North East schools invited to attend an inspiring day of innovation and new technologies
On Tuesday 26 February 2019, North East digital design and advanced technology specialist, Space Group, will host the BIM Inspiration Day – a day of inspired learning for local schools, with the support of Gateshead College and international software developer Autodesk.
The day has been designed to offer children from the ages of 11 to 14 years a chance to experience new technologies used within the construction industry, to see first-hand how this industry has evolved and can offer many varying digitally focused careers. Construction is no longer simply bricklaying and pouring concrete, there is a vast array of other roles that organise, plan, purchase, design etc. This industry offers a chance to put digital skills to work in exciting and innovative ways.
However, there is a clear and problematic skills shortage facing today’s construction industry, which needs to be addressed intelligently to secure a future for an industry with an output of more than £110 billion per annum, contributing 7% to the UK’s total GDP.
Rob Charlton, CEO of Space Group understands the urgency in introducing new talent to the industry, enabling its output to continue to grow, which is why he has created an opportunity to engage with school children to show them what opportunities are available today, and tomorrow, should they choose to map out a future career in construction.
Rob 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 UK’s 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.”
Space Group has engaged six organisations: Autodesk, FARO, Gateshead College, Space Architects, NBS and George Clarke’s MOBIE, to deliver a series of engaging workshops where the school children will experience first-hand how these future-thinking businesses use robotics, drones, virtual relativity, 3D modelling and cloud technology to deliver today’s modern methods of construction in what is now termed ‘the digital built environment’.
Taking place inside the Boiler Shop in Newcastle upon Tyne, the children from seven different schools throughout the region, will engage in immersive experiences, learn about robotics, experiment with 3D modelling and be shown how to design using the latest digital software. Before listening to industry insider stories on a career in this field and what fulfilling experiences and skills they can expect to achieve.
The ultimate aim is to demonstrate to these children, why it can be both fulfilling and rewarding to work in construction and the impressive technologies driving this industry.
The Inspiration Day is part of Space Group’s BIM Show Live conference programme. The BIM Show Live conference itself follows the BIM Inspiration day, and is also taking place also at the Boiler Shop in Newcastle, on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 February, providing a programme of 40 seminars from over 50 UK and international speakers.
BIM is ‘building information modelling’: a process of helping us build more efficiently and effectively, saving both time and budget. It’s a process to help us build smarter and plays a key part in the digitisation of construction, and it is this process which underlies the theme of the BIM Inspiration Day.
