New CLC digital competencies framework supports the Information Management Initiative
The Construction Leadership Council’s People & Skills workstream has released a report setting out a framework for digital competencies across the built environment workforce (read 1 October 2025 news release). The report says the advocated competencies support the implementation of the Information Management Initiative (IMI). Overall, the CLC says:
“Unlocking the opportunities of digital capability in the built environment requires the
construction industry to have a shared understanding of what skills are needed and helping to make sure that leaders are embedding those skills in their organisations.”
Developing Digital Competency in the Built Environment
The built environment is being digitally transformed as organisations embrace tools and
technologies that support the full spectrum of planning, construction and operation activities. However, organisations need to ensure that the right people have the right competencies so that digital solutions deliver improved outcomes as expected.
The CLC’s report – Developing Digital Competency in the Built Environment – was developed by experts across the sector, and aims to create a common understanding of what digital competency means in our industry and to provide ways to support leaders across the built environment in embedding digital competency into their organisations. To do this, it makes four recommendations about actions the industry can take:
- Create a vision for digital competency in the organisation, addressing the ecosystem of people, processes and technology;
- Evaluate the current level of maturity or competency in each category, noting strengths and gaps;
- Address gaps by partnering with government and training providers to ensure
appropriate training interventions are created; - Align skills needs with the organisation’s strategic objectives, ensuring that digital
upskilling supports business and industry outcomes such as improved productivity,
safety, and sustainability.
CLC digital competencies framework and the Information Management Initiative (IMI)
The report was written independently of the Information Management Initiative (IMI, launched jointly by nima and the CLC in November 2024; news), but devotes a section to the IMI (nima chair Anne Kemp is co-lead of the CLC Data and Digital Team, with nima Ambassador Kevin Reeves). The competencies are seen as supporting the implementation of the IMI:
“The IMI is predominantly about the over-arching principles and practices for managing data and information. The competencies … support the implementation of the principles described in the sectorwide directive as well as those which will be defined in organisational level mandates.”
Paul Woddy, nima vice chair for education and upskilling, says:
“The CLC digital competencies framework is very much about the bigger picture of digitalisation, aimed at a very wide audience and starting with the basic principles of using computers and Excel instead of paper, all the way through to fully digital processes and workflows. We fully support this CLC initiative and are here to support organisations in understanding why information management should be important to them, and how to upskill their people appropriately.”
Digital capability is a core skillset
The CLC echoes nima’s position that digital capability in the built and managed environment is no longer a specialist function, it is a core skillset that underpins how we plan, deliver, and operate the infrastructure and buildings of tomorrow. The report provides a framework which organisations can use to evaluate maturity and to understand the range of competencies that may be required for successfully implementing holistic, integrated data and digital solutions.
This is not about advocating for the use of specific tools, technologies or software, but rather about building up foundational competency across the industry that supports an integrated, systems mindset in the use of digital solutions.
The CLC says each organisation can use this report as a framework to identify areas for upskilling that are aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives, ensuring that digital upskilling supports business and industry outcomes such as improved productivity, safety, and sustainability.
