CONSTRUCTION EXPO TAKES TO THE WATER

UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK LONDON – the annual construction industry expo – has teamed up once again with Construction Sport: this time in the form of a boating regatta with a difference!

The aim is to show how team sports can help improve the mental health of those working in the construction industry, where work characterised by limited-term contracts, long hours, long commutes, time away from family and the pressure to complete on time and within budget can negatively impact on mental wellbeing.

Working with London’s Royal Docks and waste management and recycling service provider Powerday, four teams will be invited to build a boat from construction waste materials, to race across Royal Victoria Dock on the opening morning of UK Construction Week (UKCW) London on 2 May.

In 2016, architect and TV presenter Kevin McCloud sailed to the Grand Designs Live show at ExCeL in a houseboat made entirely of cardboard (pictured). For this year’s UKCW London challenge, teams must build a similar vessel.

As well as earning respect and plaudits from their peers, the winning team will also open the show alongside George Clarke and a host of industry movers and shakers.

UKCW event director Nathan Garnett commented: “Working collaboratively, the teams will highlight one of Construction Sport’s key aims: showing how team sports and activities can improve the day-to-day mental health of construction workers. Not only that, but by using waste materials from Powerday’s waste management centres, the teams will be able to illustrate how the sector is taking sustainability to heart.”

Steve Kerslake, the founder of Construction Sport, added: “For us, construction is all about teamwork, passion and camaraderie. As an industry we build for the future: the future of our environment, the future of our community and the future of our workforce. The UKCW London Boat Challenge has it all!”

The winning boat will be on display at UK Construction Week London. This year’s regatta follows on from last year’s overnight mission to walk from Twickenham to ExCeL London to open the show.

Walking the route of the Thames Tideway, Steve Kerslake and his team from Construction Sport were followed by This is England, the BBC documentary that focused on the mental health challenges faced by construction workers – and the work Construction Sport and others are doing to help.

UKCW London, which runs from May 2-4, will feature sessions and seminars led by industry experts across the six stages. The show will feature 300 speakers, with over 150 hours of CPD seminars available.

• To find out more and to register for free visit www.ukconstructionweek.com