17th January 2024

Construct UK is delighted to be supporting Futurebuild once again as it returns for the 18th year from 5th-7th March.

The event, which is set to be the most impactful yet, will continue its mission in taking a stand for a better built environment, showcasing groundbreaking ideas, creative and inspirational innovations and crucial collaboration to help us set the stage for a greener, more resilient future.

More than 20,000 professionals from across the entire supply chain including architects, planners, urban designers, landscape architects, housebuilders, developers, consultants, contractors and manufacturers will come together to explore real sustainable building materials and practices and methods of delivering construction projects that are smart and sustainable.

Futurebuild 2024 will include an extensive programme of seminars and debates, delivered by more than 500 speakers. Here are just a few:

Post-Grenfell update: can better product testing improve building safety?

Tuesday 5th March 15:00 – 16:00

In her report on the Grenfell tragedy, Dame Judith Hackitt highlighted the weaknesses in the industry’s current approach to product testing, labelling and marketing. About two-thirds of construction products are currently unregulated, according to the Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime (April 2023) led by Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC.

The Independent Review provided comprehensive recommendations for both industry and government to tackle the lack of accountability in the construction products marketplace.

What measures have been taken in the year since publication? What must be done next?

The Independent Review provided comprehensive recommendations for both industry and government to tackle the lack of accountability in the construction products marketplace.

What measures have been taken in the year since publication? What must be done next?

Chair: Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive, CIOB

Speakers:

The report one year on. Paul Morrell OBE, Inquiry co-chair
A Code for Construction Products Information, Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive, Construction Products Association (CPA)
The Specifiers’ perspective, Richard Harral, Technical Director, Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
The Contractor’s perspective, Stephen Jeffery, Group Technical Director, Mace

The role of material passports to deliver circularity in the built environment

Wednesday 6th March, 10:30 – 11:15

Material passports are increasingly seen as a tool to solve many challenges around the circular economy in the construction sector, with many industry initiatives underway. This panel discussion will examine the potential of material passports, where challenges remain and what’s missing to them a success.

Chair: Yetunde Abdul, UKGBC

Speakers:

Anastasia Stella, Waterman
Philippa Birch-Wood, Thrive
Rachel Hoolahan, Orms
Yingli Wang, University of Cardiff

Standardisation in Modular Construction: Why MMC is an important option for the future

Wednesday 6th March, 15:15 – 16:00

Modular Standardisation. A focus on technical issues (fire standardisation for example), terminology standardisation (i.e. MMC for non-domestic) and H&S (which sometimes gets left behind in these sessions).

Chair: Andy King, Wernick Group – MPBA

Speaker:

Stuart Norris, Portakabin

How do we predict the future of construction? The answers lie within the data!

Wednesday 6th March, 15:15 – 16:00

Paul Wilkinson, Vice Chair at nima

Paul Wilkinson is a technology consultant, writer, blogger and freelance journalist with specific expertise in the UK architectural, engineering and construction industry and the ICT sector, particularly Software-as-a-Service collaboration tools and BIM. He is a vice chair of nima (formerly the UK BIM Alliance) and chairs its technology group. He is also involved with Constructing Excellence and its Digital Group and with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations construction and property special interest group (CAPSIG).

Speakers

Emma Hooper, R&D Lead at BuildData Group Research Institute
John Adams, Head of Product at Glider
Paul Shillcock, Managing Director at Operam

DEBATE: For better or for worse: the role of AI as an industry disruptor

Thursday 7th March, 12:00 – 13:00

Are developments in AI pressing ahead without clarity on our part as to possible consequences? What are the positive benefits of AI? What impact will AI have on the industry as a whole and particularly on the built environment professions – how can we demonstrate the value we bring? How should we change?

Chair: Dr Olli Jones, Head of Sustainability and Innovation, Cundall

Speakers:

AI for good

Martha Tsigkari, Head of Applied R & D, Foster & Partners
Mike Moseley, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Construction, BridgeAI

versus

Proceed with caution

Aaliyah Pollock, Data and Tech Analyst, RICS
Brian Hills, CEO, The Data Lab

Do we need to look to the future to solve construction’s challenges? Or should we concentrate on the technology we have today? Session curated by Glenigan.

Thursday 7th March, 15:00 – 15:45

Are you team tomorrow or are you team here and now? The what, why and how of digital construction today, and tomorrow. Listen to the for and against arguments for the capabilities of current technologies driving construction, are they enough, are they fit for purpose or are they yesterday’s news already?

Speakers

Allan Wilen, Economics Director at Glenigan

Henry Fenby-Taylor,Founder at Atheniphilia

View the full programme here.

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