So what are the 'in demnad' skills?

[cojak]

...all I have to do now is to persuade him to go contracting...

[dozer]

Maybe, but depends on your location and what additional value you can add... and PROVE that you can add. You won't get a foot in the door with just an MSP and nothing else to support it.

MSP combined with existing experience and solid background skills gained in a consistent market such as finance, banking or utilities for example would make you more attractive.

But the reality about the MSP is that unlike PRINCE2 - it's not that in demand. My experience is that most good programme managers come up through the ranks internally. But that is not to say that roles for externals aren't out there, I just think you'd struggle unless you can show a solid CV of delivery related roles.

you mean i just cant do a week course and waltz into a programme managers role? i was thinking some kind of microsoft upgrade, say exchange 2010, they always releasing new stuffz.

you are correct in that programme managers do require specific 'real world' experience, skill sets are not necessarily transferrable across different programmes.

[Fred Bloggs]

...all I have to do now is to persuade him to go contracting...

Indeed, though the market does seem to have cooled somewhat after a bit of a pick up in activity a few weeks back. I guess it's because of the summer hols at the moment. Myself, I just got a 10 months contract renewal but at current rate -15%. That simply wouldn't have happened a short time ago.