Think Sandwell, in conjunction with Carillion – the UK’s leading integrated support services company and the preferred bidder to build the £430m Midland Metropolitan hospital in Smethwick – is unveiling a state-of-the-art BIM (Building Information Modelling) Technologies and Skills Development suite at an event on 8^th October.

The BIM Technologies and Skills Development Suite will provide a platform for manufacturers and suppliers to learn more about BIM and develop their skills in product designs, 3D modelling and digital engineering using easy-to-configure 3D software. The Suite will support local companies to meet the legislative requirements of becoming BIM-compliant by 2016.

Alex Lubbock, BIM Development Manager for Carillion said: “We are delighted to be launching this dedicated training facility in partnership with Sandwell Council. We hope that as many of the region’s businesses as possible will sign up to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to ensure that they are up to date with the latest technological advances, giving them a real business advantage going forward.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, jobs and economy, said: “The West Midlands is a world-class manufacturing base and it’s important to innovate, use new technology and have the right skills in place to make our region’s supply chain more competitive. Through this project, we are offering practical support to help small companies develop specialist skills.”

At the event on 8^th October, which aims to champion the region’s talented supply chain to Carillion, Think Sandwell will also be officially launching the West Midlands Virtual Hospital (WMVH), a digital building which will showcase the skills and capabilities of the region’s businesses in building and running a 21st-century hospital.

Virtechs, the company who created the West Midlands Virtual Hospital model, will run practical BIM advice and training workshops. David Emery, director of architectural and design consultancy at the firm, explains why manufacturing and construction suppliers should embrace BIM techniques in the near future:

“Building Information Modelling is at the heart of the government’s 2011 Construction Strategy which seeks to drive down costs through innovation and collaboration.  Far from being purely a technology, BIM is, first and foremost, a business process which – although it exploits technology – requires the building of long-term relationships and trust between businesses for their mutual benefit. By sharing data, businesses can have access to the information they need at the time they need it.”

The official opening of The BIM Technologies and Skills Development Suite will form part of the ‘Meet the preferred bidder day with Carillion’ and takes place on Thursday 8 October 2015 at the CAP Centre, Windmill Lane, Smethwick B66 3LX (adjacent to the Midland Metropolitan hospital site) from 8am to 1pm. It is free to attend as a delegate. To reserve a place, please email Steve Massey, Sandwell Council’s Supply Chain Development Officer, on stephen_massey@sandwell.gov.uk