UK Construction Week will have London and Birmingham editions in 2021 as part of a new 18-month plan.
The UK is entering a period of unparalleled government investment in homes and infrastructure. With £40 billion committed to infrastructure and housing in recent weeks, it is clear this government sees the construction industry as a key driver to economic recovery.
As the leading event platform for the construction industry, UK Construction Week (UKCW) has been working with key stakeholders to create an 18 month UKCW road to recovery that capitalises on the government commitments made towards the construction industry through major infrastructure investment and the new green homes grants.
The UKCW roadmap to recovery will feature a new event set to take place in May in London. With Government support and education on how to tap into major investment opportunities in Housing and Infrastructure, UK Construction Week London (4th - 6th May 2021) will connect the whole supply chain in an event designed to oil the wheels of construction commerce.
Co-located with Grand Designs Live, UKCW London will provide a way for sustainable construction products to capitalise on the consumer demand created by the £3 billion Green Homes Grant. Four established Construction Summits will take place at the same time: Quality, Wellbeing, Diversity and Marketing, as well as a Lean in Construction Training Workshop.
UK Construction Week Birmingham will return between 5 and 7 October 2021 at the NEC Birmingham, as the UK’s largest built environment event. Along with four conferences, 15 CPD and Workshop hubs and three major award presentations, UK Construction Week Birmingham 2021 will be a celebratory focal point, as construction can share learnings from the recovery and look to the future.
The UKCW road to recovery will also be partnered by The Times, with editorial support for the event.
Nathan Garnett, Director for UK Construction Week, said: “The pandemic has put construction in the spotlight, from building NHS hospitals to pioneering COVID secure sites, and it has met all of the challenges head on. Now it has been asked to be the catalyst for the economy, and drive the recovery, and we will use all of our events and digital communities to assist in meeting that challenge head on as well”.
David Hancock, Construction Director of the Infrastructure Projects Authority, said: "Government is embarking on one of the most substantial periods of investment in construction and infrastructure in history, with projects across the UK designed to improve the infrastructure of our country.
"These were important prior to the pandemic, but now take on the added importance of supporting our economic recovery. The IPA is therefore delighted to be involved in events like UK Construction Week designed to boost construction activity in these areas”.
Purdie Proudman, Marketing Manager, Merchant & Contractor of Geberit, said: "Geberit will be taking part in UK Construction Week's Roadmap to recovery plans as we continue to invest and innovate across our bathrooms portfolio looking to support our customers adapt and recover in their new normal.
"We will be exhibiting at the new UKCW London as we see this as a real opportunity to drive demand for Geberit, a brand with a long tradition of quality, reliability and innovation in what we see as a pivotal time in our industry. We are keen to increase our use of digital platforms like the Construction Buzz daily newsletter, to keep our customers informed as well as complementing our event activity in the Spring for UKCW London, and in the Autumn for UKCW Birmingham"
Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, said: “The Government has looked upon construction as a key part of the economy to keep going through the pandemic and ensure vital assets supporting the nation and NHS have continued to function.
"The industry now has to build on that considerable success of the last four months, and now is readying itself to support the growth in construction output that the government's financial stimulus will generate. There is a significant job to do and UK Construction Week in London and Birmingham in the Spring and Autumn will assist in further connecting an industry that has come together like never before.
"If construction is to live up to the Prime Ministers mantra of build build build we will need every bit of the strength tenacity and expertise the industry has to offer. Coalescing around the UKCW will undoubtedly assist in establishing the new normal. CPA are pleased to be part of this exciting programme.”
John Newcomb, CEO of Builders Merchants Federation and a member of the CLC Task Force, added: “BMF members have been exceptionally busy over the lock down and have provided a crucial service to keep things moving. We are delighted that UK Construction Week will be providing an 18-month plan that allows us all to recover and adapt to the new normal, and capitalise on the opportunities now appearing for the sector”.
Pilot events are to be taking place to assess the viability of running exhibitions in September, but the organisers took the view that the re-start date of 1 October has come too late for an event on the scale of UK Construction Week to run successfully.
The October 2020 edition of UK Construction Week has therefore been replaced by an online conference and event programme running 5-9 October 2020, where industry leaders will debate and scope out what a successful recovery looks like. Exhibitor stands have been transferred to the October 2021 edition ensuring no exhibitor has incurred any financial penalty.
