The UK’s largest event for the built environment, UK Construction Week (UKCW) London, co-located with Concrete Expo and The Offsite Show, made a welcome return to ExCeL last week, with a string of exclusive launches, international pavilions from across the globe, and a host of new features.
With over 7,000 products on display from over 300 exhibitors, including Ford, British Offsite, Peri, PlanRadar, Celsa Steel UK, Containex and Don & Low, the multi award-winning show attracted a wealth of overseas exhibitors and visitors.
This years’ edition of UKCW saw its biggest ever display of international pavilions from China, Turkey Italy, Estonia, and a new Sicilian Pavilion, which showcased 16 high-end interiors companies, including Colorificio Atria, Settipani Srl, and Nikkolor Italia, who used UKCW London for the global launch of its new decorating material, Etna, which features ash collected from Sicily’s famous volcano.
This year, there was also a major focus on skills development, apprenticeships and training, including the Worldskills BIM challenge, which brought together the next generation of BIM experts from across the globe; a new Skills and Training Hub, a first-time collaboration with the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board); and a new Careers and Recruitment Zone featuring specialist recruiters from the construction sector.
Shining a spotlight on the unsung heroes and talented professionals in the construction industry, the Role Models Campaign, now in its seventh year, announced the shortlists for its three new categories Rising Star, Pioneer, and Icon, with the winners scheduled to be revealed at UKCW Birmingham in October.
Other awards handed out at this year’s UKCW included the Stand Awards, with the Best Space Only award going to MERS, Best Shell Scheme went to Hahn Plastics Ltd, Containex won the award for Best Marketing and Best Interactive Stand was awarded to Orko Electrical.
Sam Patel, Divisional Director – Construction at UKCW said after the show: “Feedback and visitor registrations for this year’s UKCW London have been phenomenal – confirming its place as the industry’s premier event. New features such as the Sicilian Pavilion, Demo Zone and Skills & Training Hub have been really well received; we can’t wait to bring even more insight and innovation to UKCW Birmingham when the show returns in October.”
“It’s been a good show again – we saw a diverse portfolio of customers, from architects and engineers to large companies like the MOD and Incheon Airport. This is great for us as we have such a diverse product range, and UKCW is the opportunity to be in front of so many different people,” highlights Matthew Baxendale, head of sales and marketing, Hahn Plastics.
“We are a relatively new division, and UKCW is a great showcase for us to get the ball rolling, especially being alongside Concrete Expo; it attracts a good range of companies like London Quadrant, Laing, Mace and local authorities. The visitors have been good quality and we’ve had some great conversations with clientele,” adds John Walton, façade sales manager, Ibstock Futures.
Dates for the next two UKCW shows have already been announced, with UKCW Birmingham set for October 1st– 3rd 2024, while UKCW London will return to ExCeL May 6th – 8th 2025.
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