NEXT SESSION
Virtual
FORMAT
Plus a 2 hour debrief
WHO IT'S FOR
2+ years’ PM experience
COST
ex VAT, member rate
HOW TO BOOK
Through Ashleigh Walsh
ABOUT THE SIMULATOR
A flight simulator for major projects
This immersive simulator puts your leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to the test in a safe yet challenging environment. It’s a unique opportunity to sharpen your decision-making under pressure, with a final debrief packed full of valuable takeaways to apply immediately in real-world project delivery.
Background
The Major Projects Association has worked with Prendo, specialists in the field of simulation software, to develop a simulation that captures the universal challenges of project management. With input from across the Association’s network of experts, the simulation is a ground-breaking learning tool, designed to dramatically improve the effectiveness of project management education and preparation events, and thus reduce the risk of making mistakes in the real world.
With the same basic rationale as a flight simulator, the Major Projects Simulator allows participants, organised in competing teams, to manage and “live” a complex project in the safety of a simulated environment. It enables participants to see a whole project from start to finish and to experience in 1 day how all their decisions in the various disciplines combine to determine the final outcomes.
It was developed after an extensive survey of the most common causes of project failure and it requires teams to make decisions and judgements in several key areas of project management.
Watch the introduction · 2 min
THE DAY, IN THREE PARTS
- Teams take on a whole project, start to finish
- Decisions across every discipline combine to set the outcome
- A 2 hour project “lessons” session — learning review, debrief and results
THREE ROUTES IN
How to access the Simulator
There are several ways in which it is possible to access the Simulator:
MOST POPULAR
A scheduled workshop run by the Association, virtually or face to face.
FOR YOUR TEAM
Classroom or virtual, delivered for your organisation.
MEMBER BENEFIT
Major Projects Association members receive a 30% discount on the standard licence fees.
THE ASSOCIATION EVENT
Major Projects Association Simulator Event
For the past few years we have been running the Simulator workshop virtually. Due to the success of this, we will continue to do so with every other course. It is aimed at delegates with at least two years of project management experience and anyone that does not claim to have perfected the art and science of project management!
Members are also invited to send managers with responsibility for project management capability and/or training, as a way of evaluating the simulation for internal learning or project initiation purposes.
During this event delegates are organised into groups of three or four and are required to make decisions and judgements in several key areas of project management such as:
- Setting and refining objectives
- Scope definition and changes
- Contract and procurement strategy
- Risk management
- Resourcing and scheduling
- Stakeholder management
“This is an excellent way to refresh Project Management skills and to see the impact of decisions made across a whole project.”
MAJOR PROJECTS SIMULATOR DELEGATE
NOT QUITE RIGHT?
Looking for a longer programme with a peer network? Challenge of Major Projects runs across four months for senior leaders.
DATES, COSTS AND BOOKING
2026 and 2027 Simulator dates
The next Simulator workshop will be a virtual session on 20th October 2026. Confirmed dates for 2027 are below.
NEXT SESSION
Virtual
2027
Virtual
2027
Face to face
2027
Virtual
Costs
VIRTUAL EVENT
MEMBER
ex VAT
NON MEMBER
ex VAT
PHYSICAL EVENT
MEMBER
ex VAT
NON-MEMBER
ex VAT
The cost of the physical event is inclusive of meals and programme materials. The fee is payable at the time of booking.
CANCELLATIONS
If the booking is cancelled between 14 and 30 days before the start of the programme, 25% of the fee will be retained. If the booking is cancelled fewer than 14 days before the start of the Programme, the total fee will be retained.
HOW TO BOOK
Register through Ashleigh Walsh
Those interested in attending are advised to register through Ashleigh Walsh, Tel: +44 (0)1865 818030 or please email Ashleigh Walsh via mpa@majorprojects.org.
OUR SIMULATION PARTNER
About Prendo
Since developing a simulation for Shell in 1998, Prendo has spent over 18 years researching how to simulate people, projects, organisations and multiple stakeholder scenarios. In 2007 the Major Projects Association commissioned Prendo to develop a simulation that captures the universal challenges of project management and in 2016 Prendo completed a major upgrade to this simulation.
To learn more about in-house workshops (classroom or virtual) based around any of its simulations, please contact Prendo:
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE
Not sure which programme is right?
Six routes, ordered by career stage. Every one of them is open to people at member organisations.