Hillside Designs, a building information modelling consultancy based in Swatragh, Co. Londonderry, is targeting growth across Ireland and beyond a year after its launch with backing from the government-funded Go Succeed business support service, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph. Founder Fintan O'Kane, 28, established the company to meet growing demand for digital design services across large-scale construction projects.

Hillside Designs specialises in BIM, the production of 3D digital models used to plan, design and manage construction projects. The company works with contractors, architects, structural engineers and mechanical and electrical specialists across projects including schools and civil engineering developments.

O'Kane said: "BIM gives a realistic digital model of what is going on site at a very early stage. You bring the plans, sections and elevations into one centralised model, so you can identify clashes or issues before anything is built. It saves a huge amount of time, reduces rework, and improves accuracy across the whole project."

O'Kane added that the digital construction market was moving quickly and that BIM was becoming a bigger part of how major projects were designed, coordinated and delivered. He said that for clients this meant fewer surprises on site, better coordination between disciplines, and building information that could be used after construction was complete, describing it as "a really exciting space for Hillside Designs as the industry moves towards smarter, more data-led buildings."

Before launching Hillside Designs, O'Kane worked with Heron Bros in Co. Londonderry, gaining experience in design coordination and BIM management. He studied architectural management and technology at Ulster University before completing a BIM project management qualification at Queen's University Belfast.

O'Kane said he is currently the sole employee but that increasing demand would fuel the next stage of growth, with a focus on building his client base across Ireland and internationally.

Go Succeed is delivered free of charge through all 11 councils in Northern Ireland. Councillor Deirdre Varsani, chair of Mid Ulster District Council, said Hillside Designs was a strong example of forward-thinking enterprise the council was proud to support, particularly in emerging sectors such as digital construction and advanced technologies.

Across the UK and Ireland, BIM adoption is being driven by regulatory frameworks including the UK BIM Framework and ISO 19650, which set requirements for digital information management across publicly procured construction projects, creating sustained structural demand for BIM specialists as project complexity and compliance requirements increase.