Out of work graduates go to high-tech bootcamp in search for jobs

THE PLIGHT of unemployed graduates in the UK, particularly London its capital, has been highlighted in the press and on the national news.
 
Bizarrely, the UK’s major high tech industry – data centres – have been having major difficulties finding suitable recruits to work in these ‘factories of the future’ – they are often the size of five or six football pitches and packed with tens of thousands of computer servers. 
 


August saw the start of Data Centre Bootcamp which aims to help out of work graduates and forces-leavers to find work in this exciting industry.
 


As well as tens of thousands of computer servers, Data Centres also contain massive electrical and mechanical installations, with generators as big as a ship’s engine and an amazing array of industrial-scale pipework.
 


A medium size data centre can use as much electricity as a small city - yet they are 100 per cent more efficient than company server rooms. A very wide range of skills from Electrical and Mechanical Engineering to IT and sales are needed.
 


Probably the fastest growing area of the UK economy – and behind almost everything we do in today’s digital world, data centres are almost the only ‘factories’ remaining in the UK economy. And they’re absolutely critical because everything from airline booking systems and air traffic control, to traffic-light phasing, Facebook status updates, tweets, e-mail, supermarket tills and stock control, Amazon, e-commerce. In fact just about every business you can think of now relies upon data centres for its operation.
 


Amazingly, the average age of people in the data centre industry is fifty-something and there’s a major skills shortage coming in this vital industry. The DCA has worked with our many Data Centre Operator members to come up with ‘Data Centre Bootcamp’ which started on the 13th August with TV news coverage by ITN.

We hope this Bootcamp will give many unemployed graduates, and some of the highly able people now being forced out of our armed forces, the extra skills they need to become credible interview candidates for data centre employers. 


The first pilot of Data Centre Bootcamp was devised by the Data Centre Alliance and is being run at the University of East London’s Dockland’s campus. The Bootcamp is free to the attendees thanks to the sponsorship of training company C-Net and of two of London’s biggest data centre employers, Telecity and Telehouse. Both organisations run massive data centre complexes in Docklands and are hoping that at the end of the Bootcamp will have some of their best interview candidates in years.
 


For the members of the Data Centre Alliance, their expectation is that the pilot 10-day intensive will turn most of the 21 attendees into highly employable recruits.
 


If successful as expected, Data Centre Bootcamp will be run on a much larger scale in London, throughout the UK, Europe and the Far East.
 
The 21 ‘Bootcamp-ees’ on the pilot are mostly out-of-work Londoners including graduates of UEL, Queen Mary and Middlesex Universities.

Additionally, three are forces leavers, plus a PhD student from Leeds who sees the Data Centre Bootcamp as her best chance of getting into this exciting and challenging industry.

Emily Spink, ARC:MC Ltd discusses the special interest group BIM4DC

BIM4DC is a Special Interest Group (SIG) partner to the Government’s BIM Task Group (www.bimtaskgroup.org). The Cabinet Office published The Government Construction Strategy on 31 May 2011. The report announced the Government’s requirements for: collaborative 3D BIM (with all project and asset information, documentation and data being electronic) on its projects by 2016.

BIM4DC has been formed to provide a forum to promote and share knowledge on BIM between its members and those within the Data Centre Industry who may be affected by this legislation. We will strive to raise awareness of BIM, share best practice, ensure that a consistent message is delivered to the supply chain and allow a feedback route directly to the BIM Task Group.

A brief summary of the BIM process for those who have not heard about it or need a refresher:
The key to the success and visible ROI of a BIM project is by the take up of BIM by all those involved on the project. By using the BIM process, there are several benefits that will make any project run smoother, quicker and more efficiently. The creation of a 3Dimensional federated model, which integrates all parties’ information, allows for better communication and quicker and more informed design decisions. The federated model allows advanced spatial analysis/coordination across all disciplines. This provides you with a certainty that elements will fit together flawlessly when constructed / fabricated on site.
The client and design teams can see how the project will look in a 3D immersive environment and can make instant design decisions. Increased project visualisation allows a clearer understanding of the project, thus speeding up the design stage and reducing variations at a later stage of the project program. The coordination review begins with the principal design team and continues through with sub-contractors and specialist trade suppliers. This provides an extended element of reduced risk when dealing with a Contractors Design Portion of works. Any change to one element instantly changes the rest of the documentation. As different disciplines can all work simultaneously from one federated model the overall programme of works is reduced. During the design and early construction process certain tools can be applied to the BIM model which dynamically link the model with Construction programmes and cost plans. When new data is received from a particular party with a potential design change it can be analysed very quickly in terms of its effect on programme and cost implications, rapidly reported in minutes rather than days. Resource can be streamlined using 4D time simulation on a model, reviewing how best to build a certain project and proving its buildability. This again reduces risk and prevents any abortive work that may have been historically carried out.

A BIM Model used during construction doesn’t just get saved to a CD and filed away. The intention is for the information collected during design and construction is utilised throughout the life cycle of a building. Building owners and managers can access asset information and complete maintenance works via an As-Built BIM Model. This information can also be used at the end of a building lifecycle, assisting in the demolition process.

BIM4DC is free and open to Data Centre industry professionals. This includes; supply chain, developers, consultants, contractors and end-users. Group membership is subject to approval from the Management Committee. Incorporated in the committee are the following industry representatives; Emily Spink of ARC:MC LTD (Chair), Paul Field of ARC:MC Ltd (Design Representative), Sarah Davidson of Gleeds (PM/QS Consultant Representative), Manus Kyle of Excitech (CAFM Representative), David Philp of Mace (Construction Representative), Lee Prescott of RED Engineering (Engineering Representative) and Simon Campbell-Whyte of Data Centre Alliance (DCA Representative).
The group is supported by the Data Centre Alliance (DCA). The DCA represents the data centre industry to the business world, the media, governments and the general public. In addition to promoting the adoption of best practice design and operational standards, the DCAs primary role is to act as an Accreditation Body for these standards.
BIM4DC will be issuing a survey in September which we hope will give us a better understanding of how we can continue to develop and aid the Data Centre sector with BIM going forward. Please look out for it and let us know your thoughts!

Join the DCA at DataCentres Ireland 5th-6th November

DataCentres Ireland combines a dedicated exhibition, adjacent multi-streamed conference giving attendees access to the latest in information, best practice, products, services and solutions. As official partners,
The Data Centre Alliance will be exhibiting at the event on stand 136. Register free to come and see us on the stand, listen to our interactive session on the European Research Project and ensure you pop along to the Data Centre Alliance sponsored networking drinks. The Conference is your opportunity to hear the latest in ideas, best practice and case studies presented by leading industry experts, and take part in facilitated discussions.DataCentres Ireland addresses every aspect of planning, designing and operating your datacentre, server room, storage facility or solution.DataCentres Ireland is FREE to attend.

Register now via the website http://www.datacentres-ireland.com/registration or present your completed registration form at the door. So seize the opportunity and be part of something big.

Join DataCentres Ireland on 5-6 November 2013.