Digital construction report 2021
Incorporating The BIM report
We are pleased to report that 906 built environment professionals completed the survey. This sample size is in line with sample sizes that we consistently achieved for the BIM survey.
As with previous surveys, in terms of project role, consultants make up the largest group: 591 respondents, accounting for 66% of the sample. However, 119 (13%) are constructors or contractors, 82 (9%) suppliers, and 79 (9%) clients. 10% describe their role in an other way.
Many of those classifying themselves as ‘other’ are in education: students, academics, lecturers or researchers. The remainder describe themselves in terms of specific professional disciplines or job titles that include designers, BIM specialists, software vendors and marketing professionals.
(e.g. architect or engineer)
(e.g. manufacturer or distributor)
A wide range of organisation types were represented, with architectural practices being the most common (35%), followed by: multidisciplinary design practices (10%), manufacturers (9%) and main contractors (6%).
There were also engineering firms and, surveyors, as well as local authorities and education providers. Other organisations include developers, facilities management companies, landscape architects, housing associations, distributors, health providers, builders’ merchants, central government, project managers and software vendors.
Those describing themselves as architects were the most common professional discipline (26%), followed by BIM specialists (18%). Several other design disciplines were represented – some of these will be working at supplier, contractor or client organisations, as well as for consultants.
5% were project managers. Others included technical product specialists, design managers, structural engineers, marketing specialists, landscape architects, asset managers, facilities managers, interior designers, sales professionals and those in education.
All organisation sizes were represented, with the most common being those with more than 1000 employees (21%).
Almost two thirds (64%), or 574 respondents, were based in the UK, meaning that 36% were based in other countries. This is an increase in the proportion of international respondents and the highest that we have seen. 95 respondents (11%) were in Asia, 92 (10%) in Europe outside the UK, and 48 (5%) in North America. Africa, Ocean and South America were also represented.
Those selecting ‘other’ gave more general locations such as continents, multiple locations, or worked in one place but were based in another. There were also a small number based in locations not classified by the United Nations (the source of our list) as countries, such as Hong Kong, the Isle of Man and Taiwan.
In reflection of built environment professions, there were far more male respondents (659 or 78%) than those identifying themselves as another gender. 187 (22%) respondents described themselves as female.
