Building excitement for the UK Infrastructure Show

With less than a week to go to the UK Infrastructure Show, buyers, suppliers, speakers and exhibitors are gearing up for this key event.

With infrastructure shining through as one of the few bright spots for the construction industry over the last year, this sector has become ever more important to driving the industry forward and achieving the high ambitions held for the sector.

The planning pipeline is particularly positive for infrastructure with a 113% increase on 2017, while 2018 saw it hold the position of second largest sector for contract awards in 2018 with 21% share.

Barbour predicts that infrastructure will remain strong in 2019 and beyond due to the commencement of HS2 projects in the rail sector with further investment in electricity distribution and generation also forecast to continue.

Our recent survey indicates that infrastructure is hugely important to those ‘on the ground’ as well – with respondents supporting both large-scale projects and the repair and maintenance of existing.

The UK Infrastructure Show brings together this diverse sector under one roof, at the NEC 30^th April 2019. Running in conjunction with Procurex National, this event gives you the opportunity to access the supply chain across local and national projects, as well as key representatives from leading infrastructure organisations such as HS2, Transport for the West Midlands, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, and the National Infrastructure Commission.

With the National Infrastructure Pipeline set at some £600Bn in both public and private investment over the next ten years, this event gives delegates the opportunity to become part of this exciting pipeline. The infrastructure marketplace offers opportunities to sole traders, small enterprises and micro businesses, whether contracting directly or as part of the supply chain – so this is the must attend event for those looking to enter the infrastructure supply chain.

The main event of the day is the Live Keynote Arena, where some of the most influential people in infrastructure will give you key insights into these £600Bn of opportunities.

Robert Jenrick MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, kicks things off discussing the National Infrastructure Strategy and the government response to the National Infrastructure Assessment released by the National Infrastructure Commission. Following the publication of a government consultation on alternatives to PFI and supporting private investment, Mr Jenrick said that both “public and private sectors will need to play their part”; in his key note speech, he will discuss the government objectives for infrastructure and how the sector can be adaptable to growing technological changes.

Phil Graham, Chief Executive of The National Infrastructure Commission follows, giving his views on the progress of the Commission, the publication of the inaugural National Infrastructure Assessment, and the future of infrastructure. Being able to harness technological advances for use in infrastructure and future-proofing ambitious projects is crucial the success of the sector, and Mr Graham will discuss how the Commission is influencing this.

Next up, Matthew Vickerstaff Chief Executive at Infrastructure and Projects Authority, takes the podium. “Project prioritisation, initiation, performance and capability are the basics that we have to get right” said Mr Vickerstaff at the government’s first Project Delivery Conference, and his talk and UKIS 2019 reflect this, the progress that has been made and provide an overview of the National Infrastructure Pipeline.

One of the key projects in this pipeline – and indeed the largest infrastructure project underway in Europe today – is HS2. The keynote address from this important project will cover progress, supply chain opportunities and future progress of the project.

Catherine de Marco, Deputy Director of Infrastructure, Skills and Efficiency at Department of Transport, will address delegates next. The use of MMC and technological advances is crucial in improving efficiency – but we also need trained and qualified people to apply these advances. The Skills Strategy from Department of Transport is aimed at increasing uptake of apprenticeships in transport, and over the last few years has successfully increased these by 22%, bucking the wider trend. Catherine will discuss the skills strategy, how we can encourage the best people into the sector and retain them, particularly in the face of Brexit.

Finally, Adrian Hill, Director of Frameworks at Scape Procure, will bring to the arena the importance of housing and social infrastructure, and how intelligent procurement can help the government achieve its ambition of a million new homes.

Two separate zones will support the key note arena -= giving more detailed insight into the subsectors they are hosting.

The Energy & Social Infrastructure Zone hosts a number of exciting discussions and talks, with housing development and key energy infrastructure projects the highlights of the day.

In this zone, Jonathan Bretherton, MD of the Urban Growth Company will lead the discussions. The Urban Growth Company (UGC) is a special purpose delivery vehicle, established to lead and develop major infrastructure investment in The Hub, a key component of the UK Central strategic economic growth area. The UGC will help to realise the full economic potential of the 1,300 hectare Hub area, set to be home to the HS2 Interchange Station from 2026, which will itself spark the creation of a truly international transport hub and world-class development opportunity.

This will be followed by our various sponsors discussing advances and advantages for those on site, with CompeteFor leading a session on how to access these supply chain opportunities.

In the Transport Zone, major projects and a more regional outlook is the order of the day, with major projects such as HS2 represented.

The Transport Zone will see Robin Lapish discuss supply chain opportunities with HS2, providing crucial information for those wishing to exploit this lucrative area.

Fittingly, being hosted in Birmingham, and the heart of the West Midlands, this zone will see discussions on how devolution is helping priorities infrastructure projects throughout the UK’s regions. Anne Shaw from Transport for the West Midlands, Elaine Clark of Midlands Rail Forum and Sarah Spink of Midlands Connect will all host sessions on the opportunities abound in this region and how devolution is helping promote investment across the UK.

One of the major issues for the construction industry as a whole is the skills shortage, and rounding off the day will be Rebecca Young from HS2 discussing the skills strategy for the project.

Along with opportunities to meet key deliverers of the supply chain, network with exhibitors, and learn how to find and secure part of the £600Bn pipeline – UKIS 2019 is a must visit event.

 

Register for your delegate place now: UK Infrastructure Show 2019. 

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