UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham, the UK’s biggest event for the built environment, marked its 10th anniversary with a dynamic three-day showcase full of conversations, networking, and innovation.
The award-winning show was officially opened by UKCW ambassador George Clarke and carried the theme “where decisions are made.” Visitors enjoyed exclusive product launches, inspiring talks from leading industry figures, global exhibitors, and an exciting range of new features.
The three-day show included high-profile names including the Mayors of the West Midlands, Richard Parker; David Atkinson, National Head of Land & Development, Willmott Dixon; Emma Wigham, Director NHS New Hospital Programme, and Amanda Long, Chief Executive, Code for Construction Product Information (CCPi).
Shining a spotlight on the unsung heroes and talented professionals in the construction industry, the Role Models Campaign, now in its eighth year, announced its three worthy winners:
- Rising Star – Virtue Igbokwuwe, Assistant Project Manager, Ringway, She said: “The other finalists were incredible, and even being shortlisted felt like recognition of the collective effort we put into promoting our industry. This award is a real confidence boost, and being a STEM Ambassador is something I’m deeply passionate about and I’ll continue championing this amazing industry at every opportunity.”
- Pioneer – Olayemi Usman, Cost Consultant, Turner & Townsend. He commented: “Winning an award is good recognition because it shows what I’ve been doing in the industry for the last few years, being a pioneer. This category means a lot, and there’s more to do and more ground to cover.”
- Icon – David Stevens, Director of Estates, Facilities & Capital Development, East London NHS Foundation Trust. David said: “It’s a real privilege to be recognised with the UKCW Icon Award. The construction industry is at its best when it’s inclusive. When inclusivity, collaboration, innovation and professionalism come together, we can do great things; and I’m proud to play a part in that journey.”
Featuring four shows under one roof – Roofing Cladding and Insulation Expo (RCI Expo), Build X, Net Zero, and Digital Construction, UKCW Birmingham was sponsored and supported by some of the industry’s biggest names, including HotelPlanner, Build Warranty, CSCS Ltd, and Wyre.
With thousands of products on display from over 300 leading brands from around the world, including Lanes Group, Toyota, Licata and Don & Low, the multi award-winning show attracted a wealth of overseas exhibitors and visitors, from Naples to Norway, India to Oman.
Other UKCW Birmingham highlights included:
- Over 150 hours of CPD-accredited seminars and talks, focusing on the sector’s current key issues and topics, including building safety; climate resilience; women in construction; policy and legislation; Net Zero; mental health; digital construction; and retrofit.
- Networking opportunities galore, including the popular Build Connect Lounge, a dedicated, informal networking space for industry professionals, which also hosted round table discussions, open to all delegates.
- The launch of a new web-based app, allowing visitors to quickly build a personalised itinerary of talks, book meetings and navigate the floorplan all from the palm of their hand.
- Backed by the UK’s leading roofing association, the NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors), and The Rooflight Association, the Roofing, Cladding and Insulation (RCI) Expo, made a welcome return, showcasing over 50 exhibitors including Rock Roofing Products, Idelco Insulation, Impervious Waterproofing, Harvey Roofing Products, Rubberseal, Stiga.
- After its successful debut in 2024, the Net Zero Trail also returned to UKCW, to guide visitors through a curated selection of green champions, showcasing the latest innovations and sustainable practices driving the construction industry toward a Net Zero future.
- The winning exhibitors for this year’s Stand Awards were announced, and included:
- Sustainability Initiative Award – Liebherr
- Best Space Only Stand – Nuaire
- Best Schell Scheme Stand – Coral Construction Technologies
- Best Marketing – Cure It Composites
Neil Gaisford, Divisional Director, Construction, commented: “The one word that visitors and exhibitors alike have used this week has been ‘buzz’ – seminars have been packed, stands have been busy and lively, and there’s been a really upbeat feeling. Yes, there’s a lot to do with the likes of building safety, mental health, policy and product information, but as a barometer for the sector UKCW has shown that there’s a buoyant mood.”
Kerry Telford, Area Development Manager, Lanes Group: “It’s been fantastic for us – we’ve had lots of people we didn’t expect to come onto the stand; we’ve had heads of estate, property managers, individuals with smallholdings and even Tesco’s head of drainage. It would have taken us a lot of time to get in front of someone like that, so it’s been brilliant.”
Khaled McGonnell, Founder, Cloud Hikers: “It’s our first time exhibiting at any show, and it’s been fabulous – excellent conversations and a really excellent lead pipeline.”
Jack Johnson, Head of Land, TerraQuest: “The show has been really good and everything has been highly organised. A key highlight has been the talks – so interesting and really busy every day. We’re aiming to go to London as we’ve had some positive leads and conversations.”
Michael Eilertsen, CEO, Meta-dology: “The overall calibre of the exhibition has been fantastic delivering plenty of high-quality leads for us to pursue. We do shows all over the world and have loved the energy of UKCW. I love how you understand our business and have guided us throughout the process on our stand and best positioning to ensure we get the most out of the show.”
Mr Mike Fowels-Smith, Sales Director, Reader: “We’ve been attending UK Construction Week for about seven years now to not only make great connections and secure leads, but also to get our brand out there, but this year is possibly the best it’s ever been.”
Dates for the next two UKCW shows have already been announced – UKCW London runs from May 12-14 2026 at ExCeL, while UKCW Birmingham returns to the NEC from September 29 to October 1 2026.
