Pro Installer September 2016 - Issue 42 | Page 18

18 SEPTEMBER 2016 PRO INSTALLER BUILD SHOW PREVIEW www.proinstaller.co.uk HUNDREDS OF EXHIBITORS AT BUILD SHOW The UK’s build community will come together for this year’s Build Show - part of UK Construction Week from 18th-20th October at the Birmingham NEC. Last year’s event attracted visitors with a combined purchasing power of £36 billion, and this year’s show will return with many of the industry’s biggest names in attendance. The show provides the industry with a space to network, develop and grow, and promises to be the most comprehensive in decades, with hundreds of exhibitors and several unique feature areas. As well as forging new business opportunities and sourcing new products, Build Show plays an important role in cultivating debates and solutions to issues holding the industry back. The discussion will be further amplified through the support of trade associations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), TRADA, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the Construction Products Association (CPA) and the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) who will all be in attendance. Also in evidence are new partnerships. Among them is the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF) Pavilion, designed to offer a specific platform for merchants and suppliers to meet and do business. Equally, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has pledged its support to a dedicated roofing section of the show. The exhibition has a comprehensive seminar programme including the Home Building Theatre, giving an opportunity to get a heads up on the latest developments in the industry. Day one focuses on challenges and opportunities for house builders covering funding, innovative approaches such as 3D printing and offsite construction with insight from the likes of John O’Brien, Associate Director – Construction Innovation at BRE. The spotlight in the afternoon will be on energy and sustainability. The Building Energy Performance Gap will look at closing the gap between design and built performance with speakers to include Anthony Briden, senior energy consultant at PRP Architects, Alasdair Donn, principal energy solutions engineer at Willmott Dixon, and Andrew Dainty, professor of construction sociology at Loughborough University. Day two kicks off with a seminar about ‘Opportunities in the Custom and Self-build Market’ which will showcase a session by Philip Singleton, managing director of Graven Hill Village Development Company, about Graven Hill Village – the UK’s largest self-build scheme. The afternoon will ask questions about ‘Future-proof Housing Design and Materials’ with experts from the industry exploring the changing role of architects in housing design and creating liveable homes and communities for the long term. The final day of seminars will take a closer look at the topic of ‘Future-proofing House Building’ and ‘Construction Methods to Safeguard the Future of the UK Housing Market.’ BIM4 housing chairman, Patrick Wilson will explain the benefits of structured data and how this can determine build methods and outcomes. Wienerberger will lead discussions on ‘How the house builder benefits from structured data’ in the build process, including internal processes, asset management and developed metrics. Nick Tune, CEO of coBuilder UK will also comment on ‘What is digital data, why we need it, how to collect and distribute it to our advantage.’ Alongside the Home Building Theatre will be the BIM Prospects Theatre. Over the three days thought leaders will share insights on the current skills gap regarding the delivery of BIM level 2. Another key area at the Build Show will be the Skills and Apprenticeship Workshop, which will encourage people to up-skill and look at encouraging gradu- ates, ex-service staff and others entering the industry. It will also look at how the UK’s apprenticeship scheme can benefit business and how to get help on establishing apprenticeships. The Business Advice Centre will also be an area of focus. The feature will provide access to information on finance, skills, land and planning and more to help SMEs grow their business. Showcasing the latest products and prototypes, the Building Material Innovation Hub will be a popular space. In addition, Irwin Tools will be using the hub to host its annual awards. There will also be a dedicated Offsite Zone that will straddle both the Build Show and Timber Expo. For full details of the seminar schedule, go to ukconstructionweek.com/buildshow/whats-on/seminars. To register to attend the show, visit www.buildshow.co.uk. By completing the form, trade visitors can access all nine shows taking place at UK Construction Week.