose workplace performance issues through structured analysis — collecting data, identifying root causes, and recommending improvements.

Application and Completion

Session 7 — Process Mapping and Standard Work

Put it all together — map real processes using industry-standard symbols, create standard work documents, and design visual indicators.

Session 8 — Portfolio Completion and Review

Finalise your evidence portfolio with tutor support. Review your work, fill any gaps, and prepare for external moderation.

Qualification details

Full course title: NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Techniques

Qualification Number: 601/2530/5

Awarding Organisation: NCFE

Level: 2 (equivalent to GCSE grade A*–C / 9–4)

Credit Value: 15

Assessment: Internal portfolio — no external exam

Moderation: Externally moderated by NCFE

Units covered

  1. Lean Organisation Techniques in Business – understand lean principles, conduct productivity needs analysis, and map processes for improvement
  2. Business Improvement Tools and Techniques – apply continuous improvement methods, workplace organisation, visual management, and standard work
  3. Working in Business Teams – understand team types and roles, review team effectiveness, and support team members through change.

Progression

After completing this course, you could:

  • Progress to the NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Techniques or Prince2 Foundation Skills Bootcamp
  • Move into an apprenticeship with lean or continuous improvement components
  • Apply for roles in quality assurance, process improvement, operations, or team leadership.

Why choose Brighton & Hove Education Academy?

  • Expert trainers with 30+ years' combined experience in operations management, lean implementation, and adult education
  • Designed for adults returning to study — our course materials, pacing, and teaching approach are built around your needs, not a one-size-fits-all classroom
  • Nationally recognised qualification — the NCFE Level 2 Certificate is awarded by one of the UK's largest awarding organisations
  • Career support — access to career guidance and employability support

FAQ – How is this course free?

This course is funded through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) through East Sussex College Group, the UK Government’s programme for adult education and training. The ASF fully funds qualifications up to Level 2 for eligible learners — meaning you pay nothing at all.

If you’re currently receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance, you qualify for 100% funding. Your Jobcentre Plus work coach can refer you directly to the course.

There are no hidden fees, no loans, and nothing to pay back.

What our students thought…

I highly recommend the BHE- Academy Project Management Skills Bootcamp. Over eight weeks, I gained a solid understanding of the structured Project Management approach and fresh insight into leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement – skills I hadn't been formally taught in my Senior TV Production Management career. Supportive tutors, hands-on workshops and Prince2 training made it really motivating and genuinely enjoyable.
Joanne Kneafsey- Project Manager
Taking the PRINCE2 Foundation course has been a genuinely transformative experience for me. Before the course, I often struggled with finding a clear structure in my projects. The framework gave me a solid, practical methodology I can apply immediately in my day-to-day work, and it's already made my planning and decision-making far more confident and consistent. A fun and really engaging course led by some brilliant people at BHEA.
Sean Gannon - Project & Brand Designer (Freelance)
I was extremely impressed with the quality of the delivery of the Prince2 project management course at BHEA. The programme leaders gave fantastic support throughout and adapted their teaching to suit our diverse group. I would highly recommend anyone interested in project management to do this course.
Christopher Jupe- Project Manager (Financial Services)
I've been full-time self-employed since 2020. I make a point of training at least once a year. I've been on several accelerator programmes and other courses. This is by far the best and most useful training l've done. I especially loved the delivery style. I felt treated like a grown-up. More importantly, I got a lot out of the training. To me, I've learned a way to work much more efficiently and boost my confidence. I showed up not even having heard of PRINCE2 and ended up passing the exam with a very high mark. That's all thanks to BHEA.
Pierre-Yves MonnervilleFounder at Unapologaytic
Project management Fundamentals Course - Brighton & Hove Education Academy (BHEA)

Places are limited

Places remaining…
16
Apply Now

Register my interest…

Register my interest

Course schedule

  • Start date: 5th October 2026
  • Course duration: 3 Weeks
  • 3 sessions per week, Monday, Wednesday & Fridays (9 sessions total)
  • 10:00 – 14:00
  • Approximately 7 hours per week Self-Directed Study (flexible, completed in your own time within the 3 weeks)
  • 3rd Floor Mezzanine
    The Dance Space
    2 Market Square
    Circus Street
    Brighton BN2 9AS

Eligibility criteria

To access a fully funded place, you must be:

  1. Aged 19 or over
  2. Receiving an eligible benefit — Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  3. Referred by your Jobcentre Plus work coach, or contact us directly to check your eligibility
  4. Resident in England.

Employed learners earning below £25,750 per year may also be eligible for full funding. Get in touch to find out.

No formal qualifications are required to enrol. A basic understanding of a workplace environment and functional Skills  English L2 are all you need to get started.

A course interview is required

What you'll need

  • Access to a laptop or computer for self-directed study tasks
  • A willingness to participate in group activities and discussions.

All course materials (textbooks, activity sheets, and resources) are provided.

East Sussex College group logo

This course is in partnership with East Sussex College Group.

Ready to get started?

Register your interest today to secure your place on our next Project Management Fundamentals cohort. We’ll be in touch with dates, times, and everything else you need to know.

Register my interest…

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Your Full Name(Required)
Email(Required)