With three jam-packed days of insight from industry leaders, the latest innovation and technology, famous faces, and an abundance of networking opportunities, UKCW London returns to ExCeL next week (May 7-9) bigger and better than ever – with over 21,000 visitors expected across three days.  Planning is the key at the UK’s biggest event for the built environment – this year’s show has a host of new features and over 300 exhibitors across a wealth of specialisms and sectors – from digital technology to training; materials to machinery; sustainability to scaffolding. To help visitors get the most out of their time at UKCW London, organisers have picked their top 10 things to see and do: UKCW London is once again co-located with Concrete Expo, Build X, The Offsite Show, Digital Construction and Infrastructure Live, as well as the UK’s premier event for the self-build sector, Grand Designs Live. UKCW London is sponsored and supported by some of the industry’s biggest names, including ABC+ Warranty; Barbour ABI; HotelPlanner; MERS; Oracle Construction and Engineering; Design & Build UK; CITB; Offsite Alliance; MPBA; BSF; CIOB; and British Offsite. Sam Patel, Divisional Director – Construction, commented: “We’ve listened carefully to visitor and exhibitor feedback to shape and structure this year’s UKCW London – choosing just 10 highlights is, to be honest, difficult, and one day just isn’t enough to see everything we have planned.”  There is still time to register (for free) for UKCW London through the new-look website. The London show is complemented by its sister event, UKCW Birmingham, which takes place at the NEC from October 1-3. The NEC was the birthplace of UK Construction Week in 2015 and the trade show has grown to become the UK’s largest built environment event. Details on the Birmingham programme of events and speakers will be announced in due course, but exhibition space is already filling up – to enquire for your business, contact info@ukconstructionweek.com To find out more about both shows and to register for UKCW London for free, visit https://ukcw-london-2024.reg.buzz/cab-pr Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A new report by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, has found the construction sector of the project management profession has grown by over 20% in five years to contribute £33 billion of annual gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy. The Golden Thread Report 2024, commissioned by APM and conducted by PwC Research, was published today (April 25th) at a launch event at the Science Museum, London. It follows the first pioneering report in 2019 that assessed the UK project profession’s size as well as its economic and societal contribution. Overall, the project management profession now contributes to the UK economy £186.8bn of GVA – a key measure of economic output and productivity. This represents a growth of 19% from £156.5bn in 2019. In addition, the profession now employs an estimated 2.32 million full-time equivalent workers (FTEs). It means 8.5% of total UK FTEs are employed in project-related roles and the profession delivers over 9% of total UK GVA. When broken down by individual sectors, construction ranked as the second highest with a GVA of £33.19bn – a rise of 23% from £27.08bn in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of FTEs in construction project management has increased from 260,000 to almost 300,000. The research, based on official employment data, market statistics and a survey of over 500 UK businesses, rubberstamps the significance of the fast-growing project profession. Factors behind the growth highlighted by the report include an increasing recognition of the need for effective programme management and transformation across all sectors including construction, while the London 2012 Games was credited for demonstrating the importance of effective project management to ensure successful delivery of large-scale events. Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, said: “We are excited to be launching our second Golden Thread Report at a pivotal time for project management with the UK economy recovering tentatively and net zero gathering pace. “Our report deepens the view that our profession is the most vital ‘golden thread’ running through all sectors of the economy – driving quality, efficiency and strategic change. This includes the traditional project management sector of construction which has seen a 23% rise in its GVA contribution to the UK and an additional 40,000 project professionals in just the last five years alone. “Our research is a vital contribution to the debate of the project profession as we seek to overcome a variety of challenges and opportunities and continue with our growth trajectory.” Chris Anstead, a Director in the Global Programme Advisory Team at Turner & Townsend, a leading global programme management and construction consultancy, said: “Once upon a time projects were focused on digging holes and building things. But now projects and programmes are being used for all sorts of transformations with our clients applying our skillsets into much broader applications. “We are starting to see greater application of programme management within organisations. In the past, they might have relied on operational departments to deliver individual projects. Now they are thinking more about driving step-change, improvements and ultimately transformation.” Dave Corbin, Head of Client Accounts at international property and construction consultancy Gleeds, said: “Successful projects – delivering the intended benefit on time and within budget – require strong project management. Without it the myriad of developments that the country needs to future-proof itself would simply not materialise. “In the past the role of the project manager has been underestimated but I believe we have seen a shift in perspective and the value of having an effective, collaborative and highly skilled project leader is now widely recognised. I only hope that the positive trends revealed in this report continue and that as a profession we’re able to attract and retain enough skilled people to be able to meet increasing demand.” Key findings from the report The report, entitled in full: ‘Golden Thread: A study of the contribution of project management and projects to the UK’s economy and society’, commissioned by APM and undertaken by PwC Research, found: To download the Golden Thread 2024 Report along with supporting case studies, visit https://www.apm.org.uk/resources/research/the-golden-thread/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A recent report commissioned by the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) and conducted by Savills reveals impressive growth within the warehousing sector, indicating sustained expansion and a continuous surge in demand. Since 2015, the sector has witnessed a remarkable 61% growth, with total warehousing space nearing the 700 million sq ft mark. Furthermore, the development of warehouses exceeding 1 million sq ft has surged by an astonishing 345% over the past decade, paralleled by an 813% increase in occupancy by online retailers. At the recent UKWA National Conference, the unveiled report underscores the pivotal role of warehousing in supply chains, the UK economy, and our daily lives, according to UKWA CEO Clare Bottle. It paints a vivid picture of sustained growth and the sector’s adaptability in response to evolving social and supply chain dynamics, including the surge in online shopping and nearshoring trends. Highlighting the growing significance of warehouses, the report asserts, “The role of the warehouse has never been more important, and the demand for warehouse space continues to rise.” Warehouses now serve as central hubs for supply chain activities, encompassing tasks traditionally handled by manufacturers and retailers, including managing returns, repairs, and recycling, thereby becoming integral to the circular economy. The escalating demand for warehouse space is driven by a confluence of factors, including the need for increased space, manpower, and technological advancements. Moreover, global geopolitical events have underscored the vulnerabilities of lengthy supply chains, prompting manufacturers to maintain higher inventory levels closer to consumer markets to enhance supply chain resilience. Consequently, there has been a surge in warehouse proliferation, accompanied by a trend towards larger warehouse units. Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) continue to dominate warehouse occupancy in 2024, with online retailers witnessing the most significant surge in occupancy. This underscores the necessity for strategically located warehouses near population centres and along motorway corridors to meet the escalating demands of online consumers. Geographically, there has been a notable shift, with the East Midlands retaining its position as the largest market for warehouse inventory, witnessing a 66% rise. However, other core markets, including the West Midlands, South East, Yorkshire, and the South West, have also experienced substantial growth. The North West, while exhibiting a comparatively lower growth rate of 41%, faces limitations in future growth due to inadequate allocated development land, as highlighted by Savills land supply data. Kevin Mofid, head of industrial & logistics research at Savills, remarks, “The growth of the UK logistics property market reflects its critical importance to manufacturing and retail supply chains. However, the changing geographical landscape poses challenges in meeting future demand.” In conclusion, Clare Bottle emphasises the acute shortage of high-quality buildings and development land, urging for government recognition and support for the warehousing sector’s vital role in the national economy. As the nation approaches a general election in 2024, it becomes imperative to effectively communicate the sector’s significance and advocate for necessary support and infrastructure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals