How ENGDOC built their BIM talent pipeline with continuous company upskilling and development
There are more ways to specialise in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) than just completing a training course. Sometimes all it takes is a desire to learn and a business willing to teach the right technical and digital skills. Enter ENGDOC.
The shift in construction to MMC has traditionally been hampered by a limited (but now growing) number of courses in Ireland. For many companies, this has restricted access to the right skillsets. For others this meant training the talent needed themselves.
Founded in 2006, ENGDOC provides Building Information Modelling (BIM) services, certified to ISO 19650, to the Irish and European markets. Services include graphical and non-graphical data modelling, MEP co-ordination, and point cloud surveys.
As BIM software became more sophisticated, ENGDOC kept adapting to client needs. But what remained constant to excel in BIM, despite the myriad advances in the sector, was technical drawing as a core skillset. David Mullen, Managing Director of ENGDOC, says this basic capability is surprisingly under-taught in training courses nationwide.
There are numerous BIM courses in Ireland, but many focus on BIM Management skills when what we really need is more BIM Coordinators whose focus is on technical drawing and using the software day after day.
Managing Director of ENGDOC
Rather than wait for change, David built a culture of continuous learning and development in ENGDOC to address this skills gap.
The company training centre in its Sligo head office, certified as an Autodesk Authorised Training Centre in 2016, now facilitates internal and external training in Autodesk products including AutoCAD, Revit, Plant 3D, Navisworks, and BIM360.
ENGDOC’s BIM Leads engage in regularly training with the BIM Coordinators. They, in turn, feed into the culture of continuous learning by passing these skills down to students on placement who are interested on a career in the construction industry.
We now offer extensive staff training internally, with our own certified trainers, in Autodesk and other industry-standard tools – no matter the learner’s educational background, they get this training. The qualification you have is less important to me than a passion for drawing and a hunger to learn.
Managing Director of ENGDOC
Oisin Gilmartin, BIM Coordinator at ENGDOC, is a prime example of how this works. Oisin joined the company straight out of school.
While his classmates went to college, he stayed as a trainee in a highly structured technical and field learning environment.
When I was finishing Leaving Cert, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. ENGDOC left some flyers in school for the traineeship, and I decided to try it. I quickly realised I didn’t need college, and I could learn everything I needed in-house.
BIM Coordinator at ENGDOC
Oisin now has four years of experience working as a BIM Coordinator at the age of 22. His role also gives him a clear line of career progression and a work life balance.
If I had gone down a more traditional route to a construction job, I may have had to move to Dublin or overseas. Because I work in this role, I live local, which suits me as family-oriented person, and play for my local GAA club. I know I can also do more BIM training, externally or with ENGDOC, and I’ll be supported.
BIM Coordinator at ENGDOC
Addressing the limited access to MMC training directly has served ENGDOC well on projects across Ireland, such as such as the recent community nursing units delivered in Athlone, Ardee, Clonmel, Killarney, Midleton, St Finbarr’s, and Thomastown.
These community nursing units used BIM prior to installation to ensure services were clash free before construction commenced. Once installed, point cloud surveys recorded and updated the models to an ‘as built’ status and non-graphical data added to facilitate future property operation and maintenance going forward. ENGDOC represented various mechanical and electrical contractors on each installation.
Technical expertise can be taught. A successful MMC career, say David and Oisin, comes from a passion for visualising a building’s potential and a drive to keep learning.
Visit the website to find more details engdoc.ie
