- New digital platform is designed to plug the skills gaps of the global construction community at a key time of challenge and change - BRE’s training and education arm, the BRE Academy, has launched a new eLearning platform (bre.ac) designed to meet the changing needs of the construction operatives, professionals and leaders in the UK and around the world. With an initial 25 digitally delivered courses ranging from BIM Essentials and BREEAM Associate to Manging Change - Risk in Construction, the aim of bre.ac is to make and deliver quality education and training more accessible to time poor people and organisations needing to upskill. Courses carry recognised qualifications* and CPD certification** and are developed by leading global experts in the field. At a time when the skills shortages and gaps are thought to be significantly hindering progress in the construction sector, 250 modules of the new platform's BIM Essentials course were sold during the live beta testing stage of the site with multiple sales for staff in world renowned design and engineering consultancy BDP. ‘BDP sees the BIM Essentials online training course as an important step along our BIM journey. By providing a flexible learning platform that addresses the UK BIM Level 2 mandate and associated processes we will raise awareness and knowledge across a wider staff base, moving past software training and ensure job runners have skills necessary to address BIM Level 2 and beyond’ said Alistair Kell, Director of Information and Technology, BDP. BRE Academy Director Pauline Traetto said ’One of the key issues we identified in our recent skills gap survey was the need for accessible learning via the web and mobile that fits around the people rather than the training providers - bre.ac represents the positive action we decided to take in response to this. The early indications from course sales data are most encouraging with several hundred people accessing learning in their workplace, while commuting on the train and in the comfort of their home. With the global online training market predicted to grow by 18% by 2020, for us this is the future of learning’ To celebrate the launch of the new platform, the BRE Academy is offering 50% discount on courses booked on 16 May only. For further information please contact Linda McKeown, BRE, email pressoffice@bregroup.com or go towww.bre.ac NOTES TO EDITOR * Qualifications providers include City & Guilds and ABBE (Awarding Body of the Built Environment) ** CPD accreditation approved by BRE, CIAT (The Chartered Institute of Environmental Technologists) and IEMA (Institution of Environmental Management & Assessment) BRE Academy As the specialist training and development division of BRE, famous for its science-based research, standards and tools, the BRE Academy is able to deliver leading edge services to improve the performance and competence levels of individuals in the workplace, address the knowledge and skills gap, develop the next generation of skilled operatives and professionals and deliver accessible and practical CPD, and lifelong learning programmes. Courses are developed and written by world-renowned specialists who have shaped industry standards, ensuring delegates gain access to meaningful, relevant and interesting training programmes. For more information please visit www.breacademy.com