Details have been announced of the programme for UK Construction Week Birmingham (UKCW Birmingham), the UK built environment event, which returns to the Birmingham NEC from 4-6 October.
Seminars at UKCW will focus on topics including skills, social value, business, innovation and regulation, major projects, procurement and housing – complemented by 20 dedicated CPD sessions across the three days, covering everything from Supply Chain Resilience to the Building Safety Act.
The event will be officially opened by architect and Channel 4 presenter George Clarke and around 25,000 attendees are expected.
Seminar highlights include:
Day One. Skills: UKCW Birmingham will look at the skills agenda, and on the solutions that have been found by industry leaders, such as Rick Lee OBE, Chief People Person at Willmott Dixon, who was instrumental in securing the RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark for the Tier One Contractor.
Social Value: Ann Bentley, global board director at Rider Levett Bucknall, and board member of the Construction Leadership Council, has led the way on bringing about behaviour change and unlocking social value through changes in the construction process. She will give her reflections on the launch of the value toolkit and what it can do for the sector.
Day Two. Business, Innovation and Regulation: Including the new Building Safety Act, the ongoing digital revolution, and the challenges facing the supply chain brought about by the pandemic and war in Ukraine.
Economic Outlook: What does the economic outlook for the sector look like? Top economists Professor Noble Francis, Economic Director at the Construction Products Association, and Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI, will offer crucial information for those planning the months ahead.
Day Three. Major projects, procurement and housing: bringing together the solutions from the conference programme to the biggest challenges of the day. These include retrofitting the majority of UK housing stock, creating net infrastructure, and a look into the regional opportunities in the West Midlands region enabled by HS2 and its satellite projects.
In addition, the Careers Centre will offer visitors an array of informative talks aimed at those interested in a career in construction, whether that be graduates, students in further education, or those looking at a career change. Highlights include:
Bridging the UK skills shortage through social mobility – how to hire in a period of unparalleled demand for skills.
Role Models in Construction with Founders4Schools – Role models can inspire a new generation to enter the industry, F4S will explain how industry can play it’s part.
Anglia Ruskin University: Breaking down barriers – exclusive research will be presented with solutions on how women and carers can be attracted into construction
Building People will run a full day on Tuesday, bringing together organisations and initiatives that provide built environment careers support to diverse audiences.
UKCW Birmingham will feature over 6,000 products on display from over 300 exhibitors including Bosch, Schneider Electric, Google, Graco Distribution, Wavin, Cemex, Hanson Plywood and many more. This year, the show has also attracted a large number of overseas exhibitors, including brands from Australia, India, Norway, Turkey and the UAE.
The 2022 show has an even stronger emphasis on future development in the industry and this year’s theme is Celebrating Culture Change in Construction that will be present throughout the show, which is backed by all the industry’s leading organisations, including AICO, Bosch, Hanson, Northgate and Quadrant Building.
