Breathing easier with smart technology

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The revolution in indoor climate control and security spearheaded by smart technologies is the subject of a UK Construction Week seminar being given by GEZE UK’s head of window technology.
Spencer Allen for will share the spotlight with the likes of architect and television presenter George Clarke and representatives of the BRE, Carbon Trust and Sunday Times, during the showcase event, staged at the NEC Birmingham, 10 – 12 October.

He will explore the concept of smart natural air ventilation, how it works, outline its benefits and examine the findings of recent studies on its effects on workplace productivity and reducing ‘sick building syndrome’.

The session, which takes place at 2.30pm within the Smart Buildings Hub, on 10 October, will look at how smart solutions are used in life-saving buildings such as hospitals and how they can be used to save lives in the event of fire by allowing safe and smoke free escape.

It will also address security – eliminating ‘windows left open’ and the benefits of safe and secure night ventilation on buildings for optimum ‘next working day’ environments.
Said Spencer, GEZE UK’s National Sales Manager for Window Technology: “We spend 90% of our time indoors, so it’s not surprising that improving air quality inside buildings is in all our interests.

“With climate change resulting in ever-increasing temperatures and more frequent heatwaves within the UK, it is time that we looked at efficient ways of improving building ventilation which will require less energy usage.”

Event attendance is free. For further information click here.

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of products and system solutions call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk.
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UK Construction Week celebrates second successful year

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Returning to the NEC in Birmingham last month, the UK’s largest construction trade event UK Construction Week attracted more than 30,000 trade visitors and over 650 exhibitors to showcase their latest innovations, debate the industry’s biggest issues and do business together.

Featuring nine shows under one roof, the event began on Tuesday 18 October with eight strictly trade shows running for three days: Build Show, Timber Expo, Civils Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2016, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2016 and Smart Buildings 2016. Then, overlapping the last two trade days and running on until Sunday 23 October, Grand Designs Live offered a unique crossover experience between trade and public.

UK Construction Week

Now in its second year, UK Construction Week attracted visitors from across the full spectrum of the construction industry – from tradespeople, self-builders and SME owners to architects, civil engineers, national house builders and interior designers. Organised by Media 10, the show covered over 70,000 square metres of exhibition space and featured more than 165 hours of seminar content from 100 plus speakers.

In total there were 13 different seminar theatres at the event with the main stage being hosted by television presenter and architect George Clarke, business journalist Steph McGovern and television broadcaster and business journalist Victoria Fritz across the three days. Debating topics such as productivity, the skills shortage, BIM, offsite construction and intelligent environments, the seminar theatres provided a powerful platform to share best practice, devise new strategy and drive progress.

UK Construction Week also hosted a raft of major new product launches from leading industry companies such as CEMEX, Easy-Trim Roofing and Construction Products, Condair, Cotherm, Instant Upright Ltd, OX Group UK, Irwin Tools, Banbury and SAVANT to name but a few.

Feedback from exhibitors has been very positive and the show has received a high number of re-bookings for the 2017 event. Some of the companies confirmed so far for next year include Festool, Easy-Trim, Theben AG, White Haus, ForgeFix, Ecovolt, Combilift Ltd, Creagh Concrete and many more.

Joshua Watkins, Managing Director at Swiftec (Build Show exhibitor), said: “There have been a really broad variety of people here, which has been exciting. It’s a great place to meet clients and visitors as well as getting a good grasp of what’s going on in the industry.”

Mick Jackson, IT & Marketing Manager at Joseph Ash (Surface and Materials Show exhibitor), commented: “Honestly we’ve been surprised with the footfall, which has been excellent and has lead to some strong leads. We’re excited to see what tomorrow brings!”

Ian Thornton, Specifier Consultant at Calor Gas (HVAC 2016 exhibitor), also commented: “We did our research before coming and knew we would meet a lot of relevant people here. That’s exactly what has happened and we’ve done a lot of business this week!”

Dave Cole, Sales Manager at Vandecasteele (Timber Expo exhibitor), added: “We’ve long been an exhibitor at Timber Expo and will continue to be in the future as it is a valuable meeting hub for our UK customers.”

UK Construction Week

In addition to all the new products and services on display, UK Construction Week hosted a variety of unique features and industry award ceremonies. The Business Advice Centre provided free professional advice to SMEs at the show, while the Gamification Zone offered visitors an opportunity to learn more about their leadership potential. Among the seven award ceremonies hosted at the show, the inaugural Construction Enquirer Awards were a huge success with more than 500 people in attendance to recognise the construction industry’s best companies to work with and for.

Nathan Garnett, Event Director for UK Construction Week, commented: “We are so pleased with how this year’s show has gone and want to thank all of our exhibitors, visitors, speakers, association and media partners for helping us put on such an impressive event. I believe the show is testament to the willingness to progress and collaborate within the construction industry as a whole.

“With representatives from across the entire sector it was great to see all the innovation and life present in the industry. The seminars were really well attended and engagement was high from visitors, which goes to show that we were able to hit the mark in terms of content. The interest in next year’s show has already started to flood in and with booking the NEC until 2019, we are confident that UK Construction Week will go from strength to strength over the coming years.”

Returning to the Birmingham NEC, the dates for UK Construction Week 2017 are set for 10 – 12 October. For more information about UK Construction Week or to register your interest for next year’s show, please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.
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Are you a #constructionrolemodel?

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UK Construction Week have announcee the launch of a new social media campaign #ConstructionRoleModel designed to celebrate the unsung heroes of UK construction, with help from the Construction Youth Trust.

The campaign allows those in the industry to nominate and reward their peers who work tirelessly to go the extra mile for clients, encourage the next generation of construction professionals or improve their workplace.

To kick start the campaign, UK Construction Week will look to the industry for help in defining what a ‘construction role model’ is. Highlighting examples of individuals who’ve tackled adversity, combatted the skills gap or championed diversity, experts and industry figureheads will deliver a series of blog pieces showcasing people who’ve made a positive contribution to the industry.

With the concept established, UK Construction Week will open up the nomination process to the broader construction community. Inviting followers of its Twitter handle @UK_CW to nominate themselves or others by using the #ConstructionRoleModel hashtag.

UK Construction Week will then begin the process of selecting the most popular nominees, with the winners announced at this year’s event. Once chosen the ‘construction role models’ will be given a platform to share their views of the sector. In a series of Q&A sessions and features nominees will discuss what it takes to thrive in the industry, what inspired them to work in construction and what advice they would give youngsters looking to start a similar career.

Christine Townley, Executive Director at Construction Youth Trust, commented “It’s a great privilege to be involved in a dynamic and positive campaign that shines a light on those doing brilliant work within the industry. Our day-day work focuses on helping young people with a passion for construction get the right skills and training to make an impact in the sector. Therefore we’re delighted that #ConstructionRoleModel will raise awareness amongst the younger generation on how rewarding a career in the construction industry can be.”

Construction Youth Trust is a charity that helps young people in England and Wales who want to work in the industry by providing access to training, education and employment opportunities. In particular, it concentrates on helping those whose journey to work may be challenging due to barriers such as financial circumstances, lack of awareness of opportunities, low self-esteem, gender or ethnicity.

Nathan Garrett, Event Director for UK Construction Week, added: “We’re very excited to get the #ConstructionRoleModel campaign off the ground and look forward to seeing who people nominate for the award. I truly believe we’ve created a campaign that not only showcases the broad career opportunities within construction but also appeals to a younger generation.”

Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 18 – 20 October, UK Construction Week combines nine shows in one location. With over 24,000 trade visitors last year – a figure expected to double at this year’s event – the show boasts over 650 exhibitors. Visitors are able to attend Timber Expo, the Build Show, Civils Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2016, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2016, Smart Buildings 2016 and Grand Designs Live.

For more information about UK Construction Week and to keep track of the #ConstructionRoleModel campaign, please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.
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UKCW’s roll call of recognisable names

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With just weeks to go before the industry heads to Birmingham for UK Construction Week, planning a visit around the comprehensive seminar schedule is vital. Delivering high-level insights into the key issues facing the construction industry from a raft of recognisable names, the Main Stage seminar programme is integral to the event.

Each seminar will consist of an hour-long panel discussion, covering a key topic. Visitors will not fail to recognise the TV personalities – themselves international broadcasters, journalists and authors – heading up the seminar programme.

John Humphrys will facilitate day one of proceedings on the main stage. The programme will commence with a welcome and keynote presentation from the government’s chief construction advisor, Dr Peter Hansford. He will set out the priorities and plans for construction industrial policy over the next electoral cycle. The day will proceed with discussions on product and process innovation, tackling how the industry can break away from traditional construction and engineering processes.

A series of speakers, including RICS’ Jeremy Blackburn, CPA’s Dr Noble Francis and CIAT’s Gary Mees will next discuss the economic environment and its impacts on the industry, considering how we can protect construction from potential economic weaknesses. The image of the industry as a whole will also be under the spotlight, with contributions from Brian Berry of the FMB, Christina Jackson from Amey and Tim Carey from Willmott Dixon. Among others they will consider how the industry has an image problem – governments do not value the construction industry as a key driver within the UK economy and it is not perceived by the public as a modern employer.

Rounding off day one, Dennis Seal of DLS Strategic Ltd and John Stewart of the HBF will explore whether capitalism can fix the housing crisis. Their discussion will look at market-orientated solutions, which might bridge the affordability gap plaguing the country’s housing market.

Presiding over the second day of seminars, Steph McGovern will chair a series of talks that look at skills in the industry. Marie-Claude Hemming from CECA, together with Kim Wortz of RICS, John Patch from Roger Bullivant and the CITB’s Sarah Fenton will begin the day considering how to find and retain talent in the industry.

The skills shortage is the issue for Rupert Scott from TRADA, with Rob Pannell from the Zero Carbon Hub and Pauline Traetto from the BRE Academy. They are joined by Alex Birks from the CITB, Tom Storey of K10 and Bridget Bartlett of the CIoB.

The Birmingham Development Forum is next and outlining a vision of how the Birmingham of the future could and should look, the panel will touch on regeneration and getting the balance of mixed use right. Contributors include Make Architects’ Ken Shuttleworth, Dan Smyth from BDP and Liz Peace from Curzon Regeneration Company, together with Sir Albert Bore from Birmingham City Council. Infrastructure is the order of the day too, with insights into current and upcoming ambitious infrastructure projects in the UK, such as the Silvertown road tunnel, Crossrail 2 and the Bakerloo line extension.

Concluding proceedings on the middle day is a debate on the productivity of the sector. Just why can’t the UK build a skyscraper in 14 days? Attempting to address what is holding the industry back is a panel of six speakers, including Crossrail’s John Pelton and Kamran Moazami from WSP/ Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Seminars on the final day of the trade event, facilitated by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, will open with a presentation from Dr David Hancock on how to drive more collaboration between government and the construction industry, what progress is being made towards the government’s Construction Strategy and the Construction 2025 vision as well as how to improve project capability.

Paul Bogle of the National Federation of Builders will join Liz Welton from Coventry City Council next, to look at procurement improvements and opportunities in construction. Working smarter is the topic on the table for a panel of five including Simon Murray from ICE and Kevin Blunden from CABE.

This impressive schedule concludes with a panel discussion – joined by David Philp, Head of BIM Implementation, UK BIM Task Group, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and AECOM – on the outlook for BIM in UK construction and building, with an update on BIM adoption and the next steps, how to enable SMEs to make the most of BIM and how it is currently working for contractors and house builders.

Richard Morey, Group Events Director at Media 10, responsible for UK Construction Week, said: “An overview of the seminar schedule and events on the main stage Seminar Theatre is vital for anyone planning to visit the show. We set out to create an informative programme of content that will complement and enrich the exhibition as a whole. The seminar programme is a key attraction for both visitors and exhibitors. I think the impressive roll call of speakers and the line up of topics will not fail to satisfy anyone attending over the three day event.”

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend the Build Show, Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathrooms Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015, Smart Buildings 2015 and Grand Designs Live.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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Careers under the spotlight at UK Construction Week

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As students across the country get stuck into the new academic year, UK Construction Week is celebrating education and training of all kinds – highlighting that there is more than one way to build a successful and rewarding career in construction.

Key to this is the UK Construction Week Career Centre, a dedicated area within the Build Show where house builders, construction firms and other industry experts will be on hand to offer construction specific careers advice to visitors. Covering apprenticeships, on-going training and professional development, the centre will cater for all levels – from seasoned professionals scoping out their next move, to new starters looking for their first break into the construction sector.

Supported by a host of industry bodies, the Career Centre will give visitors a useful insight into a variety of career paths in building, civil engineering, integrated technology installation and other crucial construction trades. Key partners include the Home Builders Federation, the Institute of Civil Engineering and the Women’s Engineering Society, as well as construction skills and apprentices network K10 and major UK house builder Cala Homes.

Visitors will also be able to gain inspiration by hearing the stories of other people who have built a career for themselves in the industry. For example, Heidi Perry, a generator engineer at building machinery supplier Finning, will be sharing her experiences as a female apprenticeship in a male-dominated industry.

Heidi, who took up an apprenticeship after sixth form college, commented: “Finding an apprenticeship wasn’t easy so I applied to Finning to work in the parts department. It wasn’t my ideal job but it was a foot in the door. Luckily, at my interview they asked if I’d prefer to work on the machines and I landed an apprenticeship working on diesel standby generators.

“Now I travel across the country fault-finding, servicing, working on the electrical control systems or fixing broken parts. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn. If you’re thinking of making the move into construction, do it. It’s brilliant fun and you won’t regret it.”

Nathan Garnett, show director commented: “Employing more than 2.2 million people, the construction industry has been the major force behind the UK’s economic recovery – and with £125 billion of public sector and infrastructure projects in the pipeline, the demand for skilled workforce is set to create even more employment opportunities in the years to come. The Career Centre at UK Construction Week will be a really useful source of information for visitors looking to take advantage of this booming work market.”

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend the Build Show (incorporating Civils Expo), Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathrooms Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015, Smart Buildings 2015 and Grand Designs Live.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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Industry calls for real steps towards Northern powerhouse

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The extension of devolution deals to Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the Midlands announced by Chancellor George Osborne have been given a mixed reception by industry figures, according to UK Construction Week.

Reacting to the plans to extend the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ concept, which includes the creation of a new Greater Manchester Land Commission, several industry commentators have welcomed the increased power over planning this will bring, while others have pointed to challenges in transport infrastructure that must be addressed.

Mark Clare, CEO of Barratt Developments and member of the UK Construction Week advisory panel, commented: “Although the details are still to be released, the appointment of a new land commission for Greater Manchester certainly seems to be a positive development that should provide a significant boost for construction companies in the area. It seems that the commission will be tasked with identifying publicly-owned and brownfield land that can be developed for housing – which is an important step towards tackling the estimated 10,000 new homes a year needed to support Greater Manchester’s growing economy and communities.”

Andi Hodgson, Marketing Director at UK Construction Week Exhibitor Hope Construction Materials, commented: “Operating and servicing a national customer base and network of operational sites, over 100 of which are located in central and northern England, the news of greater devolution to extend the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ is welcome. On the surface the move seems as though it should provide a significant boost to construction in those regions, however the greater activity – particularly that of moving bulk and heavy-side building materials like concrete, aggregate and cement – will put a strain on existing transport infrastructure if it’s not improved.”

Andrew Orriss, Head Of Business Development at UK Construction Week exhibitor SIG Insulation, whose national head office is based in Sheffield, commented: “It’s an exciting time for construction in the north of England and Sheffield in particular is booming, with planned developments across the region and the recent announcement of a £480 million plan to develop the city centre. The extra boost this investment will bring to the area cannot be understated but it needs to be supported by a similar level of investment in transport and infrastructure, to ensure maximum benefits are felt.”

This sentiment echoes warnings from some commentators that without a major overhaul of transport infrastructure the economic benefits in the north will be lessened. In particular, Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester’s interim mayor, has called for transparency on planned rail improvements that are “key to the delivery of northern economic growth.”

For example, further clarity is required on the proposed electrification of the TransPennine Express railway line linking Manchester, Leeds and York, which was put on hold with no expected completion date back in June 2015. What’s more, the Chancellor’s proposed “Oyster style ticketing” across bus, tram, metro and rail services throughout the region has been met with derision from many quarters, with the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) claiming that actual investment in the Northern Powerhouse rail infrastructure sits closer to £3 billion than the £13 billion claimed in the budget.

Amidst the calls for improvements to existing rail networks, the proposed HS3 line connecting Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds, remains a shadowy prospect – particularly given that the north east seems to have been excluded from the Chancellor’s devolution plans.

George Clarke, architect, TV-personality and UK Construction Week advisory panel member, himself originally from Sunderland, commented: “It’s disappointing that the north east is not yet being given the same opportunities for self determination as some other northern areas. There is huge potential for economic and construction growth if the main urban hubs in the north are properly connected. If we really are to create a true Northern Powerhouse this needs to be addressed as a priority and the crucial transport links from east to west need to be greatly improved.”

Veering away from the London-centric focus that has dominated the construction industry for many years, UK Construction Week – held at the Birmingham NEC in October – is placing a strong emphasis on driving construction growth throughout the UK. In the main seminar theatre, devolution is under the spotlight on the first day, with a dedicated session asking whether it is the key to stimulating public and private infrastructure developments. Transport will also be under scrutiny, as the keynote session in the Infrastructure Hub takes a look at the future of rail – asking whether, with HS2 well underway, the focus should now shift to HS3 and the powerhouse cities of the north.

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show (incorporating Civils Expo), Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015 and Smart Buildings 2015.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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The Build Show welcomes SIG Distribution

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SIG Distribution is the latest to lend its name to the list of leading industry lights exhibiting at the Build Show, part of UK Construction Week, this October.

As the UK’s leading specialist construction supplier, SIG Distribution’s 58 years of experience has given the company an unparalleled understanding of its customers and their unique demands. Backed by vast warehousing capabilities, 60 branches nationwide and a fleet of more than 500 specialist vehicles, SIG Distribution is committed to supplying more than 500,000 market-leading products in full and on time.

“Visitors to our stand will be able to find out about the full product offering across all our brands including: SIG Insulation, SIG Interiors, SIG Technical Insulation, SIG Fixings, SIG Construction Accessories and SIG Commercial Drainage, as well as getting face-to-face advice from our team of industry experts,” said Andy Holmes, Commercial Director from SIG Distribution.

“As part of UK Construction Week, the Build Show will bring together the whole building industry, it makes sense for anyone involved in the design, specification and construction of modern, energy efficient and truly sustainable buildings to be a part of it.”

With a comprehensive seminar programme across the show, running from 6 – 8 October, The Build Show offers a holistic view of the industry providing visitors with the latest views and opinions on the current challenges faced in construction today. Each session will respond to a hot topic: what is happening in the industry, how does this impact on winning work and how can businesses increase their profits accordingly.

Taking a coherent approach, the seminar programme is divided between two zones. The Homebuilding theatre will host debates, discussions and presentations with a keynote session about the state of UK house building. The Site Zone has its focus firmly set on a ‘Learn to Earn’ approach for contractors, offering an interactive approach with training, workshops and demonstrations covering the practical issues facing construction professionals in business today. There is also a Careers Centre in association with the House Builders Federation, a commercial vehicle test drive zone and a dedicated civil engineering section.

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend the Build Show (incorporating Civils Expo), Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathrooms Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015, Smart Buildings 2015 and Grand Designs Live.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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HVAC 2015 unveils impressive seminar schedule

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Preparations are gaining momentum for the strongest trade event the building and construction industry has ever seen as Media 10, the UK’s biggest design and build event company, announces its comprehensive seminar programme for HVAC 2015, part of UK Construction Week.UKCON0615-BS-ARTICLE

Spanning the first three days of UK Construction Week, 6 – 8 October, HVAC 2015’s seminar schedule is packed with debates, workshops and panel discussions that focus on the key issues facing the HVAC industry today. With participation from some of the leading innovators, training providers and manufacturers, as well as the opportunity for visitors to join in, HVAC 2015 provides a valuable platform to engage with and learn from professionals at all levels.

The first day kicks off with an introductory guide to under-floor heating systems designed to help those looking to capitalise on the current increase in demand for more efficient heating solutions. The focus then moves to the future of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps, as experts share their opinion on the direction technology and the industry as a whole is heading. The first day will also include a discussion about energy reduction strategies for commercial buildings.

Day two of HVAC 2015 will feature a detailed look at the best high-efficiency boilers available in the UK, as well as a practical session on how to future proof HVAC design. A more technical session will follow on the properties of air and how it can be influenced to obtain specific environment requirements.

The third and final day of seminar content will tackle the diversifying field of HVAC controls, with experts sharing tips on how to get the most out of control systems and what is set to become possible with controls in the near future. Energy efficiency in central heating systems will also be on the agenda.

Each of the three days will be concluded with a Meet the Installer networking session, designed to link main contractors and manufacturers with installers. These sessions will provide a valuable opportunity to generate new business and long-term partnerships, offering visitors maximum return on the time they invest attending the show.

Richard Morey, Group Events Director at Media 10, said: “We have worked really hard with our event partners to develop the seminar content for this year’s UK Construction Week and I’m confident that what we have come up with will meet the needs of today’s construction professionals.”

Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October), UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Bringing together nine shows under one roof, the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with more than 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show, Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live and Smart Buildings 2015, in addition to HVAC 2015.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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UK Construction Week unveils heavyweight main stage seminar programme

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Placing a firm emphasis on knowledge sharing, discussion and debate, UK Construction Week has revealed the seminar programme for the main stage of the event, which takes place at the Birmingham NEC in October.

The Seminar Theatre will deliver high-level insight into the key issues affecting the industry, during the three trade days (6 – 8 October) of the weeklong exhibition. Each seminar session will consist of an hour-long panel discussion, covering key topics such as house building, government policy and BIM.

The full programme has been announced on UK Construction Week’s newly updated website, which features in-depth sections for each of the nine shows that come under the event’s umbrella, as well as a host of visitor information, exhibitor details and the latest news from each of the shows.

Kicking proceedings off on the Tuesday morning, the keynote presentation will feature the newly appointed minister for construction, who will set out parliamentary plans and policies for the construction industry over the next electoral period – giving the incoming government an opportunity to clarify how it intends to support construction while in power.

The economy will also be under fire on day one, with sessions on protecting construction from economic weakness and improving the industry’s image among investors and policy makers. The sessions will feature high-level speakers from Glenigan, the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and the Federation of Master Builders.

Skills will be the focus of the second day, with Marie-Clade Hemming from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association asking how construction can attract and retain the best talent, while Rupert Scott from TRADA will lead a thought provoking discussion on facing up to the construction industry skills shortage.

The final day will look at procurement and the supply chain, asking how different construction disciplines can work smarter together. Paul Bogle from the National Federation of Builders will also explore how contractors can make the most of the public procurement platform, as well as giving useful insight into the 2014 EU Directive regarding procurement models for public projects.

Rounding off the final day will be a dedicated session on the outlook for BIM in construction, which includes an update on the UK BIM Task Group, its progress in supporting BIM adoption and what the next steps will be – as well as useful advice on how SMEs can make the most of BIM.

Richard Morey, Group Events Director at Media 10, the event company producing UK Construction Week, commented: “From day one we have set out to create an informative and insightful programme of content, as we recognise that this is a key attraction for visitors and exhibitors alike. I think we’ve put together a line-up that reflects the needs and concerns of the industry today, which I hope will challenge and inspire participants in equal measure.”

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show, Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015 and Smart Buildings 2015.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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BRE joins UK Construction Week as content partner

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Welcoming one of the industry’s most well respected names, UK Construction Week is pleased to announce that BRE has joined as official content partner for the event.

Drawing on its significant expertise in every aspect of the built environment and associated industries, BRE (Building Research Establishment) is the leading voice for impartial research, testing and training within the construction industry. Its focus is on helping clients create better, safer and more sustainable products, buildings, communities and businesses, as well as supporting the innovation needed to achieve this.

In its role as content partner, BRE will provide invaluable support in shaping the direction of UK Construction Week, sharing its unique perspectives to develop an informative and highly insightful programme of seminar content.

With a strong emphasis on innovation, training and future construction trends, the seminar programme will provide a vital platform for sharing knowledge and exploring the key issues facing the industry. BRE’s wealth of specialist expertise will add real value to the conversation, with expert speakers joining a number of the debates, workshops and panel discussions.

In particular, BRE will take the lead in representing BIM content, including the most comprehensive BIM education programme ever seen in the UK plus seminar content across the whole event.

Miles Watkins, BRE’s Group Business Development Director commented: “Our key focus at BRE is on helping industry and government meet the challenges of the built environment. UK Construction Week is set to provide a unique chance to interact with professionals from all sectors, giving us a fantastic opportunity to engage, share best practice and help move the industry forward.”

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show, Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015 and Smart Buildings 2015.

Richard Morey, Group Events Director at Media 10, the event company producing UK Construction Week, commented: “BRE’s ability to generate new knowledge plays a vital role in driving innovation within the built environment as well as helping government shape construction industry policy, so the considerable value and insight this will bring to our seminar programme cannot be overstated. We are delighted to welcome BRE on board as content partner for the show.”

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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