Exploring BIM Preparedness Among National Health Service Facilities Management

In 2011, a UK government mandate stated that all public-sector construction projects must conform to BIM level 2. As the owner of one of the largest estate portfolios in Europe the NHS will be heavily impacted by the introduction of the BIM mandate. The aim of this article is to explore how prepared NHS facilities managers (FM) are for the introduction of the BIM 2016 mandate. To do this an online questionnaire survey and face to face interviews were conducted to identify NHS FM professionals' awareness, understanding, experience, and opinions of BIM and organisational readiness. Analysis of the primary data shows that NHS FM professionals are underprepared to engage fully with BIM in a competent manner with many failing to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of BIM. By developing an understanding of NHS FM professionals current skills, knowledge, experience and opinions with regards to BIM this article aims to help future studies understand what key elements should be considered by public sector organisations when establishing a BIM for FM implementation framework.