Managing the flow of information within organisations or projects is critical to improving team performance, which is facilitated through the development of frameworks for creating, sharing, retaining and re-purposing valuable information over the life cycle of projects. A significant challenge for BIM managers is maintaining a long-term perspective for information management in the face of short term constraints that are present in every organisation and project. Effective BIM management requires the vision to see and ability to follow the path that leads to better business process. The Centre for Modern Environment (CME), a new faculty of Portobello Institute, offers a range of courses across the natural and built environment sectors with excellent links to industry. All these thriving sectors are currently offering excellent career opportunities, according to CME managing director Rebekah Lyons. “The professions of facilities management and waste management are amongst the fastest growing professions in Europe, while jobs in the green energy and sustainability sectors are also plentiful,” she added. Identifying a gap in the market, CME has announced its new Building Information Modeling (BIM) programme for autumn. CME is the only education provider currently in Ireland offering training in this specialised area at management level. Aimed at those managing a construction project or maintaining a building, the programme is a series of six concise BIM workshops introducing design, construction, building product manufacturing, facilities management and client stakeholders to the BIM management process. The BIM programme is delivered by Irish-based architect and BIM consultant Richard DePalma (DPW Group, RKD Architects); Irish construction IT, quantity surveyor and BIM consultant Trevor Woods (DPW Group, Construct IT); UK architect and BIM consultant Rebecca DeCicco (Digital Node); and chartered facilities-management (FM) surveyor and director Kath Fontana (BAM FM). The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) suite of Facilities Management programmes is among the most popular programmes offered at CME. Currently the CME in Dublin is the only college in Ireland to offer BIFM accredited training for FM professionals. Speaking on the training needs of the sector, Lyons said, “Facilities management is a rapidly growing sector in Ireland seeing a steady growth over the past five years. There has been an increased awareness of cost, quality, energy and sustainability issues. “I believe FM companies are faced with two choices – to upskill or to outsource,” she continued. “The traditional view of FM companies was to outsource; however, with clients taking the long term view, the CME has observed that FM companies are taking the longer term view too – up-skilling staff and developing talent strategically is now viewed as the best approach to deliver on the long-term needs of key clients.” With this in mind, the CME has expanded its range of FM training programmes. It now offers BIFM Level 3 to 6 programmes delivered on a part-time basis in Dublin, Cork or Galway, in addition to Energy Management, Environmental Impact Assessment and BIM. The entry-level BIFM accredited Level 3 Diploma in Facilities Management is aimed at those starting out on their career in FM and is also suitable for first-line managers and supervisors seeking to develop their skills, while gaining a recognised FM qualification, while the Level 4 programme is aimed at those already working at an operational management level or aspiring to do so. The BIFM Level 5 qualification is geared towards facilities managers with existing experience working in middle- to senior-management with responsibilities for specialised and complex FM functions. The programme is designed to enable the critical evaluation of operational and strategic facilities management. At the top end of the scale, the BIFM Level 6 qualification is for facilities managers already employed at senior strategic level, with responsibility for the strategic review and development of FM service provision. It is also suited to holders of BIFM 5 who want to progress their career. For further information, visit www.cmeireland.com or call 01 892 0000.