UK construction week

Glazing professionals short on time but tasked with researching what’s new in the sector will get the fastest, boldest vision of the future at construction’s largest event later this year, according to organisers of this year’s UK Construction Week (UKCW) which returns to the NEC in Birmingham in October.

UKCW will champion innovating and pioneering ideas, projects and products via a new Innovation Trail which runs through each of the nine shows: Build Show, Energy 2018, Timber Expo, Building Tech Live, Surface and Materials Show, HVAC 2018, Civils Expo, Plant and Machinery Live, and Grand Designs Live.

New talent in the industry will also be celebrated through the Role Models initiative which is actively supporting a new wave of leaders to engage with the next generation and to illustrate the diverse career opportunities available in the built environment.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, said: “There’s been a lot of focus on what’s not right in the construction industry in recent times. The Hackitt Review and ongoing inquiry continues to demonstrate the need for radical change in the way we design, construct and maintain buildings – change that will touch every part of the industry and its supply chain. But if we are to learn the lessons from the past, we also need a platform to see, touch and debate the new ideas and solutions in development for the future.

“At UK Construction Week we are focused on showcasing innovation from all sectors, and making it easier for any professional to update their CPD, get inspired by amazing people and projects, and walk away with practical information on new technologies, systems, products and collaborations from around the world that would otherwise take months to research.”

Discussions around important issues such as the digital future of construction, diversity, Brexit, tackling the housing crisis and new industry delivery models will take place on the main stage. There will be a heavy focus on the lessons learned in the past year such as fire safety and how the industry is moving forward.

Speakers already confirmed include: Phil Wilbraham, expansion programme director at Heathrow; Bridget Rosewell OBE, commissioner at the National Infrastructure Commission; Ben Derbyshire, Riba president; and Ruth Davidson, National Housing Federation executive director. Steph McGovern, BBC Breakfast presenter and journalist, will chair the conference programme as in previous years.

Last year was UKCW welcomed more than 30,000 trade visitors.