Member Article

Yorkshire professionals show support for BIM

Over 160 professionals from across Yorkshire have attended a unique launch event for BIM4SME in the region and find out more about how the government’s new BIM (Building Information Modelling) initiative will be crucial for future construction growth.

Held at the Electric Works, Sheffield Digital Campus, an exciting line-up of property experts spoke in support of BIM (a process of generating and managing 3D data on a building, including the scope of works needed) and BIM4SME. Established earlier this year after the government made the use of BIM in any public sector construction projects mandatory from 2016 onwards, BIM4SME supports understanding both the opportunity and the need to engage with BIM sooner rather than later.

Speaking on the importance of SMEs to the success of the BIM programme, Peter Hansford, the government’s chief construction advisor told the audience: “It is vital that construction professionals adopt BIM as it is the key to a much more integrated, collaborative and efficient industry, which will enable us to deliver increased construction growth. Over 95% of companies in the construction industry are SMEs, so they will be very important to the overall success of the programme.”

He also emphasised that BIM presents a fantastic opportunity to create an even more talented, diverse workforce, adding: “We are moving towards a digital economy, so we must act now and ensure we remain efficient and technology advanced.”

Chaired by Will Stirling, managing editor of The Manufacturer, guests were able to air their views and any concerns about BIM to an expert panel of specialists in a ‘Question Time’ format. The panel included the speakers as well as Kay Botcherby (Hurst SME, main contractor, Rotherham); Simon Carr (Henry Boot); Julia Evans (CEO of National Federation of Builders); John Tebbitt, (Construction Products Association) and Janet Beckett (SME practitioner - Carbon Saver).

On the benefits of BIM in helping the creation of a strong and resilient supply chain, Mike Tynan, CEO of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC), said: “SMEs must engage more quickly and firmly if they are to become serious supply chain players in the larger infrastructure projects. Therefore, it’s vital that they get on board at the early stages of this project in order to understand - and benefit from - the new thinking in procurement and supply chain management.”

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) was the lead sponsor of the event. The others were CIBSE (Chartered Institute Building Services Engineers), B&ES (Building & Engineering Services), city law firm, Nabarro and Mott MacDonald, an engineering and development consultancy.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .