Record Returns at UKCW

The UK’s largest event for the built environment, UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham, made a welcome return to the NEC in October, with visitor numbers up 19% from last year.

T

he show drew over 23,900 visitors from as far afield as Turkey, Brazil, Australia and Canada, and included a host of high-profile names including West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Channel 4 presenter George Clarke, and BBC journalist and presenter Simon Jack.

Co-located within UKCW Birmingham was Timber Expo, which attracted over 2,000 visitors (8% of the total attendees) across the three days, including architects, local authorities, merchants, developers, housebuilders and contractors.

Designed for people who use, specify, design and build with timber, and offering the opportunity to join hundreds of other brands showcasing their latest innovation, products and services, Timber Expo was backed by and held in collaboration with Timber Development UK, BM TRADA, Timber Construction and Timber Trader UK.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, commented after the show: “It is crucial that timber, as a sustainable building material, is placed front and centre of the UK’s largest construction event. There is so much happening in the construction industry right now that has put UK Construction Week into a unique position, whereby it can inform and educate the sector as it moves forward. There is a real sense of momentum now as we plan the next one, especially on meeting our next zero targets and creating long lasting culture change. A record number of companies have signed up for 2023 so we look forward to really growing the UKs largest trade show for construction.”

Chloe Donovan, chief executive of Natural Building Systems, said: “We’ve had an amazing time - met everyone from potential suppliers, industrial partners, contractors and investors; I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

Gary Scott, managing director at Hanson Plywood, commented: “We were at the show because it’s the hub of the UK construction industry. We get a lot out of it; we don’t do many shows, but UKCW Birmingham does work.”

Exhibitors at Timber Expo include Rokamat, Engineered Timber Solutions Ltd, Woodolex Ltd, the Ghana Forestry Commission and Hanson Plywood Ltd who specialise in the import, storage and distribution of wood-based panel products throughout the UK.

Timber Expo featured a programme of industry leaders, including architects, developers, housebuilders and merchants to name a few. They debated and discussed the sector tackling post pandemic supply issues, post Brexit challenges, the impact of the Ukraine conflict on timber supply chain and the drive to net zero as we strive to meet COP26 targets. The exhibitor profile includes structural timber frame, sawmills, merchants, glulam, SIPs, CLT, fixings and fastenings, timber cladding, doors and windows, mouldings, skirtings and flooring products.

Andy Howe, founder and managing director of CareersForce, was named UKCW Role Model 2022; CareersForce helps UK key workers such as those from the armed forces, police and NHS to forge a new career in a range of new sectors including construction. The winning exhibitors of this year’s Stand Awards included: Rolec (best 50m+ space stand), Harwoods (best space under 50m), Restec (best shell scheme), Tough CAD (best use of marketing), Zero Hub (most interactive) and Celsa (for innovation).

UKCW London will take place from 2-4 May 2023 at ExCeL UKCW Birmingham will run from 3-5 October 2023 at the NEC. More at  www.ukconstructionweek.com

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 During Timber Expo, the Timber Development UK (TDUK) team were on hand to showcase themanybenefitsoftimberinconstruction.

The TDUK stand stood at the centre of the Timber Expo pavilion, where visitors could ask questions and get advice on how to incorporate more timber in their construction projects. They were also able to access a wide range of free information and materials, including the first issue of TDUK’s Designing Timber magazine for architects and specifiers, and a three-volume series of textbooks on the Design of Timber Structures created by Swedish Wood in partnership with TDUK.

As the main supporter of Timber Expo, TDUK also organised a series of presentations as part of the Sustainability Hub. TDUK chief executive David Hopkins was on stage to chair discussions on a wide variety of topics including the commercial reality of low-carbon construction, how to achieve affordable zero-carbon newbuild homes and an introduction to Timber TED: an exciting new model for upskilling professions in timber engineering, design and construction.

In recognition of its focus on sustainability, TDUK was presented with the UKCW Sustainability Award at the end of the three-day exhibition.

David said: “We were thrilled with the response to Timber Expo. The panel discussions at the Sustainability Hub were incredibly well attended and are a testament to the growing interest in timber as a low-carbon building material right across the supply chain. “Attending Timber Expo and UK Construction Week gave us a fantastic TDUK chief executive David Hopkins (middle) and head of education and opportunity to raise awareness of the new engagement Tabitha Binding receive the UKCW Sustainability Award. TDUK brand now that the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA have merged into one organisation. The TDUK stand was incredibly busy throughout the whole event, and we were very pleased by the positive response to our new brand and our renewed commitment to support the timber industry as the largest, most comprehensive supply chain body for timber in the UK. We were especially delighted to be chosen as winner of the UKCW Sustainability Initiative Award in recognition of our efforts to promote timber across the entire construction supply chain.” More at  www.timberdevelopment.uk