Networking will be a major focus at next month’s UK Construction Week London (ExCeL, May 7th-9th), with a wealth of events and opportunities for visitors to meet, share ideas and build new business relationships.

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The UK’s biggest event for the built environment, UKCW London will see the debut of a new Networking Lounge, co-hosted by CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) and BSF (Building a Safer Future); a networking breakfast and drinks event, both hosted by BETA (Built Environment Technology Association); and a host of exciting interactive sessions and talks which will encourage networking and participation.

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The new Networking Lounge will be a dedicated area for construction experts and stakeholders to connect with other like-minded companies and suppliers, and build business relationships with influential supply chain decision-makers.

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Companies already confirmed to attend include Persimmon Homes, Casey, Devonshires and Fenwick Elliott. Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra and Quinn are also exhibiting close to the networking lounge and will be looking to meet visitors and form new partnerships.

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Sam Patel, Divisional Director – Construction, commented: “We know from our research and visitor feedback that networking is the prime reason why many people come to UKCW, hence why we’ve increased the number of events and opportunities for visitors to meet and forge new relationships.”

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Other interactive events at UKCW London include a BETA Networking Breakfast at the Digital Construction Hub from 9am-10am on Day Two (May 8th), hosted by BETA (Built Environment Technology Association). BETA will host Networking Drinks on the Digital Construction Hub on May 7th from 4.30pm-5.30pm.

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The three-day show will also be home to a range of interactive sessions and talks, which will be the perfect environment for networking and building new connections.

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One such event will be Pitch Perfect: Six Start-Ups Making Waves in UK Construction (Barbour ABI Stage, Wednesday 8th, 1.30pm), a session best suited for start-ups and investors, when entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE will draw upon her expertise in product innovation, design, and manufacturing to welcome the ideas of emerging innovators.

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Graitec’s workshop Case Study on Embracing Digital Transformation (May 8th, from 11am at North Gallery) will be of interest to a host of construction roles, including BIM managers, digital consultants, project leads and technical directors. The session will provide keynote talks, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with industry peers including Costain and Yorkshire Water.

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UKCW London will also stage a series of interactive sessions from BSF across the show’s three days, chaired by Lorna Hagan, one of BSF’s expert Champion assessors. The sessions bring together a panel of expert speakers to deep dive into the latest developments in building safety regulation and culture. Guest speakers from data science firm Empirisys and construction law firm Devonshires will discuss the latest developments, case studies, and implications of the Building Safety Act and safety case law.

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The three BSF talks are:

Future-Proof Your Buildings – Mastering the Building Safety Act (Culture Change Hub, Tuesday 7th, 10.30am-12pm); relating to housebuilders.

Building Safety Revolutionised – Navigating the New Era of Regulation (Culture Change Hub, Wednesday 8th, 10.30am-12pm); focusing on consultancies.

Construction Confidence: Navigating the Future of Building Safety (Culture Change Hub, Thursday 9th May 10.30am-12pm); centering around construction contractors.

Sam Patel added: “We want to see as many groups from different roles and backgrounds as possible taking the opportunity to use UKCW as a platform to share ideas, present new findings, celebrate and network with the industry.

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“Our aim is simple – to bring together industry leaders and professionals to foster collaboration and drive innovation. In an industry as fast-paced as the construction industry, building strong partnerships is essential.”

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Registration for UKCW London is now live (and free) 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.

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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