Back in August, SSE and the Scottish Parliament hosted an event for the Scotland CIBSE Young Engineers Network (YEN), highlighting SSE’s ongoing work to upgrade the Parliament’s Building Energy Management System (BEMS). This event provided a valuable platform for young engineers to engage with industry leaders and gain insights into cutting-edge building management technologies.
The CIBSE Young Engineers Network (YEN) aims to promote a positive and welcoming image for building services engineering while encouraging early career engagement with CIBSE. YEN’s key objectives include promoting new ideas, knowledge sharing, encouraging more women to join the profession, and guiding young engineers toward long-term careers in building services.
Event highlights
The event kicked off with an insightful Scottish Parliament presentation outlining the original design and architectural vision for the iconic Holyrood building. This presentation gave attendees an understanding of the building's historical and architectural context, setting the stage for a comprehensive tour.
A detailed building tour followed this, covering key areas such as the Main Hall, Garden Lobby, and Debating Chamber, providing attendees a unique perspective on the building’s design and functionality, showcasing both its aesthetic and practical features.
The spotlight then shifted to the technical operations of the building, as SSE’s Cameron MacDonald provided a hands-on demonstration of the Parliament’s ongoing BEMS upgrade. Attendees were shown the panel replacement process in an MSP office/meeting room, allowing them to observe the practicalities of maintaining and updating the building's infrastructure. Cameron also presented SSE’s innovative technological solutions, which play a critical role in the building's daily operations.
Adding to the technical focus of the day, SSE’s Heather Simpson delivered a CPD presentation on ISO 52120, the international standard for energy performance in buildings. This session provided actionable insights into energy efficiency standards and how they can be applied to improve building management.
The event wrapped up with a networking reception in the Holyrood Room, hosted by SSE. This informal gathering allowed attendees to reflect on the day's sessions, share ideas, and build connections with industry peers and experts.
A successful learning experience
The event proved to be a well-rounded experience, offering young engineers a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of the Scottish Parliament’s building management systems and new professional connections to further their careers in building services engineering.
A special thanks to SSE and the Scottish Parliament for facilitating this enriching event for the CIBSE YEN Scotland community.