AI and the skills gap under the spotlight at UKCW London

AI and the skills gap under the spotlight at UKCW London

The rise of AI in construction and its effect on the skills gap - both positive and negative - will be one of the key topics of conversation at next month’s UK Construction Week London, which returns to the ExCeL from May 7th to 9th.

Amongst the 300+ talks, seminars and workshops will be a Main Stage discussion on Thursday May 8th at 2pm, entitled Skills Gap or Tech Takeover: The Future of Construction’s Workforce. Speakers include Bradley Webster, Director of Transformation at Baily Garner, and Kope.ai co-founder, David Flynn.

Bradley Webster, Managing Partner, Baily Garner: “The future of the construction industry will be inseparable from the growth and implementation of AI. We are on our own journey of adoption at Baily Garner, but our industry as a whole faces a critical need to supplement its resources amid a long running skills shortage. This is especially true if we are to achieve the government’s target to build 1.5 million homes by 2030, but AI will also play a key role in helping us collate and analyse data on existing buildings.

“Building more homes and improving the country’s schools and hospitals are ambitions we can all agree on. Forums like UK Construction Week provide an important space for us to exchange ideas on how we can leverage AI to achieve them.”

UKCW Advisory Board member, Anne Daw, Head of MMC Delivery, HLM Architects, added: “AI has the potential to dramatically increase productivity in design and construction - particularly if it is used as a tool to assist, rather than as a replacement for a skilled and experienced workforce. We need to improve our recruitment and retention of new talent into the construction sector.

“It could turn out that AI helps us to do that by reducing the difficult, repetitive, or dangerous tasks that keep people from considering construction as a career. As a practice, HLM regularly invests in digital technology innovation that supports our design approach, enhancing client experiences, and positioning us as an industry leader.”

Other key seminars which focus on AI and skills include:

Wednesday May 7th

• Digital Construction Hub, 10.30am: Generative AI - LIVE DEMO - Simplifying Contract Management with GenAI: Real-Time Solutions for Companies of All Sizes. Andrew Whyatt-Sames, co-founder of UpTake AI, will showcase how AI can streamline processes, provide real-time contract insights, and upskill teams, reducing the time spent on managing contracts by up to 30%.
• Digital Construction Hub, 12.30pm: Addressing the Digital Skills Gap - Getting People onboard with Digital Transformation. James Bishop, Digital Technology Manager, SES, and Mohammad Shana, CEO & Co-Founder at Morta

Thursday May 8th

• Digital Construction Hub, 12.30pm: Mastering RFP Evaluations with AI: Real-Time Scoring in Minutes. What if reviewing RFPs took minutes instead of hours? AI can make it happen. Stephen Repton, Founder and CEO of Flowlio, will show how to instantly summarise, score, and refine proposals with simple, accessible tools like Microsoft Copilot or Chat GPT—no complex setup required.
• Digital Construction Hub, 4pm: AEC Innovation: Driving the Future of Learning & Technology. Join Jon Arnott, founder of Adeptus Digital, and Robert Claridge, Europe Learning Solutions Owner, Laing O’Rourke, in a fireside chat about how hands-on innovators at the forefront of AEC innovation, explore emerging technologies which are transforming the way we learn, build, and collaborate in the industry.

Friday May 9th

• Digital Construction Hub, 11.30am: AI’s role in building a sustainable digital future - Women in BIM Panel. Join UKCW’s panel of Women in BIM as we explore strategies for developing AI models that support the reduction of energy consumption, lower costs and minimize carbon footprints.
• Main Stage, 1pm: AI in Construction: The CIOB Playbook for a Smarter Future. David Philp, Chief Value Officer, Bentley Systems (Advisory) and Chair of CIOB's Innovation Panel, introduces the CIOB Artificial Intelligence Playbook, offering practical insights into AI’s potential to revolutionise workflows, enhance design and planning, and mitigate risks.

All seminars at UKCW London are fully CPD accredited by the CPD Group, solidifying UKCW’s commitment to providing high-quality educational experiences for industry professionals*.

Neil Gaisford, Divisional Director, Construction, commented: “The construction sector cannot ignore the rise of AI, and it’s vital that everyone embraces change and takes advantage of the benefits. At UKCW we’ll be exploring a range of AI-related topics to ensure visitors stay ahead of the curve.”

With an overall theme of ‘Where decisions are made’, UK Construction Week (UKCW) London has announced a myriad new features and co-located shows. The only event designed to cater for the whole construction supply chain, UKCW London 2025 will not only be co-located with The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces for the first time in its history, but will feature an array of exciting initiatives and exclusive launches.

After the success of its debut at the Birmingham show in October, UKCW London will also feature Onsite On Hire, making its return to London after 16 years. Onsite On Hire is a hire industry showcase designed to show the very best tools, compact plant and equipment exhibitors.

Another exciting feature for the show in May, and coming to UK Construction Week London for the first time, will be HVAC+R, which will see a showcase of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions.

Following the London show in May 2025, UKCW Birmingham returns to the NEC from 30 September to 2 October 2025.

To register for UKCW London for free, visit https://forms.reg.buzz/ukcw-london-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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