The UK BIM Alliance was launched in October 2016 to unite the industry around the BIM Level 2 agenda, fuelled by hope, faith, the need for leadership and a voice – and a passion for a digitally transformed industry. Founding board member and engagement lead John Eynon looks back at its progress
To come up to date, the UK BIM Alliance held our latest quarterly Alliance Forum a few weeks ago. We had to get a bigger room at the IET in Savoy Place, London (big shout out to Rick Hartwig and the IET team for their constant support – thank you guys!). Around 75 of us were together to listen to the latest update on the progress of the alliance this year. It was a very upbeat and positive event. UKBIMA now has projects on the go, accolades for great work, patrons coming on board, just a little cash in the bank at last, and recognition on the global stage, particularly through our recent merger with buildingSMART UK+I.
In addition, we are developing a close working relationship with the Centre for Digital Built Britain in Cambridge on the Level 2 and 3 agendas.
Inside, I was leaping up and down. We have momentum. This is beginning to work. You can see it! We are demonstrating in very tangible and real ways that we can get industry to collaborate across boundaries and silos. We can have impact. We can make a difference. We are producing some great work.
It was a far cry from a few years ago when just a handful of us met to float the idea of the alliance, to gather the UK BIM community to push through the transformation to digital.
I’m sure there was the thought that this might not work, but equally and perhaps stronger still was the thought that we had to try.
Because no one else was standing up to do this, to provide the leadership on these issues that industry desperately needs. While BIM isn’t the answer for all issues that our industry faces, nevertheless it is a powerful catalyst for change and I have no doubt that it can impact on traditional time, cost and quality metrics, as well as safety, the environment, diversity and inclusion, the skills gap, flexible working and things we haven’t even dreamed of yet.
So here we are.
We now have a great team of people and network led by our chair, Dr Anne Kemp, who has an international reputation for her work on standards and collaboration. We are growing, and I feel two years on we are coming into our own. It is indeed the end of the beginning, but more, so much more, is yet to come.
You can get involved!
>> You can see our stuff here at the UK BIM Alliance.
>> On the website you can download resources and sign up for our newsletter.
>> You can suggest a project and get involved.
>> You could become a patron/sponsor.
>> You can help.
If you want to know more or join in with us, just contact us through the website or contact me direct.
All are very welcome to join in with us to change our industry forever, and provide a lasting legacy for today and make a real difference for future generations. What are you waiting for?
John Eynon is a journeyman architect, design manager and BIM Champ. He writes, blogs, lectures and speaks. You can catch up with him at www.zenanddm.com.
John Eynon
Engagement lead
UK BIM Alliance
Tel: +44 (0)7702 956 965
John Eynon’s Twitter: @56JONTS
Twitter: @UKBIMAlliance
