Women in BIM has launched a database of women around the world who work with BIM. The database will support women who work in this sector of the construction industry and act as a resource for learning.
The database comes in response to the CIOB report The Changing role of Women in the Construction Workforce, which stated: “Women in the UK construction industry currently account for under 10% of the workforce, reflecting their under-representation in an industry that fails to attract and retain women.”
According to the group BIM faces a perfect storm of diversity challenges and the database aims to ensure that the skills of half the population are not lost.
Rebecca de Cicco: support
Speaking at the launch of Digital Construction Week 2016, Rebecca de Cicco, chair of Women in BIM, said: “Women who work in the construction industry benefit from the support of their peers. Women in BIM was set up with this aim in mind. Our first task is to work out how many women exist in these roles, where they are located and how can we put them in touch with each other. We invite all women working in BIM worldwide to join our network.”
This confidential database will be used to:
- Create hubs of support for women to network, discuss and share ideas in the context of BIM and other digitisation working practices around the globe;
- Gather data and create a series of infographics illustrating our reach globally;
- Inform the industry as to where Women in BIM can grow and give support within each geography;
- Provide information and a practical framework to help the industry and governments and professional institutes address diversity issues in the backdrop of a digitised sector.
The database also gives women the opportunity to share their experience and offer their services as speakers and experts.
David Philp, head of BIM at the UK BIM Task Group, also commented: “Fostering a diverse, progressive and highly innovative construction workforce is essential to the future of our sector.
“As an industry we need to attract more than ever the next generation of workers whilst competing against other cutting-edge sectors; we must ensure that generation Y perceive construction as an industry which is technologically advanced and one where diversity is celebrated.
“Moreover, being fair to all is simply the right thing to do. Women in BIM are helping champion this undertaking and I look forward to working with them in promoting a better industry for all.”
