The National Federation of Builders (NFB) will recognise the achievements that its member companies have made in implementing BIM processes at a ceremony hosted by Sir Geoff Hurst MBE.
Through its skills and development arm, NFB Business & Skills, the NFB has undertaken a considerable amount of work over the last few years in an effort to get small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) up and running in the world of BIM. Through our BIM Early Adoption project, delivered in partnership with Project Five Consulting, and with the support of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the NFB has been supportingbusinesses at various stages on the journey of BIM implementation.
Pivotal to the project’s success has been our BIM Exemplar and BIM Champion programmes. The BIM Exemplar programme has provided intensive support to 16 companies on their journey to become BIM ready by 2016. Each company has received assistance from an NFB BIM Adviser throughout the course of the project to assess their BIM maturity in relation to the 2016 mandate and implement a structured programme to develop their understanding of BIM.
The NFB’s BIM Champion Programme, launched in the second half of 2014, was designed to equip individuals with the skills to influence the strategic direction of the company in implementing change in response to the challenge of BIM. The first tranche of this programme has produced 77 BIM Champions to date.
To recognise and celebrate the achievements of our 16 exemplar companies and 77 BIM Champions, the NFB is holding a high profile awards ceremony on the 16 February 2015. As well as acknowledging the achievements of our BIM Champions, the afternoon session will see six industry experts debating key BIM topics with the audience subsequently voting for the strongest case. A key note speech by David Philp of the BIM Task Group will provide an update on the government’s future aspirations around BIM. The evening session will take place at the prestigious House of Commons, where it will be the turn of our BIM Exemplar companies to receive their awards and certificates. Hosted and presented by Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, we will learn how, through teamwork and collaboration, a group of individuals were transformed into the legendary world class team that went on to win the 1966 World Cup. What a great analogy as our industry strives to become globally competitive through the adoption of BIM.
The NFB’s BIM Early Adoption project, delivered in 3 distinct phases over the last 3 years, is regarded as one of the most comprehensive BIM projects within the industry and it has proved hugely successful in all areas. Our journey is by no means complete however and taking into consideration everything that has been achieved during the last few years, and all that we still have to achieve, the NFB will continue to work collaboratively with other industry bodies to provide information, guidance and support to the sector as a whole. In doing so, we aim to help NFB members and the wider industry to overcome the challenges that we still face whilst bringing the many opportunities and benefits that BIM presents to the forefront.
In the meantime, the NFB would like to take this opportunity to thank CITB for the funding that has made this work possible as well as all those who have taken part in the various programmes over the last few years.
