In a challenging period for the education built environment industry, the sixth Building Schools Exhibition and Conference (BSEC) at London’s ExCeL proved successful and a major destination for education and industry leaders, attracting delegations and decision makers from across the globe, with 49% at director level and above.
Marked as the annual event to openly discuss issues facing the sector, it also unveiled emerging new opportunities in education, with a particular demand for new and refurbished buildings, including new free schools. Free schools, new academies and the James Review were all popular topics of conversation and the subject of much debate throughout BSEC 2011, whilst the industry still awaits Michael Gove’s capital spending plans now expected in June.
This year’s event also attracted education ministers, directors and managers from overseas, sharing their experiences from working in the education sector in the USA, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden.
BSEC returns in 2012 from 29 February to 1 March at London ExCeL. To find out more about exhibiting or getting involved in 2012, please call +44(0) 20 7560 4040 or email BSEC@ubm.com.
With many new and expanded features this year, including the Green Learning Theatre and School Interior Innovations, BSEC remains the only UK event catering for everyone involved in the education built environment. It’s aimed at everyone from architects and contractors, communities establishing new schools and cross-sector teachers to Government policy advisors.
Commenting on this year’s event, Samuel Jennings, BSEC’s event director said: “Despite it being such a difficult time for those involved in the industry as we await the Government’s James Review, BSEC 2011 proved a huge success for those seeking the latest Government news, to speak with peers and procure the best products and services available.
“We’ve had great feedback from those attending who felt that despite the tough economic environment, there are still significant new opportunities emerging in the education sector, particularly for new free schools and refurbishment projects. Visitors also commented on the strong conference programme and some very well attended presentations on the plenary stage.”
Conference, exhibition and dinner
Education expert Professor Stephen Heppell was a leading voice throughout the two-day event, having introduced many key speakers from across the industry and giving his personal views about the future of education.
Other key speakers included Rachel Wolf, director at the New Schools Network, Tim Byles, chief executive at Partnerships for Schools and Sir Bruce Liddington, director at Edu-Trust Academies Charitable Trust (E-ACT), who featured in numerous panel discussions.
Exhibitors including platinum sponsors Skanska and Bam and gold sponsors Capita Symonds, Carillion and Graham Construction, who noted the quality of this year’s visitors. The newly launched Project Leaders VIP Lounge also recruited over 150 budget holders (first time visitors) who scheduled one-to-one meetings with exhibitors. These visitors were involved in a range of education building projects, including academies, local authorities, private providers, international schools, FE, HE and free schools.
The networking dinner held on the first evening (23 February) also raised £3600 towards the £60,000 target for BSEC’s official charity HSK (Harambee Schools Kenya), a volunteer-run education charity based in the UK.
Free schools
BSEC visitors were able to attend a packed plenary stage on the opening day (23 February) for a talk by journalist and free school founder Toby Young on his experience and challenges in establishing a new free school. This was valuable to those visitors who are also developing free schools in their communities.
A debate on free schools proved lively in the conference on 24 February, with Mark Lehain, campaign director for the Bedford and Kempston free school sharing his experiences and vision with those working in the sector, alongside the Partnerships for Schools director of education and planning, Russell Andrews.
Terry Mitchell, project director at Skanska said: "We’ve had some good conversations at BSEC with many visitors interested in free schools, Green Retrofit and modern methods of construction, who are all eager to see the resurgence of schools development."
Design My Learning Space LIVE! competition
The increasingly popular ‘Design My Learning Space LIVE!’ competition was successful, having been extended to include all primary and secondary schools in the UK. Winners were Lauriston Primary School in Hackney and Hagley Catholic High School in Worcester.
Paired with architects and designers , the competition is aimed at encouraging essential dialogue between architects and schools to promote the importance of a well-designed school environment.
Mathew Pearson, education consultant at Steljes commented: “As sponsors of the competition, schools being directly involved with the show has been a real highlight. BSEC has also been a great opportunity to engage and network with other contractors and suppliers about new ways of delivering value for schools.”
With the James Review yet to be published, BSEC 2011 proved a crucial event in tackling the future of the education built environment. BSEC 2012 will address the new issues in this changing environment, taking place from 29 February to 1 March at London’s ExCeL.
