黑洞社区

More details have emerged about the government鈥檚 plan to export the UK鈥檚 digital construction expertise.

Last week 黑洞社区 revealed it has been holding a series of meetings with several construction businesses, including Gleeds and Mace, about exporting the UK鈥檚 know-how in smart construction.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) told 黑洞社区 the work is being delivered through the Prosperity Fund鈥檚 Global Infrastructure Programme 鈥� a 拢25m initiative led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The four-year programme, which is running until 2021, aims to develop the capacity of middle-income countries to carry out major infrastructure projects.

The six countries involved in a pilot scheme to develop training programmes in BIM and other digital construction techniques are Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Vietnam.

It is expected that further pilot infrastructure projects will be carried out in a future phase of the programme in Colombia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

A DIT spokesperson said: 鈥淭he international adoption of BIM standards is opening up commercial opportunities for UK businesses.

鈥淭he government is working closely with industry to raise awareness of these opportunities and to encourage and support UK businesses in realising them.鈥�

Jason Millett, the boss of Mace鈥檚 consultancy business, said: 鈥淭he DIT is pushing forward a very positive agenda around exporting UK engineering, digital construction and infrastructure expertise all over the world.

鈥淭he UK has one of the most developed construction and infrastructure sectors in the world. That presents a fantastic opportunity to take a global lead on BIM, DFMA [design for manufacture and assembly] and other digital construction technology and providing a huge boost for the UK economy.鈥�

The DIT is working with the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) about these export opportunities. The CDBB has already created regional hubs in Europe, Asia and Latin America.