We’re excited to announce that PMO Learning will be delivering the Better Business Cases™ Foundation and Practitioner certification course from 22nd to 26th September 2025. This five-day immersive training offers PMO professionals a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of business case development through the lens of the UK government’s gold-standard methodology: the Five Case Model.
Why Better Business Cases?
Across the public sector, significant sums are invested annually in infrastructure, services, and transformation. Yet, research consistently shows that a majority of projects fail to deliver expected outcomes due to weak business case development. The Better Business Cases (BBC) framework addresses this gap by equipping professionals with the tools to develop clear, robust, and compelling business cases that ensure investments are justified, affordable, and deliverable.
Better Business Cases training and certification is based on the ‘Five Case Model’ – the UK government’s best practice approach to developing spending proposals and enabling effective business decisions. This training is mandatory for all those engaged in developing, reviewing or approving spending proposals for the UK government.*
Who Should Attend?
This course is essential for PMO professionals, business analysts, project and programme managers, finance managers, and anyone involved in the preparation, assurance, or approval of business cases – especially within public sector environments. It’s particularly relevant for those seeking to ensure alignment between strategic objectives and delivery plans.
Whether you’re a PMO Analyst getting to grips with governance documents or a PMO Manager helping shape portfolio-level investment decisions, the course is designed to meet you where you are. You’ll learn how to engage with business cases at every stage – from initial scoping to final delivery – and understand the role the PMO plays in making them stronger.
A Closer Look at the Five Case Model
The Five Case Model is the backbone of the course. You’ll explore each element in depth:
-
Strategic Case – Does the proposal align with broader policy and strategic goals?
-
Economic Case – Will it deliver value for money, balancing benefits and risks?
-
Commercial Case – Can the market deliver what’s required under appropriate terms?
-
Financial Case – Is the initiative affordable and sustainably funded?
-
Management Case – Are the right plans, governance, and resources in place for delivery?
You’ll learn not just what to look for, but why each case matters and how they interact.
Course Overview
Foundation Level 
The Foundation course provides a thorough introduction to the Five Case Model, covering:
- The purpose and structure of a business case.
- The strategic, economic, commercial, financial, and management dimensions of the Five Case Model.
- How business cases support effective project and programme delivery.
- Understanding the different stages: Strategic Outline Case (SOC), Outline Business Case (OBC), and Full Business Case (FBC).
The training equips participants with foundational knowledge, culminating in a 40-minute multiple-choice exam.
Why it matters for PMOs: It builds the contextual knowledge needed to evaluate business cases from both a governance and a value-for-money perspective.
Practitioner Level
The Practitioner course builds on the Foundation level and focuses on application. Delegates will:
- Learn how to develop business cases that follow best practice from concept to contract.
- Apply the Five Case Model to complex scenarios.
- Conduct option appraisal, benefits realization planning, risk management, and procurement planning.
- Practice with case study-based exercises and workshops.
The Practitioner exam is a scenario-based open book assessment lasting 2.5 hours.
What You’ll Be Doing
Both courses are interactive and practical. Expect a mix of:
-
Real-world case examples to unpack and analyse.
-
Group exercises that simulate business case development.
-
Exam preparation support (for those pursuing certification).
-
Discussions that connect the theory to your day-to-day PMO role.
The Practitioner level goes deeper, equipping you to assess complex business cases, contribute to strategic decisions, and even facilitate workshops for your teams.
Why it matters for PMOs
PMOs are increasingly seen as the gatekeepers of strategic value and governance. Being able to understand and contribute to strong, well-evidenced business cases isn’t just a useful skill – it’s essential. Whether you’re writing business cases yourself or offering oversight and assurance, your ability to spot gaps, ask the right questions, and guide teams makes a real difference.
This training is about giving you that edge. It helps you develop the confidence and insight to support smarter, better-informed investment decisions – ensuring that the projects you back are set up to succeed from the very beginning.
Reserve Your Place
Join us in our virtual classroom on the 22nd-23rd of September for the Better Business Cases Foundation course and the 24th-26th for the Practitioner course.
Get in touch here to find out more about our exclusive course bundle discount.
Enjoying Our Blog?
Sign up and receive all our articles (we’ll send you an update once a week!) plus special offers and events:
*Reference from APMG International Better Business Cases™ | APMG International
