Ben Sherwood is a 23-year-old entrepreneur who, utilising digital information models, assembles top teams to deliver specialist input on construction projects.
The concealed ‘entrails’ for power, lighting and heating systems in commercial, industrial, healthcare and sports ground environments are a maze of wires, cables, distribution boards, insulation and ducting ventilation. Down to the last plug socket, they must be meticulously detailed as online drawings; there is no margin for error when it comes to ordering components as well as the installation, maintenance, repair and replacement. Spotting a gap in the market, and with orders growing but feeling isolated at home, Ben moved into a two-person desk at Fareham Innovation Centre at the tail end of 2025.
By starting off small, it means Model Space has the option of upsizing workspace in due course, and the firm is part of a thriving ecosystem of 60 innovation companies, with up to 350 people on site on any one day. At the heart of what Ben’s consultancy does is mapping out the crucial mechanical and electrical (M&E) aspects of a build, drawing upon BIM, which is short for building information modelling and has 3D illustrations.
On behalf of M&E consultants and contractors, Ben brings together a team of MEP engineers, BIM specialists and Revit technicians to create, coordinate and review BIM information, supporting code compliance, safety, energy efficiency and effective installation on site. It is more cost-effective and efficient for the end client to deploy Model Space, with its M&E specialisms and industry contacts, especially when the clock is ticking on practical completion, then paying someone full-time to do it in-house.
An electrical engineer by background, Ben said: “I saw a gap in the market for specialist M&E BIM support that engineers and contractors could rely on.
“I founded Model Space to save clients valuable time by managing the modelling, drawings and project information, while delivering a rapid turnaround without compromising on quality.
“The aim is to give engineers confidence that the work is being handled accurately, efficiently and by people who understand building services.”
“For instance, our M&E engineers, BIM specialists and Revit technicians model and coordinate the services within ceiling voids, risers [a vertical pipe, duct, cable or structural component which extends upward through multiple floors], plant rooms and other constrained spaces helping to ensure they can be installed efficiently on site.”
By way of example, Model Space was instrumental in bringing 15 specialists under one roof for a manufacturing unit project, including another occupier at Fareham Innovation Centre, KE Fibertec, which supplies textile ducts for ventilation solutions.
“Being at Fareham Innovation Centre means I can grow Model Space at my pace, and it was good to get away from running the business at home, a 20-minute walk away, as there is now a clear separation between there and work.
“Here I can get a cup of tea in the kitchenette, and reception take my calls if I’m not around – you are always meeting people, which is great for conversations and connections.
“The centre’s team are fantastic – they are very helpful.”
Ben Sherwood, founder & owner of Model Space
