The prestigious Construction News Awards recognise amazing projects, technical innovations and forward-thinking companies in the construction sector.

We are a finalist for the Digital Construction Excellence and Best Use of Technology categories.

• Digital Construction Excellence Finalist

Glider is shortlisted for the Digital Construction Excellence category for its work on the Stratford Waterfront project in London. Appointed by the main contractor, Mace, Glider manages the digital handover of documentation, 3D models and asset data for the client, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC).

Using gliderbim®, we established the LLDC information requirements into a digital plan of work. This plan of work automated the verification of attributes within tens of thousands of data points within IFC and COBie files and documents. This ensured LLDC obtained quality and consistent information at the point of handover.

LLDC recognised the value of our work and recommended the tenants of the new Waterfront building use gliderbim® as a way of maintaining the valuable Asset Information Model (AIM) in operation. This ensures that as the landlord, they always have an accurate Information Model of their asset.

• Best Use of Technology Finalist

This award shortlisting recognises our work with the Ministry of Justice alongside Kier and Future Decisions. The consortia has worked on a Digital Twin Energy Performance focused Pathfinder project for a single houseblock at the new build prison, HMP Five Wells, Northamptonshire.

Phase one of the Pathfinder project ran from July to December 2023. It started with establishing the link between the static building data already gathered (BIM) and the dynamic live building data from existing sensors and Building Management Systems (BMS).

Initial findings show the Digital Twin has potential to deliver operational carbon and energy savings of between 20% and 40+%. Achieved by the effective use of the data already available to retune aspects of the building’s systems.

• The Judging Process

All finalists will present live to the judging panel in May. The awards ceremony takes place in Central London on 11 July 2024

This is the first time that Glider has entered the Construction News Awards. We are privileged to be named as a finalist and for our work to be recognised alongside some of the industry’s best and well-known companies.

It is almost eight years to the day since Glider was first established, and today we are announcing a new exciting phase for the company. Following an intensive process, Glider has selected a new investment partner to accelerate its growth.

Glider was first founded in April 2016 by Nick Hutchinson and Steve Rukuts. Since then it has grown to become an industry-leading provider of digital solutions and BIM consultancy working with some of the UK’s largest construction companies, well-known corporates and public sector organisations.

In 2023, Nick and Steve decided to look for an investment partner to help them realise their future growth ambitions. After meeting a myriad of potential partners, Nick and Steve selected Brighton-based private equity company, Cow Corner.

Cow Corner is a small, privately owned investment business that supports services and software businesses in the UK. They choose to invest in businesses that help other businesses manage their day-to-day operations – which is why Glider was the perfect match.

Nick Hutchinson, CEO of Glider, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This marks the start for the next incredibly exciting growth phase for Glider. The support and investment from Cow Corner will help us to realise our full potential and accelerate our plans. With a shared vision and proven track record, Cow Corner is the perfect partner for us.”

Co-Founder and IT Director, Steve Rukuts, shares Nick’s enthusiasm for this partnership: “The investment and support from Cow Corner is going to be a game-changer for Glider. We’ve built a solid platform of software solutions we believe in, matched with a strong, diverse and expert team of technically minded digital specialists. I’m looking forward to seeing how we can further develop our software platform to make it even better for our clients.”

The significant investment from Cow Corner will help Glider to realise future ambitions and accelerate growth. It will enable further investment into our team, expand our capabilities and fund potential future acquisitions.

As we embark on this new course of growth and innovation, we remain committed to delivering unrivalled support and services to our clients.

The future for Glider is bright and we are looking forward to sharing more of our exciting plans with you very soon!

Glider Technology has once again achieved the ISO 27001 certification. This reaffirms our dedication to maintaining the highest standards and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring the trust and confidence of our clients and partners.

ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an information security management system. It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information, ensuring its confidentiality, integrity and availability. Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 certification requires rigorous adherence to stringent requirements and best practices. This demonstrates our ability to effectively manage and mitigate risks.

Glider’s focus on information security is paramount. We understand the critical importance of protecting our own and our clients’ information assets. By maintaining the ISO 27001 certification, we demonstrate our commitment to implementing robust controls, processes and procedures to safeguard sensitive data.

The reaccreditation process involved a comprehensive audit of our information security management system. This ensures that we meet the highest standards for protecting confidential information. Our team’s hard work and expertise have once again been validated, and we’re proud to continue providing our clients with the highest levels of security and trust.

Find out more

Take a look at our other accomplishments here.

Ajay has been an integral part of our journey since he joined Glider in August 2021.

In his role as Senior Risk & Compliance Manager, Ajay has played a crucial role in implementing and monitoring operational risk mitigation programmes. This ensures Glider is adhering to the highest standards of governance and compliance. His deep understanding of compliance and risk management has been instrumental in maintaining our company’s integrity and reputation, especially during a period of rapid growth.

As Glider continues to expand, we recognise the importance of not only maintaining our high standards of compliance but also enhancing our internal processes to deliver exceptional services and exceed customer expectations. In his new role, Ajay will have a broader scope, working closely with teams across the business to optimise processes, maintain quality standards and foster collaboration with vendors and suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of goods and services.

This promotion also reflects Glider’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth and development. Our Career Development Review (CDR) process, introduced three years ago, underscores our dedication to supporting our employees as we continue to evolve and grow as a company.

Henry Saunders, Glider’s Head of Operations, captured the sentiment surrounding Ajay’s promotion, stating, “Ajay’s commitment and loyalty align perfectly with Glider’s growth trajectory and the high standards our clients have come to expect. This promotion to Operations Manager will help to drive continuous improvement across all areas of our business. We are excited to see Ajay leverage his expertise and skills to drive our company forward in this new role.”

Ajay’s promotion is just one of several internal promotions that Glider has made in the last year, demonstrating our investment in our employees and our ambitious growth strategy.

At Glider, we are always on the lookout for passionate individuals with a passion for digital innovation and a talent for delivering world-leading projects within the information management and construction space. If you’re interested in joining our dynamic team, take a look at our careers page.

Join us in congratulating Ajay on his well-deserved promotion and stay tuned for more exciting updates from Glider Technology!

Strengthening partnerships

This year we have continued to work with established clients. These include the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), British Antarctic Survey and Deutsche Bank. With the introduction of the Building Safety Act, we’ve started working with Unite Students to support them with compliance across their £5 billion property portfolio.

We also started working with a number of asset owners to help them with digitising their built estate including DSTL, V&A, UAL, Linklaters and Kirkland & Ellis.

In October the University of the Arts London opened its doors to London College of Fashion students at the new Stratford Waterfront campus on London’s East Bank. Glider worked closely with Mace through construction to manage the rich handover information deliverables. This supports onboarding tenants securely to store and access their Asset Information Model during operation.

Our relationship with main contractors continues to go from strength to strength. We’ve supported Kier, Mace, Overbury and Lendlease on some large scale digital handover projects including 40 Leadenhall, HMP Five Wells, HMP Full Sutton and 22 Bishopsgate.

As the industry continues to mature, we are delighted to see more asset owners and building occupants take on ownership of the digital O&M information into operation.

Bringing digital twins to life

Working closely with Kier and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), our involvement in a digital twin project for HMP Five Wells has been incredibly exciting. Since the prison opened in 2022, we’ve been working in conjunction with Kier and Future Decisions as part of a consortium. Together we are able to analyse the building information and behaviour data to identify usage trends and energy efficiencies. Early insights have identified a potential 30% saving on energy. Expect more updates on this project in early 2024!

Kier’s excellent video explains the work we did for them on the digital handover of HMP Five Wells. Check out Kier’s video here.

Investing in growth

This year was a year for growth for Glider! A seven-figure loan from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund was integral to making this happen. Since receiving the funding, we’ve been able to grow the team, invest in a new website and accelerate the development of the gliderbim® platform. We’re excited to see more results from this investment in 2024.

Industry awards

The Glider Technology team loves getting industry recognition for our work and this year we were shortlisted for several awards. We are fortunate to have won three of these which are:

• Construction Computing Awards – BIM Project of the Year 2023
• Building Innovation Awards – Most Innovative Commercial Project 2023
• JOSCAR SME Innovation Award

These recognised our work with Mace on 40 Leadenhall. Also, our work with DIO for our role in supporting their ongoing digital transformation programme.

Another achievement for Glider was our founder, Nick Hutchinson, being recognised as ‘One to Watch’ in the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2023. Nick has been an inspirational leader and he is steering Glider towards a very prosperous future.

With more exciting projects coming in 2024, we’re looking forward to seeing more award-wins next year.

Bringing the industry together

As a leader in information management, we were delighted to welcome clients and affiliates to Glider Connect on 28 November. The event, which took place in Birmingham, had a packed-agenda. This included presentations from the Glider team as well as industry experts sharing their knowledge, and clients sharing project insights. The attendees demonstrated their passion for advancing our industry and embracing innovative technologies.

Looking ahead

In 2024, we are looking forward to exhibiting at industry events such as BuildingSmart, Digital Construction Week. We’re also looking forward to sharing our knowledge in more interactive live webinars. The Smart Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work will be released in early 2024. And we can’t wait to share the insights from the HMP Five Wells digital twin project. We will also be launching some new innovative features for gliderbim® in the next few months so watch this space for more information!

Every year at Glider Technology keeps going from strength to strength!  We are proud to say that 2023 was a year of continued achievement and success. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our clients, affiliates, partners and the incredible Glider team for their unwavering support and contribution to our journey so far. Here’s to a promising future ahead!

A year of growth

Nick Hutchinson opened Glider Connect 2023. He provided a summary of the Glider journey since he founded the company in 2016, and reflected on the highlights to date. The last 12 months have contributed significantly to the company’s success. With new clients wins and a seven-figure investment to accelerate growth.

Transforming the built environment

Nick then handed over to the master of ceremonies and keynote speaker, Henry Fenby-Taylor. Henry is an industry visionary. His illustrious career includes serving as the former Head of Information Management at the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB). He has a passion for implementing digital processes that drive transformative change in the built environment. This was apparent during his keynote address, where he shared his perspective on the future of the digital built environment.

Looking ahead to the future

The audience then shared their thoughts on this topic in an interactive session. Delegates were keen to see the impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will have on improving building performance. One delegate turned to ChatGPT for the answer! This promoted the importance of interoperability, a greater focus on security and privacy and how AI and ML will aid the analysis, simulation and predictive modelling in construction projects.

The roadmap to innovation

Next up to speak was Glider’s Head of Product, John Adams. John provided an update on Glider’s software platform, gliderbim® and the developments users can expect to see in the future. This included a demo of the new functionality from Luke Pibworth, who is the Product Owner for gliderbim®. John then went on to share some practical tips on how to get the most out of gliderbim® for building safety, digital handover management, security permissions and creating a reference data library.

Digitalising the DIO’s built estate

To help bring the Glider products and services to life, we then invited Jane Dudson from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to share their journey to digitalising their estate so far. Jane shared some of the things we are working on together. This included the automated handover of data from project to an establishment (asset) workspace, a data assurance gateway for the verification and validation of information and then an exciting project involving ML. This is to aid the discovery of important information from historic documents (e.g. gas certificates) that lack structured naming convention and metadata.

Digital twin pathfinder exploring net zero

Following a networking lunch, we were joined by Gareth Jones (Ministry of Justice), James Franklin (Kier) and Lucas Cusack (Glider). They delivered a talk about a pathfinder project which is underway for the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) utilising digital twin technology to unlock energy performance insights.

The MOJ, which has 122 prisons, is looking at how digital twins can help them to reduce their carbon and energy usage. As well as their energy consumption, they are analysing behavioural data to see how the building is impacting on air quality and incidents in the prison. For HMP Five Wells, Kier achieved 100% compliance at handover thanks to BIM and Glider’s digital handover software, gliderbim®. As a result, the learnings from that project will be leveraged for future smart prison projects. More insights will be shared in early 2024 about this project.

What does tomorrow hold?

Reflecting on the day’s discussions, participants were invited by Henry to share what they would do differently in industry tomorrow. Including acknowledging the critical importance of effective information management for future-proofing projects. Many were keen to focus on getting information management right to reap the benefits of well structured, accurate data. Although many were on the right path, there is always more that can be done. One delegate shared how poor data can impact on the value of a building at disposal stage by around 5-10%. This highlights how the financial impact of not getting it right can be significant in the future.

Build Safety Act readiness

We then invited Building Safety Act expert, Alan Simmons from Arcadis, to provide an update on the impact the Act has had on the industry so far. The Act, which puts residents at the heart of building safety, is creating a universal change in responsibility and culture. For 1 April 2024, the gateway system will be in place which requires risk, roles and responsibilities to be understood at all stages of construction. To achieve this, Alan emphasised the importance of the golden thread of information and a digital platform, like gliderbim®. This can demonstrate the assurance of data quality and document completeness.

Customer success

Last up were Glider’s David Hunt, Glider Head of Customer Success, and John Simpson, Head of Information Management Services. David started by sharing the importance of Customer Success and how the Glider team can help clients to achieve their goals.

Information management services

John then followed up with an overview of all the information management services Glider provides. This included our Common Data Environment services, data migration, building safety and asset management services. For those who are starting their digitalisation journey or have aspirations to achieve the holy grail of a digital twin, John demonstrated that the Glider team can provide essential guidance and software to support them.

In summary

Glider Connect 2023 was an interactive and insightful day. It was attended by some of the largest and most forward-thinking asset owners and main contractors. The engagement we saw was a demonstration of the passion we all share for advancing our industry and embracing innovative technologies. The collaborative discussions, talks and real-world client case studies provided an invaluable learning experience for all. We are confident that all of the delegates left with a renewed enthusiasm for information management and the knowledge that there are other professionals around them that can provide support if they need it.

The new Glider website marks a significant milestone for us. It’s not merely a cosmetic upgrade, but a strategic move to make our website more informative, accessible and engaging. Our dedication to innovation and our client-centric approach is reflected in every aspect of the redesigned website.

We are also still working on new case studies, white papers and video content. So it will continue to evolve in the coming months.

As we unveil our new website, it not only signifies a commitment to innovation and user experience but also marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Glider. This year, the company has won three incredible industry awards, and co-founder Nick Hutchinson, was recognised as ‘One to Watch’ in the LDC The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2023.

The launch of this revamped website provides us with an interactive platform to allow visitors to discover more about our exciting journey so far.

We invite you to take a look around our new website and experience the future of information management, discover more about who we are, experience gliderbim® and read about our client success stories.

If you like what you see and you’d like to be part of our exciting journey, we’d love you to get in touch.

About the awards

The Construction Computing Awards, also affectionately known as “The Hammers”, celebrates the construction industry’s success stories. The event showcases technologies, tools and solutions pivotal in the effective design, construction, maintenance, and modification of buildings – ranging from commercial structures to residential and social housing, as well as civil engineering projects of all sizes.

BIM Project of the Year

The ‘BIM Project of the Year’ category is judged by a panel of experts. It applauds projects that have effectively leveraged Building Information Modelling (BIM) to advance project goals and facilitate collaboration among project stakeholders, including construction teams, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Glider clinched this prestigious award for its contribution to M&G Real Estate’s 40 Leadenhall Street office scheme in London. Collaborating as the Asset Information Management and Handover Consultant alongside Principal Contractor Mace and Smart Building Consultant Arcadis, Glider played a pivotal role in this project.

About the project

Mace enlisted Glider’s expertise to develop digital workflows and BIM software in order to manage project data more effectively. Handling such a massive project posed significant challenges, but Glider embraced the task of overseeing deliveries across the supply chain and among project stakeholders, meeting client requirements with digital deliverables.

The processing of the data was significantly improved due to the unique data management, validation and verification capabilities of our BIM software, gliderbim®. Combined with the expertise of Glider’s information managers and consultants, this approach resulted in substantial savings in time, money and effort, ultimately enhancing operational workflows for the teams managing the building.

The award was accepted by Stuart Bell, Director of Sales and Marketing, who attended the dinner. Commenting on the accolade, Stuart commented: “Winning the ‘BIM Project of the Year’ award is a testament to the complexity of the 40 Leadenhall project. The Glider team of information managers combined with the unique data management, validation and verification capabilities of gliderbim® have substantially saved time, money and effort on this project, and infinitely enhanced workflows for the operational teams running this building.”

Glider is at the forefront of modernising documentation through the use of its flagship Common Data Environment (CDE), gliderbim®. The CDE provides architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) , as well as property professionals with a comprehensive solution for all of their asset information management needs, and has been employed by several high-profile clients including Coventry University, Deutsche Bank and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

You can read more about the other winners on the Construction Computing Awards website.

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or email us.

Glider is a founder-run SME which is growing rapidly. It works with some of the UK’s most well-known institutions and construction companies that many larger organisations aspire to work with. Nick co-founded Glider in 2016 after spending over 10 years at board-level in one of the UK’s leading commissioning management consultancies. With a degree in computer science, and experience delivering large construction projects across the UK and overseas, Nick’s passion to develop game-changing and disruptive solutions for the construction and property sector was ignited.

Solving difficult challenges

Channelling his management and technical expertise, Nick is passionate about developing disruptive technology. He thrives on creating solutions for difficult problems. He has a specialist knowledge of software design and engineering for smart buildings and infrastructure projects within the digital built environment. Nick expertly heads a team of designers and developers who produce world-leading software solutions.

People ahead of profits

Nick firmly believes business leaders have a responsibility to put people ahead of profits. And that a little humility goes a long way in an organisation. As Glider is a fully remote business, collaboration and teamwork has been integral to the success of the business.

In May 2023, the company secured a seven-figure loan from Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and Mercia’s SME Loans fund to support its growth. The investment is supporting the growing demand Glider is experiencing as the industry shifts towards digital solutions. With cutting-edge technology solutions and a growing client base, Nick is steering Glider towards a very prosperous future. Harnessing machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) over Glider’s highly structured and validated dataset is the next exciting and logical step to drive the business and our client capabilities forward.

From strength to strength

After hearing the news, Nick said: “I am incredibly honoured to be named as ‘One To Watch’ in The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2023. To be recognised alongside so many inspiring business leaders, this achievement is a true testament to how far Glider has come and the exceptional team we have supporting our clients. I am excited for the future and seeing the business continue to go from strength to strength.”

John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, said: “We started The LDC Top 50 six years ago to champion the remarkable success stories of medium-sized businesses, the unsung heroes of the British economy. Since then, we’ve received more than 3,000 nominations and celebrated more than 500 business leaders through the programme, surpassing all our expectations. The stories behind this year’s Ones to Watch really captured our attention and I’d like to congratulate them on their achievements so far. We’ve no doubt that this is only the beginning for each and every one of them!

Find out more

To find out more visit The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders website.

The Building Innovation Awards celebrates the industry’s pioneering individuals, organisations and partnerships that are embracing emerging technologies and digital transformation in order to take UK construction to the next level.

The ‘Most Innovative Construction Project’ category celebrates projects that adopt emerging technologies and processes for collaborative working and supply chain engagement to save time and money.

Blown away

Glider’s submission was for the 40 Leadenhall Street office scheme in the city of London. Glider worked as the Asset Information Management and Handover Consultant alongside Principal Contractor, Mace and Smart Building Consultant, Arcadis.

The judges deemed this to be an obviously impressive project. It had scale, innovation and impact, using digital tools to a high degree. One judge scored 40 Leadenhall Street a 10 and was blown away. All in all, they felt it was a fantastic project! It applied digital tools not only in the supply chain, but with stakeholders at the final stages of handover, and in the operational phase.

[Photo credit: UKBE and Paul Greenwood Photography]
Collecting the awards was Henry Saunders, Director of Operations at Glider, and Stuart Bell, Director of Sales & Marketing at Glider. The award was presented by Mairead Gallgher Morgan, Associate at Buro Happold. The evening was hosted by Kriss Akabusi MBE.

At the forefront of innovation

Glider is proud to be at the forefront of modernising documentation. It achieves this through the use of its flagship Common Data Environment (CDE), gliderbim®. The CDE provides architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), as well as property professionals with a comprehensive solution for all of their asset information management needs. It has been employed by several high-profile clients including Coventry University, Deutsche Bank and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Nick Hutchinson, Managing Director of Glider, commented, “We are delighted to have won the ‘Most Innovative Construction Project’ award. 40 Leadenhall was a complex project. This was due to the quantity of BIM information and vast number of trades working on it (approximately 60 in total). Processing this level of data was possible thanks to the unique data management, validation and verification capabilities of gliderbim® and Glider’s skilled information managers and consultants. Working closely with our industry partners, we have substantially saved time, money and effort on this project, and infinitely enhanced workflows for the operational teams running this building.”

Discover more

You can read more about the Building Innovation Award winners in Build in Digital’s coverage of the evening.

To find out more about Glider and gliderbim® call 0203 8268 001 or get in touch.