Is your business BIM ready ? Sandwell Council is hosting a series of free Building Information Modelling focus workshops, the first BIM morning session takes place alongside construction giant and major client - Carillion and tier-one manufacturer Ash & Lacy in West Bromwich on Thursday 4 December.

From 2016 all capital build projects will have to be designed to Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) compliance. This means SMEs who manufacture or engineer construction materials, carry out product installations or offer building support services have significant potential to increase market reach and exploit new markets ?

To help our region's small businesses get ready for this change, Sandwell Council is working alongside some big contractors to hold BIM focus workshops. Ultimately we want you to be confident and ready to embrace BIM so you don't miss out on future contracts - particularly those stemming from the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital development in Smethwick.

The first workshop will take place on Thursday 4 December 2014 at Ash & Lacy's head office on Bromford Lane in West Bromwich. During this morning session, BIM experts and total beginners (and the rest of us in between!) can share BIM lessons learned, challenges faced and pitfalls to avoid.

The workshop will be facilitated by Adam Stevens, senior design manager for Carillion Plc, alongside Alex Lubbock, BIM development manager for Carillion. They will tell you:
* What BIM is and why it's being adopted by industry
* Who's behind the legislation
* Who is driving BIM forward - for example, principal contractors and their design / engineering partners
* The challenges involved in rolling BIM out through entire supply chains.
* The potential new business and benefits that BIM can offer your firm.

We'll then hear from our hosts Ash & Lacy. Matt Baines, specification manager for the tier-one company, will break down the daunting task of implementing BIM, by:
* Showing us how to create BIM objects
* Talking about the key stages involved in rolling BIM out across a manufactured product range
* Sharing the challenges Ash & Lacy faces in introducing BIM to its suppliers of materials and key components
* Explaining the contribution needed from suppliers to complete missing pieces of the BIM jigsaw, such as technical information and drawings relating to raw materials, subsidiary components, consumable parts, brackets, fabrications, fastenings, fixings, metal finishings, and so on.

Then Mark Stodgell of BIM Academy will talk about the help available to SMEs in adopting BIM. Mark will share practical advice and valuable tips on:
* Understanding the technology
* Getting backing for the change within your organisation
* How BIM will increase your company's market reach
* What is needed to begin your BIM journey
* Whether you should switch your whole business over to BIM in one go
* Training your staff.

Mark will also present some case studies on how BIM has changed the direction, and improved the market reach, for several SMEs who have embraced BIM.

Finally, Steve Massey, supply chain development officer at Sandwell Council, will round up the session with information about potential funding streams to help you implement BIM.

Here's an approximate running order for the morning:

8:00am: Registration, refreshments and networking
8:15am: Welcome from Steve Massey from Sandwell Council
8:25am: Introduction to BIM principles from Adam Stevens and Alex Lubbock of Carillion Plc
8:55am: 'Rolling out BIM across your manufacturing business' - Matt Baines, Ash & Lacy
9:25am: Tour of Ash & Lacy's production facilities
9:45am: Refreshment break
10:00am: Workshop by Mark Stodgell of BIM Academy
11:30am: Q&A session and networking
12:00 noon: Event close.

When? Thursday 4 December 2014, 8am to 12 noon
Where? Ash & Lacy Head Office, Bromford Lane, West Bromwich B70 7JJ
How much does it cost? It's free thanks to our hosts Ash & Lacy
How do I sign up? Email stephen_massey@sandwell.gov.uk or call him on 07929 353232.

This interactive event will cover the topics that are of paramount importance to the West Midlands businesses such as

- ACCESS TO FINANCE
- MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
- STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP FOR GROWTH
- PLANNING FOR GROWTH

- PLANNING FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Come and learn from the experts of a leading business school on how to grow your organisation.

These workshops are free to you as delegates to attend.

It is fully funded for the West Midlands Businesses through Aston University as they have received the funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
to work with companies & help them in increasing their competitiveness through innovation.

DATE: 18th Nov, 25th Nov, 27th Nov, 4th Dec, 9th Dec 2014
TIME: 09:30 am to 4:30 pm
VENUE: West Bromwich Albion Football Club, The Hawthorns, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B71 4LF

Businesses will receive "Managing Innovation In Business" Certificate of Attendance upon successfully attending the workshop for two days or more from Aston Business School.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided throughout each day.

This event will be of interest to owner managers, marketing and finance managers and SMEs based in the West Midlands.

To book your place at this event please click the Eventbrite link for the workshop you would like to attend and register online.

4th Dec 2014 - Access to Finance/Marketing/Social Media
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/4th-dec-2014-access-to-financemarketingsocial-media-tickets-14190545303

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce's International Trade team are delivery a workshop to help businesses see how they can help increase their export sales.

The event will be hosted by Christine Hamilton, Deputy Regional Director of UKTI and delegates will hear from Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport who will give an insight into the running of the airport and future expansion plans, particularly those relevant to exporters. Nigel Darby from the Angle Ring Co will then talk about how he has overcome various obstacles and increased their international sales.

Date: 4th December
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Venue: Holiday Inn Walsall M6 Jct. 10
FREE to attend for those already exporting or those companies with export potential

I wondered if you would be able to promote this to your relevant contacts and would perhaps like to send a representative. We have limited places for service providers.

Please click follow the link below to book
http://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/bcc-events?eventId=296&controller=event&task=individualRegister