Political and industry figures have responded positively to the Construction Reset, the theme for UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham, returning to the NEC this Autumn.
UKCW Birmingham runs from 29 September to 1 October and is built around three core themes – Building Better, Building Smarter and Building Responsibly. The organisers said the event would provide a clear focus on the issues and opportunities facing the construction industry.
While figures from across politics and industry agreed on the need for a reset, interpretations of what that means varied – from removing red tape and barriers to standardising energy storage, turning conversation into action, improving readiness and competency, and connecting people and organisations.
Cutting red tape
Sir James Cleverly MP, shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said: “A construction reset means recognising that we cannot tax and regulate our way to growth. The reset I want to see is one where the government removes barriers rather than adding them, scrapping stamp duty, cutting red tape and backing builders.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, pointed to the region’s skills needs. He said: “We’re heading into a construction boom that will power new jobs, homes and opportunities right across the West Midlands. So, it’s crucial local people, especially our young people, have the skills to harness those opportunities. To help make that happen I’ve launched a £75m training package to give 12,000 people the construction skills needed to meet the industry’s soaring demand.
“This conference is also about showcasing the new construction and green technologies that will help power my Growth Plan and help us build the new homes we so badly need, in a way that is faster and more energy efficient.”
Energy storage as “essential infrastructure”
Jason Howlett, chief executive of Energy Storage Association UK, argued that storage technology should be built into new homes from the outset. He said: “If we’re serious about Building Better, Smarter and Responsibly, then energy storage must become standard in every future home and not just retrofit solutions. Storage isn’t an upgrade; it’s essential infrastructure for a construction industry determined to reset, innovate and lead and the construction industry can futureproof housing today, without waiting for legislation to force the change.”
David J Stevens, director of estates, facilities and capital development at East London NHS Foundation Trust and winner of the UKCW Role Models 2025 Icon award, said the industry needed to move from discussion to delivery. He said: “The Construction Reset is about moving beyond talking about the challenges and getting better at delivering solutions. By combining engineering excellence, innovation and collaboration, we can deliver better performing, lower carbon and more resilient buildings that create lasting value for the people who use them.”
Safety and collaboration
Dr Zsuzsanna Gyenes, senior industrial safety expert and founder of Global Industrial Safety Solutions Ltd, said readiness was central to her view of a reset. She said: “For me, the Construction Reset is about readiness. If the industry is expected to deliver more homes, infrastructure and innovation, then organisations also need the confidence and capability to manage safety, risk and responsibility in a more dynamic way. It means competent people, clear safety leadership, risk awareness and management systems that work together from design through to construction, completion and long-term operation.”
Rachael Owens, co-director at the National Retrofit Hub, said a reset should focus on collaboration rather than starting over. She said: “For me, a construction reset isn’t about starting again. It’s about making better use of what we already have.
“If we can connect people and organisations, share what’s working, make it easier to learn from one another, and work collaboratively to overcome blockers to scale, we’ll make much faster progress. That’s how we move beyond good individual projects and create a system that delivers at the pace and quality the industry needs.”
Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham editorial director, said the theme reflected support from decision-makers across the sector. He said: “It’s reassuring to hear key decision makers and industry leaders supporting our call for a reset in construction; the future is bright and we can all work together to be a catalyst for positive change.
“The Construction Reset will position the event as a more intentional marketplace and industry meeting point, built around the real challenges, opportunities and partnerships shaping construction today.”
Main image: Richard Parker, Mayor of West Midlands
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