If the construction industry expands as expected this year expected (read Trends and Predictions with the latest BIM Salary Guide update) it is inevitable that the number of opportunities for good BIM Coordinators will rise substantially over the next few months and faster than other BIM roles. Why? What are employers looking for and where?
WHY IS DEMAND RISING FASTER FOR BIM COORDINATORS?
The range of employers is widening. It used to be design teams and contractors that recruited most of the BIM talent. Now there are Advisors (strategic and operational digital consultancies), private sector Clients (owner operators), public sector Clients (central government(s), local authorities and government departments), Developers, ConTech companies (construction technology developers and resellers), Data Science and numerous start-ups taking advantage of the boom in digital construction.
- All need BIM brains that understand the need for, and how to deliver, smarter assets for increasingly demanding clients;
- Clients are more enlightened. The need for better BIM is not just increasing due to requirements but is now causing financial pain if it is not delivered. Better BIM project set up, management and coordination are crucial;
- As we emerge from the downturn, overheads remain tightly controlled and although more projects include better budgets for good BIM, Coordinators make the cost conscious happier than more experienced Managers.
The wider range of BIM employers + more projects needing better BIM + affordability = more demand for BIM Coordinators.
WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR?
1: Value for money. Employers are happy to pay the ‘going rate’ (see BIM salary guide) and more for exceptional talent. Budgets remain tight after the downturn and project costs may have been set over 2 years ago so there’s not a lot of flexibility. Nevertheless, a few job-seekers are asking for slaries way above the average and not in line with experience. The BIM salary guide aligns with experience.
2: Integrity. The desire to do the job the best it can be done. Employers are happy to ensure job satisfaction and well-being but it works both ways. The best employees who go the extra mile to ensure expectations are at least met and, ideally exceeded, get rewarded the best.
3: Communication skills. BIM is about collaboration. Good communication skills – powerful listening and the ability to truly engage (not order) others – are crucial to ensuring the better outcomes promised by BIM and increasingly sought after by smart employers.
WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES?
Looking at the BIM job board, half of the opportunities are still in London – but the ratio outside is increasing.
The number of vacancies in the DESIGN sector are highest at the moment – an indication of what’s coming through the pipeline for the BUILD sector. DESIGN teams prefer BIM Coordinators to spend more time in the office immersed in the creative air they breathe. With the greatest population of design teams in London, that’s where most of the work is. However, with some major project teams being (re)located out of London (HS2, Hinkley etc.) the trend is shifting.
In the ADVISE sector (Digital Construction Consultancies), where there is much less need to be site based, employers are taking advantage of remote working and recruiting across the UK.
BUILD BIM Coordinators, with the major Contractors, need to be more site based. The rising number of projects outside of London is increasing demand in other major cities and some more isolated regions around the UK.
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