The ‘Information Management Initiative’ (IMI) aims to transform information management practices across the built and natural environment sector. Led by hugely commendable volunteer efforts across the Construction Leadership Council and nima (formerly the UK BIM Alliance), the IMI:

• sets out a sector-wide directive to industry, including some over-arching principles and a route-map through to 2030
• invites organisations to sign up to some over-arching principles
• encourages organisations to create an organisation-wide mandate –information principles and over-arching rules, and setting out desired outcomes – and
• will provide a framework and resources to support organisations in applying role-specific rules, standards and guidance.

IMI: Why now?

The CLC is building upon some 15 years of experience in making building information modelling ‘business as usual’ across large swathes of the UK construction sector – the UK is also influential in developing international standards and embedding industry best practice. Through the IMI, the CLC wants to build sector-transforming capabilities in applying emerging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT) and ‘digital twins’.

To capitalise upon ongoing interest in creating and maintaining safety-critical building information, the CLC, with nima, has sought to refresh existing guidance (including the UK BIM Framework) and encourage organisations to improve management of information and data across the whole life cycle of built and managed assets. The IMI vision is:

To enable the digital integration of data and information across the whole lifecycle of the built and managed environment, enhancing collaboration, efficiency, safety and sustainability to meet the evolving needs of society, business, and the environment.

The CLC and nima believe the IMI will deliver significant benefits:

The sector can derive significant improvements in cost, value, health and safety, sustainability and performance through better management of information through the whole life cycle of the built and managed environment.

I believe effective management of trusted, quality information across the whole life of built and managed assets is a key foundation for growth, supporting a safe, healthy and sustainable environment where people, businesses and civil society can thrive.

The launch of the Information Management Initiative, IMI, is just the latest step in a process we at the CLC started a year ago. Going forward, it will also require support from across the sector to bring about the changes in information management needed to become a more digitally-enabled industry.

IMI Background

We can all recall, I think, how we adopted digital tools to maintain collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the IMI requires us, as organisations and individuals, to maintain that can-do attitude and continue to shift towards more efficient ways of working and the increased adoption of common digital standards. We need to be bolder about adopting common information structures that all clients can demand in procurement and push forward throughout the operational life of their buildings and other assets.

Since late 2023, the CLC has been reviewing the Information Management ‘Mandate’. This formed part of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s Transforming Infrastructure Performance Roadmap to 2030 (September 2021). A revised Mandate was also a key recommendation within the CLC’s Creating a Productive environment for UK Construction report (September 2023) – this identified a staggering potential £45 billion saving that could be delivered by improving productivity. Efficient information and data management will be key to that improvement.

A CLC Task Group led by nima chair Dr Anne Kemp (also Fellow and Technical Director for Digital Engineering and BIM Strategy and Development, AtkinsRéalis) has been working to integrate the success of the original BIM Mandate with the current IM Mandate. She says the aim is to ensure the new approach – the IMI – is relevant and achievable across the whole of the built and managed environment both now and in the future. The aim is not to hinder, but to help, making things clearer and less ambiguous.

Through 2024, the Task Group has been consulting with professionals across the built and managed environment. It has been collating insights and feedback surrounding the approach, its scope, presentation and implementation plan.

IMI founding sponsors and IMI supporters

Many organisations already recognise the environmental, social and business benefits and competitive advantages to be gained from adoption of information and data management best practices.

Thirteen organisations – including AtkinsRéalis, BEAMA, BSI, Binnies, the CICES, the Construction Products Association, McGee and the National Housing Improvement Council – had already signed up as IMI sponsors and supporters ahead of the IMI’s launch on 7 November 2024.

To support the IMI and to help extend awareness, interest and adoption of the IMI, the CLC is seeking further sponsors and supporters from across the sector (clients, funders, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, regulators, etc). All will be recognised as organisations pushing the sector forward. I urge you to join those who have already signed up, and help the industry grasp the huge opportunities that can be delivered by better information and data management.