Demand for face-to-face events and networking is growing across the industry as the pandemic eases. In the light of this and Government publishing guidance on how major events can be held safely, the organisers of UKCW are bringing the show back to the NEC Birmingham on 5-7 October 2021.
UKCW 2021 is expected to attract more than 300 exhibitors covering over 25,000 m² of the NEC, providing launches, demos and offers on more than 6,000 products.
Major brands such as Google, HS2, Geberit, Hanson Plywood, Ford, Xero, Procore and the Construction Innovation Hub will be promoting at the event, making up for two years of new product launches, innovation and recruitment.
THEMES & FEATURES
Each day of UKCW in October will have a topical theme: Tuesday 5 October will focus on quality, social value and building safety; Wednesday 6 October will promote diversity, equality and inclusion in construction, and Thursday 7 October will be dedicated to sustainability. The UKCW’s half-day summits on Quality and Wellbeing will also be scheduled during the show.
Key features of this year’s event include the UKCW main stage, sponsored by construction charity COINS, which will see keynote presentations by senior leaders from, among others, McKinsey, the Construction Products Association, CIOB, Willmott Dixon, Barratt Homes, Bioregional, Grimshaw, the Sustainable Energy Association and the Construction Leadership Council.
The COINS ‘Future of Construction’ series of seminars will be looking at how the last 18 months have changed the way we build and how that catalyst for change can now be used in a positive way. These sessions will cover updates in technology, procurement, sustainability, wellbeing and more.
During the pandemic, construction has accelerated its digital transformation and the adoption of new technology. Therefore, the Digital Construction Hub, sponsored by Procore, is well placed. In a seminar programme delivered in partnership with the UK BIM Alliance, delegates will be hearing about others’ BIM implementation stories, digital strategies and practical tips for overcoming challenges. The UK BIM Alliance will also be hosting a series of essential networking events.
In addition, there will be a Sustainability Hub, supported by the Renewable Energy Association, plus the Regeneration Hub, sponsored by Easy-trim, which will focus on social value and quality issues in construction.
Working with the Offsite Alliance, the Modern Methods of Construction Hub will deliver three days of MMC and offsite construction case studies. The Innovation Zone will also return this year – a collection of interesting and inventive products to have emerged in the last two years.
The UKCW Role Models initiative is also back for 2021. Following a record number of entries last year, the shortlist of 102 Role Models was chosen from all parts of the industry, and the overall winner will be announced on Wednesday 6 October.
Role Models are inspiring people who have a strong story to tell and can help to attract others into similar roles. Successful entrants from previous years have been out visiting schools and meeting young people to encourage them into construction as a rewarding career.