Luxury interior fit-out specialist ‘raising the bar’ by offering in-house craft at scale to the UK’s most prestigious developments EE Smith, one of the UK’s leading luxury interior fit-out contractors, is celebrating 130 years of craftsmanship, innovation and excellence, marking a remarkable milestone for a business that has heled shape
HG Construction has strengthened its position as a leader in higher-risk residential delivery after securing Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval for three major developments in a single month, clearing the way for construction to begin on schemes across Bristol, Manchester and London. The latest approvals represent another significant milestone
Prologis UK, a leading logistics property owner, developer and investor, has leased DC5b at Prologis Park West London to Relay, supporting the company’s continued expansion across the UK. The agreement builds on Relay’s successful presence at DC5a Prologis Park West London, where the business established its UK operations and has since
The start of construction was marked with a ground-breaking ceremony in Thorpe St Andrew. The Extra Care scheme will provide high-quality, supported housing for older people in the local community. Housing 21, a leading national provider of Extra Care and Retirement Living housing, was joined by representatives from Norfolk County
Formwork manufacturer PERI and concrete monitoring specialist VEMAVENTURI are offering contractors real-time insight into the concreting process, enabling pours to proceed faster and formwork to be struck earlier with confidence. Key takeaways When people think about risk during concreting, they often picture dramatic failures: blow-outs caused by excessive formwork pressure, hidden
United Infrastructure’s CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project in Liverpool Bay marks significant step in this decarbonisation programme. United Infrastructure and Rotork celebrated the completion of the first batch of IQ3 Pro intelligent electric actuators rolling off the production line for deployment on Liverpool Bay CCS Limited’s (LBCCS) CO₂ Transportation
Battery specialists, Strident Batteries, are helping lift and escalator maintenance providers meet the ongoing demands of safety and compliance with a trusted range of backup batteries. According to research conducted by Openreach, there are more than 300,000 passenger and goods lifts in operation across the UK. And, whilst there is
A Who’s Who of thought leaders and experts headline the new-look Main Stage at UK Construction Birmingham this autumn (NEC, September 29 to October 1), where high-level, conference sessions will explore a myriad of issues including policy, leadership, major projects, skills, productivity, technology, sustainability and the future direction of construction.
Luxury interior fit-out specialist ‘raising the bar’ by offering in-house craft at scale to the UK’s most prestigious developments EE Smith, one of the UK’s leading luxury interior fit-out contractors, is celebrating 130 years of craftsmanship, innovation and excellence, marking a remarkable milestone for a business that has heled shape some of the country’s most prestigious hospitality, super-prime residential and commercial interiors. From luxury hospitality projects such as The Peninsula London to current landmark super-prime residential developments including the prestigious 1 Mayfair, St John’s Wood Square and 52 Avenue Road, EE Smith has spent more than a century setting the benchmark for luxury interior fit-out. Built on a foundation of exceptional craftsmanship, technical expertise and trusted partnerships, the business has evolved across generations while remaining committed to delivering interiors of the highest quality. Their portfolio boasts so many iconic London buildings including One Grosvenor Square, The Londoner Hotel, Battersea Power Station, Chelsea Barracks, and Knightsbridge Gate. Founded in 1897, with a now 250-strong team operating between its purpose-built headquarters in Leicester and its project delivery London base in Angel, EE Smith has spent 130 years raising the standard in luxury interior fit-out. EE Smith’s origins lie in engineering precision bar pumps, an expertise that naturally evolved into the design and manufacture of bespoke bars. It is a legacy that inspired the company’s new strapline, ‘Raising the Bar’ – a playful reference to its roots and a philosophy that continues to define every luxury fit-out project it delivers. Today, the company is recognised as one of the UK’s foremost specialists in delivering complex, high-value hospitality, super-prime residential and commercial interiors, earning a reputation for uncompromising quality, programme certainty and excellence in execution. Driven by continued demand for its specialist capabilities and a strong pipeline of prestigious projects, EE Smith is anticipating turnover of £100m this year, reflecting the strength of its position within the UK’s luxury interior fit-out sector. EE Smith delivers luxury interior fit-out for some of the UK’s most prestigious developments through an integrated model that combines proactive project leadership with extensive in-house joinery and specialist metalwork capabilities spanning 90,000 sq ft. The refreshed brand reflects EE Smith’s commitment to raising the standard in luxury fit-out through drive, integrity and partnership. It builds on 130 years of craftsmanship and expertise, reinforcing the company’s reputation for delivering complex, high-profile projects with exceptional quality, programme certainty and a collaborative approach. Alongside its project expertise, EE Smith continues to invest in the future of British craftsmanship. The business is one of the UK’s leading trainers of apprentice joiners and cabinet makers, with more than 500 apprentices having successfully completed its renowned training programme. This long-standing commitment to developing future talent ensures traditional craftsmanship continues to thrive alongside modern engineering and manufacturing techniques. Dan Cashmore, Chief Operating Officer at EE Smith, said: “Celebrating our 130th year is a proud milestone for everyone at EE Smith. Our reputation has been built over generations through exceptional craftsmanship, trusted partnerships and the successful delivery of some of the UK’s most prestigious interior fit-out projects. “As we enter this next chapter, we remain committed to raising the standard in luxury fit-out. By continuing to invest in our people, our in-house manufacturing capabilities and our collaborative approach to project delivery, we are strengthening our position as the trusted partner for the UK’s most complex and prestigious hospitality, commercial and super-prime residential developments.” The refreshed brand is the first step in a broader evolution for EE Smith, with a new identity that showcases the company’s expertise, capabilities and landmark portfolio. As it enters its next chapter, the business remains focused on delivering exceptional interiors with the precision, reliability and craftsmanship that have defined EE Smith for 130 years, while continuing to set new standards for luxury fit-out across the UK. For further information visit https://eesmith.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HG Construction has strengthened its position as a leader in higher-risk residential delivery after securing Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval for three major developments in a single month, clearing the way for construction to begin on schemes across Bristol, Manchester and London. The latest approvals represent another significant milestone for the contractor, taking its total number of successful Gateway 2 approvals to 15 since the Building Safety Act regime was introduced. Together, the three developments will deliver 664 new homes and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) bedspaces, supporting the continued growth of the UK’s residential and student housing sectors while demonstrating the industry’s increasing ability to navigate the more rigorous building safety approval process. The approved schemes comprise York Gate in Bristol, where HG Construction will deliver 221 build-to-rent apartments with ground-floor commercial and resident amenity space for Donard Real Estate. Designed by Todd Architecture, the development will create a modern mixed-use residential destination. In Manchester, the contractor has secured approval for Apex Manchester in Ardwick, a 239-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme being developed for Far East Orchard and Woh Hup Group. The project has been designed by DAY Architectural and will help meet growing demand for high-quality student housing within the city. The third approval covers Stour Road Phase 2 in Hackney, London, where HG Construction will build a 204-bed student accommodation scheme for Firethorn. Designed by Henley Halebrown, the development forms part of the continued regeneration of East London while expanding the capital’s student housing provision. For the construction sector, the approvals underline the increasing importance of design coordination, technical compliance and early collaboration under the Building Safety Act. Gateway 2 has become a critical stage for higher-risk residential developments, requiring comprehensive design information and regulatory approval before construction can commence. HG Construction attributes its continued success to its integrated delivery model, which provides greater control throughout the design and construction process. The company now self-delivers a wide range of specialist packages, including mechanical and electrical services, dry lining, piling, concrete frames, tower crane operations and off-site manufactured bathroom and utility pods. This vertically integrated approach enables greater coordination across complex projects, helping to streamline compliance with Gateway 2 requirements while maintaining programme certainty and quality throughout delivery. The three latest approvals span three clients and three cities, highlighting HG Construction’s growing national presence and its expertise in delivering complex residential, build-to-rent and student accommodation projects across the UK. With 15 Gateway 2 approvals now successfully achieved, the contractor continues to demonstrate its ability to deliver higher-risk residential developments in line with the UK’s evolving building safety framework, positioning itself at the forefront of modern residential construction as the sector adapts to the new regulatory landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prologis UK, a leading logistics property owner, developer and investor, has leased DC5b at Prologis Park West London to Relay, supporting the company’s continued expansion across the UK. The agreement builds on Relay’s successful presence at DC5a Prologis Park West London, where the business established its UK operations and has since experienced significant growth driven by increasing demand for e-commerce delivery services and the securing of new customer contracts. Relay, a technology-led delivery network transforming last-mile logistics, now handles more than 200,000 parcels each week across the UK. The additional space will provide the capacity needed to support further growth, strengthen operational efficiency and enhance service levels for customers. The expansion reflects the increasing demand for modern logistics facilities in strategic urban locations, enabling fast and reliable delivery to consumers while supporting the continued growth of e-commerce. Jason Pickering, VP of Capital Deployment at Prologis UK, said: “Relay’s growth story demonstrates the pace at which technology is reshaping last-mile logistics. Since establishing its operations at Prologis Park West London, the business has expanded rapidly, secured new contracts and built a strong platform for future growth. We’re delighted to support the next stage of that journey through the leasing of DC5b.” The company’s expansion comes as it continues to attract investment and scale its operations to meet rising demand from retailers seeking more efficient and sustainable delivery solutions. Relay’s growth has also been supported by Prologis Ventures, the venture capital arm of Prologis, which invests in innovative companies helping to shape the future of supply chains, logistics and real estate. Alongside Relay’s expansion, Prologis recently completed the letting of, DC6A at the park to a leading international logistics and express delivery company from Asia. Together, the two transactions reinforce the park’s appeal as one of London’s most strategically connected logistics locations, providing customers with the infrastructure and connectivity needed to support growth and deliver reliable services across the capital and beyond. 57,801 sq ft Prologis Park West London DC6B is immediately available. SBH represented Relay, CBRE, DTRE & Savills represented Prologis. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The start of construction was marked with a ground-breaking ceremony in Thorpe St Andrew. The Extra Care scheme will provide high-quality, supported housing for older people in the local community. Housing 21, a leading national provider of Extra Care and Retirement Living housing, was joined by representatives from Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk and Broadland District Council, Clegg Construction and TSA Riley to celebrate the milestone at the site on Yarmouth Road. The development is being delivered with grant funding from Homes England and Norfolk County Council, supporting the delivery of much-needed affordable Extra Care housing in the area. Tracy Jones, Head of Commissioning and Service Integration for Housing 21, said “It is a pleasure to be here today as we mark this important milestone to celebrate the start of a development that will make a real difference to people’s lives. “Projects like this are only possible through strong partnerships, and I would like to thank our colleagues at Norfolk County Council and Broadland District Council for their support, collaboration, and shared commitment to providing high-quality homes and communities for local people. We look forward to seeing this site transform over the coming months and to welcoming residents to their new homes in the future” Once built, the scheme will comprise 87 self-contained apartments with either their own balconies or patios. They will be available for social rent to local people over the age of 55. Residents will have the assurance of an on-site care team who will be available 24/7, allowing them to live independently but with care and support on-hand if they need it. Residents will benefit from a range of facilities including a restaurant, residents’ lounge, hair salon, laundry room, guest room, assisted bathroom and mobility scooter store. There will also be landscaped gardens and on-site parking. Councillor Margaret Thomas, deputy cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Norfolk County Council, said: “Norfolk County Council is continuing its commitment to help residents live as independently as possible and avoid unnecessary residential care home admissions. “This scheme signals another step in the council’s promise to provide inclusive, accessible housing that supports people to live well in their communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Formwork manufacturer PERI and concrete monitoring specialist VEMAVENTURI are offering contractors real-time insight into the concreting process, enabling pours to proceed faster and formwork to be struck earlier with confidence. Key takeaways When people think about risk during concreting, they often picture dramatic failures: blow-outs caused by excessive formwork pressure, hidden voids, or structural defects. However, most projects experience something less visible. A wall is poured more slowly than necessary because actual pressure can’t be seen. Formwork remains in place longer because strength can’t yet be confirmed. A crane waits, follow-on trades are delayed, and equipment stays on hire for another day. Individually, none of those consequences seem that significant, but together they become a hidden cost that many concrete projects pay. For decades, that has simply been accepted as part of construction. The question is whether it still has to be. Turning hidden conditions into visible information Enter VEMAVENTURI, originally a Swedish start-up and now part of the PERI Group, specialising in technologies that enable contractors to see exactly what is happening inside formwork in real-time. Fresh concrete quality can be verified before it even enters the formwork. Concrete pressure can be monitored during a pour rather than estimated from theoretical assumptions so it can proceed at the optimal speed. Filling and compaction can be confirmed in areas where visual inspection isn’t possible, avoiding expensive rework or long-term quality issues. Concrete strength can be tracked as it develops rather than inferred from time alone, so formwork can be struck as soon as the structure is ready, not simply because a certain amount of time has passed. And all this information is brought together in a single digital platform. “Contractors naturally build in extra time and capacity to protect safety and quality,” explained Aaron Lucid, global partnership and channel manager at VEMAVENTURI. “However, real-time concrete data eliminates the need for overly conservative margins. It allows them to fully leverage the engineering built into their formwork investment, unlocking major time and cost savings without ever compromising structural integrity.” Proven on UK construction sites On major infrastructure projects, the value of monitoring is not always about increasing speed. Sometimes it is about giving teams confidence in conditions they cannot see. As part of the HS2 programme, Balfour Beatty VINCI installed the A46 Bypass Bridge near Kennilworth using an innovative bridge slide technique that moved the 14,500 tonne concrete structure into position in just 18 days. Once the bridge was in place, concrete infill was required on either side of the structure. However, the design included tall, enclosed voids with no direct line of sight, making it impossible to visually confirm whether concrete had fully reached every area. Working with PERI UK and VEMAVENTURI, the project team deployed 24 PHONO sensors linked wirelessly to a cloud-based monitoring platform. The system provided live visibility of concrete movement during the pour, allowing the team to confirm full coverage, switch pump lines when required, and maintain the required rate of rise throughout the three-day concreting operation. In total, more than 800 m3 of self-compacting concrete was monitored, creating a digital record to support quality assurance and compliance. The result was not simply a smoother pour but verified evidence that the concrete had fully filled the required areas during a critical phase of the project. “The PERI/VEMAVENTURI void sensors proved to be an invaluable addition to our quality assurance and control processes during the A46 bridge slide and associated pours,” said Maurice Dowling, works manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI. “They gave us the confidence, control, and traceability needed for a critical and complex operation.” At the forefront of global innovation It’s not all about speed. Construction projects are becoming more complex at the same time as regulations are tightening and demands on documentation are growing. Information that once disappeared with the concrete is increasingly expected to form part of the project’s quality record. This trend is reflected in the strong demand for VEMAVENTURI’s SONO Hub digital water content monitoring system in South Korea, where a series of high-profile structural failures led the government to mandate water-content testing of fresh concrete. By replacing time-consuming manual testing with rapid digital measurement, contractors can verify concrete quality before it enters the formwork. Meanwhile, the PHONO monitoring system was developed, to enable contractors to better detect incomplete filling and inadequate compaction inside complex formwork. The technology provides real-time confirmation that concrete has reached difficult-to-observe areas while also monitoring vibration, helping reduce the risk of hidden voids and ‘honeycombing’. Certainty doesn’t end when the pour does While these technologies are not yet widely specified in the UK, demand is growing as contractors seek greater confidence in quality, stronger documentation, and improved programme certainty, particularly on major infrastructure projects and high-rise developments. Monitoring creates a valuable digital audit trail. Project teams can demonstrate the conditions that existed during a pour, explain why key engineering decisions were made, and retain evidence that supports quality assurance long after the concrete has cured. That information may prove just as valuable years later if workmanship, compliance or engineering decisions are ever questioned. A different way to think about cost One of the most common misconceptions about concrete monitoring is that it represents an expensive project add-on, especially if it’s not yet mandated as in some markets. Several of VEMAVENTURI’s monitoring solutions are designed to be reused across multiple pours and projects, so that contractors continue extracting value from the hardware over time. However, a more important consideration is the cost of uncertainty. How much programme time is lost waiting for the confidence to proceed? How much plant, labour, or temporary works remain on site because the safest decision is to wait? What is the cost of discovering a quality issue only after the concrete has hardened? What is the value of having objective evidence if a decision is questioned months or years later? Formwork and monitoring working hand in hand Most of the time, things go well. Contractors apply a wealth of experienced judgment and expertise to the concreting process, often only getting in touch for help with monitoring when they run into a specific site problem. “Certainly, we can
United Infrastructure’s CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project in Liverpool Bay marks significant step in this decarbonisation programme. United Infrastructure and Rotork celebrated the completion of the first batch of IQ3 Pro intelligent electric actuators rolling off the production line for deployment on Liverpool Bay CCS Limited’s (LBCCS) CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project, a critical component for the project. The milestone was celebrated during a visit to Rotork’s manufacturing facility in Bath by project partners and stakeholders showcasing how UK manufacturing, engineering excellence and collaboration are supporting the delivery of critical infrastructure that will support net zero ambitions. United Infrastructure is delivering critical elements of the Liverpool Bay CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project, on behalf of LBCCS. Rotork is supporting this nationally significant infrastructure through the design and manufacture of its IQ3 Pro electric actuators in Bath, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the CO₂ transportation network that will transport captured carbon dioxide for permanent offshore storage beneath Liverpool Bay. Manufactured in the UK by a highly skilled British workforce, the actuators represent far more than a production milestone. They demonstrate the strength of the UK’s engineering and manufacturing sector, supporting domestic supply chains, creating high-value employment, investing in apprenticeships and developing the next generation of engineering talent. The Liverpool Bay CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project forms the backbone of HyNet, one of the UK’s first low-carbon industrial clusters. Once operational, it will enable carbon emissions from industries across the North West of England and North Wales to be safely transported and permanently stored, helping decarbonise some of the country’s most energy-intensive industries while supporting economic growth, inward investment and industrial competitiveness. United Infrastructure and LBCCS were joined by other trade partners, including valve supplier LFF Valvenco and the trade association Energies Industry Council (EIC), who met the teams at Rotork responsible for designing and producing the IQ3 Pro actuators. Guests viewed the first units being prepared for the Liverpool Bay project before discussing the next phase of delivery. Griff Thomas, United Infrastructure’s Executive Director of Energy Transition and External Affairs said: “I’m delighted to see the first actuators come off the production line for the Liverpool Bay CO2 Transportation and Storage project. At United Infrastructure, we are committed to investing in a UK workforce, and not just with our own staff, but wherever we can, we will try to source UK-manufactured parts and components so that we can ensure the next generation of the much-needed, highly skilled workforce is available in the UK for the infrastructure revolution that we are going through.” Ross Pascoe, Chief Technology Officer at Rotork, commented: “It’s fantastic to celebrate this manufacturing milestone alongside our customers and project partners. Seeing products designed and manufactured by our teams in the UK being deployed on a project of this significance is a real source of pride. The Liverpool Bay CO₂ Transportation and Storage project demonstrates how collaboration, engineering expertise and manufacturing excellence can come together to support the infrastructure needed for a lower-carbon future and the UK’s net zero ambitions.” Bath MP Wera Hobhouse said: “Congratulations to Rotork on this significant milestone. Rotork is part of the crown jewels of Bath business, and I am absolutely delighted to celebrate their continued success. Their investment in local manufacturing capability, engineering excellence and skills development, alongside supporting high-value jobs, apprenticeships and early careers opportunities in our city, makes me incredibly proud. “On a national level, their design and manufacturing work within the CO₂ transportation network is not only a vital contribution to the infrastructure’s safe and efficient operation, but also to the UK’s critical decarbonisation and net zero aspirations. I applaud their commitment and vision, and that of their partners United Infrastructure and Liverpool Bay CCS Limited.” As the Liverpool Bay CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project progresses, the collaboration between LBCCS, United Infrastructure and Rotork demonstrates how investment in UK infrastructure is creating opportunities far beyond individual projects. From supporting British manufacturing and engineering excellence to creating skilled employment and developing future talent, the project is helping build the industrial capability required to deliver a lower-carbon economy. The UK-manufactured IQ3 Pro actuators rolling off the production line represent an important milestone -not only for the Liverpool Bay CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) project and the wider HyNet programme, but for the UK supply chain that will underpin the country’s transition to net zero. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Battery specialists, Strident Batteries, are helping lift and escalator maintenance providers meet the ongoing demands of safety and compliance with a trusted range of backup batteries. According to research conducted by Openreach, there are more than 300,000 passenger and goods lifts in operation across the UK. And, whilst there is no official figure, there are likely tens of thousands of escalators across shopping centres, airports and other buildings in the UK, including over 570 in the London Underground network alone. In recent years, passenger lifts and escalators have been subject to an increasing number of regulations and standards, including the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Building Safety Act, which place responsibility on building owners and facilities managers to ensure systems are properly maintained. With increasing emphasis on compliance and safety, facilities managers and lift maintenance professionals need dependable backup batteries to help keep critical systems operational and meet regulatory requirements. “Most lifts require servicing at least once or twice a year, with back-up batteries often replaced as planned preventative maintenance. And, as regulations surrounding lift and escalator maintenance continue to evolve, reliable backup batteries are an increasingly important part of keeping systems safe, operational and compliant,” explains Caleb Deayton, Managing Director of Strident Batteries. Many lifts and escalators rely on back-up batteries to power essential systems like emergency lighting, alarm systems and communication devices in the event of a mains power failure. Plus, BS 9999 Annex G recommends that lifts intended for evacuation during a fire, particularly for people with reduced mobility, are provided with an independent back-up power supply, such as dedicated batteries. “Service providers need products they can depend on to deliver long-lasting performance between inspections – not only for safety, but to protect their reputation too. Our batteries are created with carefully selected raw materials and advanced absorbent glass matting to provide dependable performance and long service life” adds Caleb. With more than 20 years’ experience supplying high-performance batteries across a range of industries, Strident Batteries work with lift manufacturers, maintenance contractors and facilities management companies to provide dependable back-up power solutions, including a fire-retardant range. Plus, they pride themselves on understanding the demands of lift and escalator maintenance for the professionals themselves. “In addition to supplying high-quality products, we focus on making the purchasing process as straightforward as possible. With same-day dispatch on orders placed before 15:30, no minimum order quantities and a dedicated account manager, we’re committed to helping maintenance professionals access the batteries they need, when they need them” concludes Caleb. For more information about Strident Batteries, visit www.strident.uk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Who’s Who of thought leaders and experts headline the new-look Main Stage at UK Construction Birmingham this autumn (NEC, September 29 to October 1), where high-level, conference sessions will explore a myriad of issues including policy, leadership, major projects, skills, productivity, technology, sustainability and the future direction of construction. Built around the core themes of Building Better, Building Smarter and Building Responsibly, the Main Stage – one of five theatres at UKCW Birmingham – will welcome an array of leading luminaries, including: Main Stage seminar highlights include: Tuesday 29th September 10.30am – 11.15am The Construction Reset: What Needs to Change and What Happens if We Don’t? [Build Better] This session will examine where the industry can unlock growth, improve performance and build a future-ready workforce through innovation, collaboration and new career pathways. Speakers: Jackie Rigby (Homes England), Saul Humphrey (Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Tim Balcon (CITB) 12.30pm – 1.15pm Housing at Scale: The Race to 1.5 Million Homes This session will examine the opportunities created by planning reform, New Towns and strategic growth areas, while exploring whether more scalable delivery models can help increase capacity. With political focus, investment and innovation aligning, the next five years could represent the biggest opportunity for housebuilding in a generation. Speakers: Ed Griffiths (Barbour-ABI); Emma Osmundsen (Chair, Passivhaus Trust Board) 2.15pm – 2.45pmWho are the people changing construction for the better? Announcing the UKCW Role Models Winners for 2026 With three categories: Rising Star, Pioneer and Icon, UKCW Role Models recognises outstanding achievement at every stage of a career. This special session will reveal the 2026 winners and celebrate the exceptional leadership, innovation and impact that have earned them recognition as some of the industry’s most inspiring role models. Presenters: Christina Riley, Senior Planning Manager, Coniston Ltd & Co-Founder, Building Equality; Rebecca Rickwood, CEO, Gement Group Wednesday 30th September 11.30am – 12.15pm Constructing the Gold Standard: Choosing the Right Framework for Better Supply Chain Partnerships This panel will explore how the principles of the Construction Excellence Gold Standard are reshaping procurement, moving beyond lowest-price tendering towards fairer risk allocation, earlier supply chain engagement and longer-term collaborative relationships. Moderator: Alison Nicholl (Head of Constructing Excellence, BRE & DfE) Speakers: Prof. David Hancock (Construction Director and Infrastructure Practice Lead, His Majesty’s Treasury, Expert Advisory Team & NISTA); Rob Byrnes (Frameworks Director, Vinci Building UK) 2.30pm – 3.15pmNet Zero That Pays: Making Commercial Sustainability Work in Construction An opportunity to examine how whole-life carbon, material choices, energy performance and retrofit strategies are increasingly shaping procurement decisions, project outcomes and competitive advantage. Speakers: Ste Garlik (Strategic Lead for Decarbonisation & Retrofit, Building Design Partnership & Chief Executive, Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB)); Will Arnold (Head of Sustainable Materials, Useful Simple Trust) Thursday 1st October 12.30pm – 1.15pm AI in Construction: Reimagining How Real Applications Deliver Real Results [Build Smarter] This session will showcase real examples of AI being used to automate repetitive tasks, improve document and data management, accelerate design coordination, enhance project controls and increase productivity across construction workflows. Speakers: Paul Beeston (Partner – Head of Industry and Service Insight, Rider Levett Bucknall); Meghan Davies (Co-Founder, Cammina) 1.30pm – 2.15pm The New Industrial Revolution: How Digital-First Construction Can Finally Scale Productivity How digital-first approaches, combined with standardisation, better data and new ways of working, can help the industry move away from fragmented project-by-project delivery towards more repeatable, efficient and scalable systems. Moderator: Trudi Sully (Industrialised Construction Director, Mott MacDonald and Co-Chair Building Better: Community of Practice (BB:CoP))Speakers: Lilian Ho (Associate Director – Digital & BIM, UK+I Architecture + Design , AECOM); George Mokhtar (Director, Turner & Townsend) Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham Editorial Director, commented: “Our theme of The Construction Reset will position UKCW Birmingham as a marketplace and industry meeting point, built around the real challenges, opportunities and partnerships shaping construction today. “The Main Stage is at the very heart of that, with some of the biggest names in the industry coming together to discuss, debate and help shape the conversations that will define the future of the built environment. From innovation and digital transformation to sustainability, skills and policy, the programme has been designed to provide practical insight, fresh thinking and meaningful discussion for everyone working across the sector.” Sponsored by Wyre, HotelPlanner and Build Warranty, UKCW Birmingham will feature over 250 leading brands; 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars across four stages, alongside a series of built-for-purpose sections. Architect, TV presenter and UKCW ambassador, George Clarke will officially open the show and also host the Main Stage discussions on Day One (September 29th). To find out more and to register free for UKCW Birmingham, visit https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/0hcnqiudc1lrv?actioncode=1000 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals