Digital construction can drive diversity in the construction industry

The digitisation of the construction industry can help to encourage greater diversity within the sector according to David Hancock, Head of Construction at the Cabinet Office.

Speaking at the opening of Digital Construction Week at the Irish Embassy, Dr Hancock praised the collaborative effort between the government and the construction sector saying the industry had responded “vigorously” and strongly” towards the preparation of mandating BIM for government contracts.

Dr Hancock said: “This is a good news story and it just shows you what you can do when government and industry work together towards a common goal.”

He expressed his confidence that the industry is “firmly on course” to comply with the mandate to deliver construction projects more “efficiently, collaboratively and safer” than before.

Last week the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) released the findings of its ‘BIM readiness’ survey that suggested only one in six companies were fully ready to be BIM Level 2 compliant by 2016.

Through the development of digital procurement, Dr Hancock said the government had achieved its efficiency savings target of between 15% and 20%, saving the taxpayer around £3.2Bn on construction projects over the past five years.

Dr Hancock said that the advancement towards a digital construction industry wasn’t just about the development of new technology but meant a change in the kind of skillset being required in the construction industry.

Whilst pointing the need for traditional building skills will always be in demand, said: “The time has come for some new skills and the entrants will be essential if we are to meet the challenges in the years to come.”

Dr Hancock said that he had hopes that the new skills required would see a greater gender diversity and BME presence in the construction workforces of the future. He commented: “The really exciting thing for me is that we will also enable a drive and improvement of gender diversity and BME involvement in construction industry by attracting individuals who have not previously considered our industry as attractive.”

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