The UK’s leading digital construction event, BIM Show Live was hosted for the third year running this week in Newcastle Upon Tyne, attracting national and international audiences and speakers to showcase the latest developments, discuss trends and thought leadership around building information modelling (BIM).
Hosted at the Boiler Shop in Newcastle Upon Tyne, the event kicked off with the BIM Inspiration Day, aimed to tackle the recognised skills shortage within the industry by inspiring construction workers of the future.
With an established reputation as the BIM capital of the UK, Newcastle Upon Tyne has a high concentration of expertise and companies in this highly skilled and specialist area.
Digital design and advanced technology specialists, Space Group, organised the event and engaged six organisations to take part in the day of inspired learning for 11-14-year-olds from seven schools across the North East; immersing them in experiences to learn about topics such as robotics, 3D modelling and cloud technology to deliver today’s modern methods of construction.
The interactive workshops delivered by industry leaders; Autodesk, FARO, Gateshead College, Space Architects, NBS and George Clarke’s MOBIE were designed with the ultimate aim of demonstrating to local school children how a career in construction can be both fulfilling and rewarding.
The construction industry currently has an output of more than £110 billion per annum, contributing 7% to the UK’s total GDP however, is facing an increasingly large skills shortage.
Rob Charlton, CEO of Space Group, said; “The BIM Inspiration Day is now in it’s second year and is succeeding in shining a light on the challenges we face as an industry and the solutions we need to inspire a new generation into construction.
“We have created a platform to engage with children to provide a taste of what it’s like to have a career in some of the UKs top organisations which develop new and emerging technologies within the construction industry.
“Technology is advancing at an exponential rate and is reflected within the construction sector through our use of VR, AR, artificial intelligence, drones and robotics. Young people today are immersed in technology, so it’s vital we show them that the industry is far more tech-driven than it once was.”
Paul Szomoru, Director of Business Events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau said; “This is a brilliant example of a leading business event maximising the impact it can have on the local community. In hosting BIM Show Live, Newcastle is attracting world leading experts in some incredible, next-generation subjects, and the leaders behind it are seeking to inspire local young people to see a potential career in this exciting area. What a fantastic initiative! This is about addressing a serious challenge in the digital construction industry. I’ve massive respect for Rob and Space Group for developing BIM Show Live in this way and I hope we can use their example to inspire other event organisers to look for legacy and impact initiatives of their own.”
The BIM Inspiration Day was part of Space Group’s BIM Show Live conference programme which ran from 26 – 28 February, providing a programme of 40 seminars from over 50 UK and international speakers.