Firms have to continue to justify a business case for BIM

I refer to your report on the concerns highlighted in our briefing on BIM (“Specialists warn government over BIM costs”, 28 September, page 10).

I wish to make it clear that the briefing referred to in the article was sent to the BIM team at the Department for Business and a reply has been received. SEC Group’s BIM Working Party, chaired by David Frise, is fully engaged with the BIM team at BIS and also with the Cabinet Office to achieve a successful implementation of level 2 BIM.

To ensure this there has to be a broader debate within the industry - and with software vendors - on how we progress this goal. We do not wish to see firms shut out of public sector work opportunities because of unnecessary obstacles or bad practice.

SEC Group believes that BIM has massive potential for transforming the industry through early supply chain involvement in the modelling process to ensure that the design is fit for production and fit to deliver the necessary asset performance. We are working closely with the BIM Academy at Northumbria University to develop interactive tools to help firms come to grips with the technologies and processes involved.

In spite of the recession a strong interest in and commitment to BIM among firms in the specialist sector is emerging. But these firms have to continue to justify the business case for it. This will not be helped by a continuance of the problems highlighted in our briefing.

Rudi Klein, chief executive, SEC Group

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