Supply and demand

Terry Sharp applies his view on the ever-changing landscape of the COVID situation to the BEMS market.

Happy new year to all our members. Although we managed to get through Christmas without anything like the strict lockdowns from last year, the spread of Omicron was a serious concern and I hope that none of you were affected too seriously. While the Government ramped up the campaign for the booster jabs, the demand for rapid lateral flow tests increased dramatically, as it was widely accepted that a positive test would most likely mean self-isolation on Christmas Day. Heart-breaking, yes, but safety for friends and family came first. Just a few months ago it was easy enough to order self-test kits from the Government website, but as I write this there are none available. It’s the law of supply and demand, and a classic example of how quickly things can change in a very short space of time.

An ever-changing landscape is something we are all very used to in the BEMS industry, none more so than in the last couple of years as many organisations have realised the buildings they usually occupy are perhaps not as energy efficient as they could be – by some distance! Add this to the drive towards Net-Zero and suddenly things like smart buildings are no longer talked of as a futuristic fantasy but as a current necessity and BEMS are in very high demand. According to a report by GMI Research, the Building Energy Management Systems Market is predicted to reach $8,412 million by 2027 at a CAGR of 12.70% during the forecast period. The report states that ‘the significant factors contributing to the growth of the global building energy management systems market include the increasing awareness regarding the efficient use of energy at the corporate and government level, followed by the strong demand for these systems in commercial, industrial, and residential sectors across the globe.’

Fortunately, our industry is one that adapts well and its ongoing innovation is very much a part of what helps drive the demand for the new technology going into buildings, with the report also stating; ‘the continuous technological advancement and rapid innovations in building energy management systems have amplified the possibilities of usage of BEMS, thus attracting many end-users to opt for these systems.’

We at the BCIA are also very aware of the need for the required skills to install and maintain modern building controls. The development, launch and demand for the BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship is a reflection of the increased need for skilled people in our industry and is one ‘strand’ of the work the BCIA and sector employers are undertaking to support sector businesses, as we also work to develop further the qualifications and training structures for experienced workers.

We have a busy year ahead, with our conference, awards dinner and some trade show appearances hopefully all to look forward to, so keep an eye on the website and social media pages for all our latest news and developments.