The Association of Building Engineers Southern Region assists in delivering to it’s members many training and networking opportunities
throughout the year in some of the the Uk’s most largest exhibition and training centers based in the south east of England.
The current committee consists of a diverse range of experienced building engineering specialists. The most well known being our own Regional Chairman Cliff L’Aimable who has for the past 3 years helped to steward, support and guide the committee and the membership it serves during a period that he considers to be both a progressive, yet challenging .
Interestingly in terms of how recognisable he has become especially in his position as southern regional Chairman, I find to be most intriguing
especially since so many students, members of other professional bodies , as well as manufacturers know him on a first name basis wherever we have had the privilege to represent our association, and where he always proudly displays the ABE badge logo on his lapel. This I believe is testimony alone in terms of how prominent the ABE has become, and of course all those who are willing to support and promote its ethos, aims and objectives.
He has brought to the southern region an extensive knowledge base of professional experience and skill sets which has made it arguably unique amongst all the ABE regions, especially when it comes to the advanced use of multimedia based training events hosted by our regional team members.
Treasurers Mike Wilton & Liz Williams have diligently monitored our planned programs and tightly controlled what very limited budgets we have in an endeavour to deliver the best content which our members have expressed an interest in. Mike and Liz both come from a project management background mainly derived from the housing sector.
As Regional Treasurer I’ve worked alongside the committee in helping to plan and deliver successful outcomes. Sometimes simply making information available to our members, and for those with ambitions to join or to upgrade their membership grades, the encouragement to progress with those plans.
We now help to represent the ABE at a number of leading venues such as the London Excel Exhibition Centre, Earls Court, Olympia and venues based in Wembley. A number of our events are also hosted in various hotel conference venues throughout the southern region.
The London Borough of Southwark’s Building Control Service is a training affiliate of the ABE. It has provided modern, comfortable centrally
placed venues for members of the ABE for a number of years close to London Bridge Station. A second regular venue is also provided courtesy of Gateway Housing Association located in Mile End, London.
The events are sometimes undertaken in conjunction with a number of other leading manufacturers as well as with other local authority based service providers such as the Environmental Health, Planning, and Housing Departments.
On average we provide around three cpd events per month, and over the last 36 months have managed to increase our delegate attendances. We also encourage guests to attend with the purpose of demonstrating why joining the ABE is the right choice for those who wish to enjoy a successful career in building engineering.
Our Regional Chairman Cliff L’Aimable introduced and developed new communication methods which were initially designed to deliver training content using state of the art high definition visual systems especially suitable for use at major exhibitions and training venues. His “Shortburst” methodology marries stunning motion visuals which includes computer generated content, environments, narrated content and screen text to support the live presenters in an endeavour to maximise the learning experience.
He introduced a number of leading new concepts and themes which pioneered a new period in how the ABE Southern Region represented itself and how on behalf of the whole Association we could demonstrate that we are a forward thinking, committed and an objective driven regional committee.
We recently demonstrated for instance how brief cpd overview content could be streamed to smart technologies such as the iPhone, iPhone or similar devices as a very cost effective way of sharing our plans and encouraging interest in our events.
In March 2011 the Excel Exhibition Centre hosted the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. It was the UK’s largest construction event of any kind and attracted a reported 80,000 delegates. The ABE Southern Region utilised “Shortburst” high definition visual loops at it’s stands to match the expectations of visiting delegates to such a major event. It certainly helped to promote us and to attract visitors to our displays.
The “Shortburst” presentation system was also used at other major events which was kindly sponsored by Corporate Approved Inspectors London Building Control at prestigious venues such as Lord’s Cricket Ground and The Mayfair Hotel. Complex technical subject matter was simplified by using this advanced audio visual method which also helped to maintain audience attention spans.
We have been working closely and collaboratively alongside other professional bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institutute of Building, sharing venues and learning content in mutual benefit of our members. This arrangement will be maintained for the foreseeable future, and we of course look forward to other professional collaborations as they arise.
Alina Baltariu
Southern Region Secretary
October 2011
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