UK Construction Week unveils its latest surprises

With the final touches to next week’s UK Construction Week (UKCW) show now in place, the organisers are issuing a final reminder for visitor registrations.

Billed as construction’s largest industry event, the organisers are expecting more than 30,000 people at the show next week, from Tuesday to Thursday at the NEC in Birmingham.

Among the latest speakers to be confirmed, Lord Digby Jones, a cross bench peer in the House of Lords, former head of the CBI, developer, and lover of construction will be wading into the Brexit debate on day one, on Wednesday 9 October. He will be part of the session on ‘Brexit boom or bust? Industry Economic Forecast 2020’ on the main stage in Hall 12.

Also, on day two, the new construction minister Nadhim Zahawi MP is also set to make his first industry appearance. Advanced booking is being advised for both these events.

This year’s UKCW also promises some big numbers, including more than 300 expert speakers,150 hours of free CPD, a celebration of 98 industry role models, 500 exhibitors and new product launches, and more than 30 major new innovations on display in the Innovation Zone, from brick laying robots to crane simulators, from quieter and more efficient heat technologies to new software.

As part of a major focus on MMC (modern methods of construction), there are also full-scale builds at the show, a SIPS panel home, a factory-finished modular bathroom pod for the high-end hotel sector, ground breaking systems like Project Etopia, and offsite solutions for the education sector.

Nathan Garnett, event director at UKCW said: “UKCW opens in just a few days with a greater diversity of features than ever before, including innovation zones with over 50 brand new products from well-known brands and start-ups, a Wellbeing Information Zone, cycling and sporting challenges, an electric vehicle arcade, awards and construction summits, all on top of the trade show and major seminar programme you would expect.

“With Brexit drawing closer by the day, we also have packed the show full of practical advice on how to adapt and take the opportunities around over the coming months. It is well worth a day of your time to see what you can learn from the event. It’s a place where business gets done, new contacts are made and the networking is fantastic. If you have yet to RSVP, it’s time to get your skates on.”

The usual printed show guide is being switched for an environmentally friendly app as part of UKCW‘s sustainability push. To help reduce single-use plastic, free water fountains will be installed around the show and 3,000 reusable bottles will be made available to visitors. And to offset the carbon footprint of the show, UKCW is planting 2,500 trees.

UKCW is one event with many sections, including Build sponsored by Easy-Trim, Building Tech, Civils, Energy and HVAC, Surface and Materials, and Timber. It also features Concrete Expo (8-9 October only) and Grand Designs Live (9-10 October only). Single registration gives free access to all areas of the show. Pre-booking is also strongly recommended for the extensive seminars and CPD programme.

Last minute tickets are still available via the website www.ukconstructionweek.com