Member Article

Waldeck opens BIM academy

Sheffield and Hull design consultancy, Waldeck, is setting up an academy to train young people in Building Information Modelling (BIM). The firm claims that the move is an investment in the future of the UK construction industry.

Following the launch of the government’s Construction 2025 strategy, which states that BIM will become mandatory for all centrally procured government contracts from 2016, Waldeck has developed a training programme to equip school leavers and graduates with the skills needed for a career in digital engineering.

Paul Waldeck, who founded the business in 1995, said he welcomes the strategy and is keen to support the growth of a highly skilled British workforce: “Thousands of jobs within the sector have disappeared because of the recession and with them so have the skills which are needed if the UK is to profit from the predicted growth in the global construction market,” explained Paul.

Waldeck was an early adopter of BIM in the UK construction industry and it is key to the company’s future growth strategy. Digital design is becoming more and more prevalent and many of the country’s major building projects, such as the flagship Leadenhall Building in London, have relied heavily on the use of BIM.

Paul Waldeck added: “We’re currently working alongside Charcon Specialist Products and main contractor, Costain, on the redevelopment of London Bridge Station and have produced a detailed, as-built, 3D model of the station using Tekla BIM software.

“The project was recently named BIM Initiative of the Year at the prestigious Building Awards 2013 and we’re keen to pass our knowledge and experience on to the next generation of designers.”

Waldeck’s new BIM Academy has enrolled six students so far who will initially be trained in CAD (computer aided design). The best ones will then progress to BIM and will have the opportunity to work on real-life projects.

The company claims that it is investing thousand of pounds training the young people and that it hopes to be able to offer them a rewarding career working on some of the most exciting construction and property projects in the UK.“

Paul Waldeck concluded “While many competitor firms are seeking or already possess an offshore solution to the skills crisis by outsourcing design and detailing work to firms in places such as India, we’re bucking the trend and creating an onshore capability by creating British jobs for people who live here in Britain.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .