This week marks the biggest event of the year for building companies, as ExCel London is hosting UK Construction Week.
It launched on Tuesday (May 3rd) and will feature lots of seminars, speakers, a careers fair, webinars, an innovation zone, and a showcase of 2022’s biggest role models in the sector.
To find out more about UK Construction Week, here’s the lowdown of everything you need to know:
- Where and when is it?
This year’s event is being held at ExCel London between May 3rd and 5th. However, those who cannot make it this week can also catch it later in the year at NEC in Birmingham from October 4th to 6th.
- What will it feature?
Over the three-day event, there will be a busy programme of events. In addition to this, there will be different sections of the conference centre designated to various interactive exhibitions, including the Concrete Expo. Labelled the ‘UK’s most innovative concrete event’, this will feature more than 4,000 trades professionals from the world of concrete, showcasing their work on over 600 stands.
The Innovation Zone, which has proved popular in the past, will display some of the latest ideas in the industry.
“The aim is to promote productivity, speed, quality, sustainability and social cohesion, showing how innovation can create new value in the industry and stop the short-term, purely cost-driven race to the bottom,” a spokesperson for the event stated.
Visitors will also be able to see the UK’s first on-site 3D reinforced concrete printer, which is intended to reduce environmental waste and benefit the sector.
- Will there be exhibitors at the event?
There will be countless businesses exhibiting over the course of the event, from design specialists to energy-saving home insulation companies. This presents a great opportunity for people working in the industry to network with other businesses that complement their services or get inspiration about new techniques and engineering ideas.
It could also be a chance for you to exhibit your services to the wider sector, increasing your brand awareness and helping you spread your name to more people in the industry.
- Who will be the speakers?
At expos of this size, there are always lots of speakers who take to the stage to share their knowledge and expertise to the rest of sector. During UK Construction Week, the speakers range from design engineers to investment directors, project architects to human rights consultants, and global digital evangelist to senior planners.
The wide range of experts will be able to impart their tips, advice and predictions to the audience, so it is definitely worth checking out whether there will be a speaker you want to listen to.
- Grand Designs Live Comes To London
Although most people are used to watching Grand Designs Live on the TV, this week’s event will allow spectators to see it close up instead.
The event, which is included in the UK Construction Week ticket, features four project zones, hundreds of free talks, live demonstrations, and over 400 suppliers. It will also be hosted by TV presenter Kevin McCloud, who will swap the camera for a live audience.
There will be several debates about the latest topics in construction and design, as well as the chance to get free one-to-one advice at the ‘Ask an Expert’ consultations.
- Green Living Live Debuts At UK Construction Week 2022
Companies that are keen to do their bit to fight climate change will be interested in attending the first Green Living Live event.
This will display several eco-friendly products and technologies that impact the industry, including sustainable building materials, heating and renewable systems, furnishings, car-charging equipment, and insulation.
As more and more people are looking to cut down on their bills, these energy-saving techniques could become increasingly relevant and in demand, so it is worth finding out more about them.
- What will the Careers Fair feature?
The UK Construction Week is not just useful to attend for suppliers and those already working in the building sector, as its Careers Fair makes it applicable for future employees too.
This will allow prospective construction workers to meet and network with some of the country’s best employers, discover some of the latest innovations in the industry, and take a look at what career opportunities are available.
A spokesperson for UK Construction Week states: “As we emerge from the pandemic, the construction industry has been tasked with leading our economic recovery.”
Subsequently, “this is creating opportunities for new jobs and rewarding new careers”, which means the event could be very rewarding for those just launching their profession.
This could range from people hoping to be architects to those driving mini diggers for hire in London.