UKCW announces packed CPD seminar programme for London show

UKCW announces packed CPD seminar programme for London show

Covering a myriad topics from building safety to insolvency, housing reform to the skills agenda, diversity to historical buildings, UK Construction Week London’s seminar programme features speakers from Westminster, Premier League football clubs and beyond.

What’s more, the 300+ talks and workshops at UKCW London (ExCeL, May 7-9th) are all fully CPD accredited by the CPD Group, solidifying UKCW’s commitment to providing high-quality educational experiences for industry professionals.*

Keynote speakers at UKCW London include:

• Alison McGovern MP (pictured above), Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions
• Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Local Growth and Building Safety)
• Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development
• Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Gideon Amos MP, Liberal Democrat Housing and Planning Spokesperson
• Contributors from a wide range of organisations including Aston Villa FC, Blenheim Palace, CCPi and The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

Highlights of the seminar programme, which covers key industry topics like Net Zero, Digital Construction, Skills and Housing, include:

Wednesday May 7th

• Main Stage, 10.30am - Alison McGovern MP will be speaking about addressing the skills crisis in the industry via apprenticeships, entry level pathways, and working with job centres to ensure that construction careers are part of the conversation
• Main Stage, 2.25pm - Challenging the Agenda: Housing Reform for a Sustainable Future - Kevin Hollinrake MP and Gideon Amos MP in conversation.
• Net Zero Hub, 2.15pm - Villa Park Reimagined: A Sustainable Future for Matchdays and Beyond - Andrew Watkin, Transport and Estates Development Manager, Aston Villa FC.
• Culture Change and Skills Hub, 2.15pm - Hard hats, soft skills – why construction’s workforce needs more than technical training: Technical skills alone aren’t enough - a panel discussion which forms part of the CITB’s hub takeover.

Thursday May 8th

• Main Stage, 10.30am - Building London’s Future: Tackling Housing, Skills, and Infrastructure Challenges - Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development.
• Net Zero Hub, 11.15am - Designing for a Net Zero Future: Architectural Technology at the Forefront - experts from the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) will share insights on how architectural technology is driving the industry toward a net-zero future. Speakers include Karam Al-Obaidi, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture at Sheffield Hallam University, Anthony Silby, Architectural Designer at AP Design & Management, and Robert Bedner, Principal Owner, Cura Design.
• Housing Action Hub, 2pm - Retrofit in Historical Buildings - Kelly O’Driscoll, Head of Built Heritage at Blenheim Palace, and Edward Lewis, Practice Director at Donald Insall Associates, discuss the current £12 million roof restoration project at Blenheim Palace.

Friday May 9th

• Main Stage, 11.15am - Building Safety and Remediation: Delivering Lasting Change - Building Safety Minister Alex Norris MP will outline the government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan and its commitment to making buildings safer, faster.
• Main Stage, 1.45pm - Insolvency in the Supply Chain: Protecting Your Business in Uncertain Times - led by Jessica Evans, Partner at Burges Salmon LLP, an expert panel will provide guidance on managing risk, preventing financial difficulties, and navigating insolvency when necessary.
• Culture Change and Skills Hub, 1pm - Building Connections: Meet Women Who Shape Construction - an inspiring lunch and networking event where a panel of role models will share their lived experiences, sparking conversation on the challenges and opportunities for women in construction. . This event will also feature the announcement of the shortlist for this year’s UKCW Role Models.

Neil Gaisford, Divisional Director, Construction, commented: “For anyone looking to advance their career, develop new skills and highlight a commitment to learning and development of their network, UKCW’s seminar programme is the perfect place to do so - with a recognised certificate of achievement which is acknowledged by industry leaders.”

With an overall theme of ‘Where deals are made’, UK Construction Week (UKCW) London has announced a myriad of new features and co-located shows for the show in May. 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.

UKCW London attracts over 18,000 visitors, and runs alongside The Offsite Show, making it the largest construction trade show in the capital. The 2025 event will also feature a new VIP pass, allowing visitors to elevate their experience for just £99 per day. The new pass allows VIP guests to skip the queues with fast-track entry, relax in style in the exclusive VIP Lounge with complimentary coffee, a range of alcoholic and soft drinks, and a dedicated WiFi network throughout the day. What’s more, free parking at the venue is included in the purchase of the ticket.

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.