In 1965, after being inspired by a set of steam engine design drawings, a 20 year old Paul Averis embarked on a five year Mechanical Engineering traineeship in order to pursue a career in the design/drafting industry. In 1970, just 5 years after commencing his traineeship, Paul accepted a role with the British Merchant Navy as a Seagoing Engineering Officer where he worked aboard vessels belonging to the iconic White Star Line.
Paul’s remarkable career spans 54 years and comprises of various Design & Drafting roles throughout the automotive, manufacturing, marine, mining, materials handling, petrochemical, agricultural and architectural industries. Joining BIM in 2017, Paul’s unique insight and extraordinary career experience continues to be a source of immense value to our team and clients alike.
Q&A
Q: Tell us about your Hobbies and Interests outside of work? Paul: Painting in oils and watercolours; woodwork; reading. I am interested in history generally, in particular naval history.
Q: What originally attracted you to become a draftsman? Paul: I had always been interested in art and saw drafting as an art form, which it was back then. I saw some beautifully crafted ink drawings on linen of a steam engine and thought "I want to do that".
Q: What are the most significant changes you’ve witnessed in our industry over the course of your career and what impact have they had? Paul: The most significant change was the introduction of CAD which impacted in a beneficial way. Drawings are generated faster, they are less prone to error although their individuality is lost.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at BIM? Paul: The people, without a doubt.
Q: What makes our team different to others you’ve worked with? Paul: There are no "toe-treaders" at BIM. Everyone is friendly and work well together; they are willing to help each other which makes the office a pleasant place. BIM's people work hard; there are no slackers and they endeavor to do their best. BIM is to be congratulated on its selection of excellent trainees; I encourage them to ask if they have a problem and not to be embarrassed at asking two or three times as there is a lot to remember with Tekla. I have worked at places where knowledge is not shared as it is considered a source of power. We don't have that at BIM.
Q: What is greatest piece of advice you’ve received with respect to drafting? Paul: That drafting problems are never too difficult to overcome; it is usually people that make it difficult.