Laing O’rourke Wins Building Magazine’s Bim Initiative Of The Year

Laing O’Rourke’s programme to create a digitally-enabled organisation has been recognised with a top honour at The Building Awards 2015.

The transformational approach to digital engineering - BIM: now it’s personal – makes the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) integral to the way people go to work, in all roles across the organisation.

It was designed ensure everyone within Laing O’Rourke has the skills required to meet the UK Government mandate for BIM level 2 on all public sector projects by 2016.

The award-winning programme saw off tough competition from Turner & Townsend, Arup and Aecom, among others. The award was presented to the team at London’s Grosvenor House hotel by TV personality David Walliams, in front of 1000 industry figures. Laing O’Rourke’s Town Hall Complex was also shortlisted for an award at the event, for Project of the Year over £50m.

Building magazine said BIM: now it’s personal is “inspired” and “inclusive”, adding that Laing O’Rourke’s approach means digital engineering “is not just for specialists but rather all members of staff”.

Beginning in 2013 as part of a wider programme of Digital Engineering engagement, it has since been rolled out globally and has significantly driven engagement across disciplines. The results have included improved predictability of project cost and programme; and decreased risk and variances. It has also produced over 200 case studies evidencing improved efficiency across the business.

Led by the in-house Digital Engineering function, an online training suite aligned to specific roles was devised in collaboration with all function heads to ensure alignment to the specific requirements of each. Enabling individuals to self-assess their current competency, identify skills gaps and further develop capability, it also allows users to track their personal development over time. The online training has been complemented by activities including awareness sessions, workshops, technical courses, articles and knowledge sharing groups.

James Eaton, Laing O’Rourke’s Global Head of Digital Engineering, said:

“National industry recognition – particularly against such strong competition – is hugely rewarding and helps inspire us further as we continue to drive transformational change.

“Laing O’Rourke understands that digital engineering is an essential enabler for the way we all go to work. This is about driving cultural change across our functional disciplines and abilities and where appropriate we have also started to include training and support to our key supply chain members, designer partners and our clients and stakeholders.”