UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham will place building safety at the centre of its programme when it returns to the NEC at the end of this month.
The event, which runs from 29 September to 1 October, will use its Building Safety & Occupational Safety stage to explore the Building Safety Act, safety by design, working at height, and organisational leadership and culture.
Sessions across the three days include a panel from the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI) on reducing defects and improving competence, and a discussion on aligning regulation, testing and building design under the Building Safety Act’s gateway regime. Speakers include representatives from Arup, Morgan Sindall, Urban & Civic, Laing O’Rourke and Persimmon Homes.
Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham editorial director, said: “Building safety is much more than just meeting regulatory requirements, it’s about creating the right culture and approach that keeps people safe. At UK Construction Week, the Building Safety & Occupational Safety stage will be a hub of activity as we provide an invaluable platform to ensure safety remains at the heart of every project, bringing together industry experts to share their experiences and challenge current thinking.”
The show’s Roofing, Cladding & Insulation (RCI) section will meanwhile bring together building envelope, weatherproofing and solar specialists across a dedicated Building Envelope stage, sponsored by SolarEdge.
Topics include a session on using wearable camera technology to improve safety for those working at height, led by Paul Spies of AcuSaif by Smart Safety Solutions, and a panel on green roofs and biodiversity net gain featuring Chris Bridgman, chair of the Green Roof Organisation. Further sessions will examine solar PV and battery storage safety, and what the Future Homes Standard and Warm Homes Plan mean for solar, storage and heat pump installers.
Hurn said: “The building envelope is being asked to do far more than simply keep the weather out. From improving energy performance and supporting renewable technologies to delivering biodiversity, resilience and safer working practices, the demands on roofing and cladding are changing rapidly.
“UKCW brings these issues together in one place, giving visitors the opportunity to see the latest solutions, challenge established thinking and understand what these changes mean for their businesses. It’s a key destination at UKCW for anyone involved in designing, specifying, installing or maintaining the buildings of the future.”
Ahead of the event, UKCW has also launched a podcast series, Press RESET, featuring industry figures who will also speak at the show.
Hosted by Hurn, the series will release two episodes a week in the run-up to the event. Guests so far include Matt Mahony, policy and public affairs manager at the Construction Industry Council (CIC); Rashida Rajgotwala, co-chair of the National Association of Women in Construction Midlands; Jade Lewis, chief executive of Jade Advocacy; and Meghan Davies, co-founder of Cammina.
Hurn said: “Press RESET is about creating the conversations our industry needs right now. Construction is facing significant challenges, but there are also huge opportunities to do things differently. By bringing together people with fresh perspectives and practical experience, we want to look beyond the problems, challenge established thinking and explore what real solutions could look like. These are conversations designed not just to inform, but to inspire action.”
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