A decade of debate, design and deals - UKCW Birmingham announces first speakers and key features

[edit] 10 Years !

As it prepares to celebrate a decade as the UK’s biggest event for the built environment, UK Construction Week (UKCW) has announced its first confirmed big name speakers for 2025's autumn’s show in Birmingham, including Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker; Oliver Novokovic – Group Technical & Innovation Director, Barratt Redrow PLC; and Mike Raven – NACF National Sustainability Lead, East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

[edit] Where decisions are made

With a theme of ‘where decisions are made’, UKCW Birmingham (September 30 to October 2, NEC) will once again be a bustling networking hub for all tier 1 and tier 2 contractors; housebuilders and developers; local authority and housing associations; architects; buyers and procurement experts.

Other notable speakers at UKCW Birmingham will include:

• George Clarke – Architect, TV presenter, and advocate for better housing and design
• Alan Heron – Director of Procurement, Places for People
• Emma Whigham – Markets & Supply Chain Director, New Hospital Programme
• Rachael Owens – Co-Director, National Retrofit Hub
• Amanda Long – Chief Executive, Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI)
• Marie Claude Hemming – Director of Operations, ACE Net

Face to face networking takes centre stage at the multi award-winning show, with a dedicated show app to help delegates book in meetings in advance, alongside roundtable sessions and the Build Connect Networking Lounge.

Neil Gaisford, Divisional Director, Construction, commented: “UKCW continues to be the largest and most influential construction event of the year. As the sector continues to evolve rapidly - driven by net zero targets, innovation in construction products, and major national infrastructure and housing investment - this autumn’s show promises to be the go-to platform for insight, collaboration, and leadership.”

Opened by architect and TV presenter George Clarke, UKCW Birmingham attracts visitors and exhibitors from across the globe, and will showcase a host of international exhibitors from the likes of China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Turkey. Amongst those already confirmed are Lanes Group; Build Warranty; Reader Cement; Unibond; Xpedeon; Cure It Composites; Don & Low; Metador; and Licata.

[edit] Specialist areas

UKCW Birmingham will feature four key specialist areas:

• On site On Hire - returning after its hugely successful debut in 2024, this area is focused on the hire of construction equipment and tools, particularly those emphasising sustainability and green technologies. It highlights the latest innovations in the hire sector, such as solar and hybrid power solutions, and is designed for contractors, plant managers, and procurement leads.
• Roofing, Cladding & Insulation (RCI) - supported by NFRC, this is a key feature bringing together leading professionals, manufacturers, and innovators from across the building sector and showcasing the latest products, materials, and technologies in roofing systems, external cladding, and insulation solutions.
• Digital Construction - the beating heart at the centre of UKCW, this will showcase the latest innovations, developments and technology in digital construction, including AI, Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D modelling, cloud computing, and automation.
• Build X - a show section aimed at ‘people who build’, this feature area will offer visitors solutions and new products to enhance projects and businesses, from housebuilding to commercial projects. Discover 1000s of products, live demos, leading seminars and the biggest networking opportunities in the sector.

Alongside over 300 leading brands from around the world, UKCW Birmingham will feature 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars and talks across five stages - all of which are CPD accredited*.

[edit] Stage Topics

Topics to be discussed include:

Main Stage

• The Future of UK Construction: Policy, Investment & Opportunity
• Infrastructure Pipeline: Delivering Growth Across the Regions
• Bridging the Construction Skills Gap: Building a Workforce for the Future

Net Zero Stage

• Low-Carbon Construction: Materials and Methods
• Retrofitting the UK’s Building Stock for Energy Efficiency
• Heat Pumps, Solar, and Future-Ready Building Services

Housing Stage

• Building More Homes, Better: Solving the Housing Crisis
• Affordable and Modular Housing Solutions
• Planning Reform and its Impact on Housing Delivery

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation Stage

• Fire Safety and Cladding Regulations Post-Grenfell
• Innovations in Insulation: From Thermal to Acoustic
• Roofing System Design for Energy Efficiency and Net Zero

Culture Change & Skills Stage

• Attracting and Retaining the Next Generation of Talent
• Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction
• Women in Construction: Breaking Barriers

To register for UKCW Birmingham for free, visit https://forms.reg.buzz/ukcw-birmingham-2025/cab-pr

• Visitors simply scan the QR code at the registration desk to register their attendance and claim the CPD points.

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