Constructing Excellence

Offsite Construction Week and Offsite Expo
2024-09-16 - 2024-09-20
Offsite Construction Week, 16th – 20th September
Offsite Construction Week shines a spotlight on the transformative digital, material and manufacturing innovations that are advancing the design and application of offsite construction processes. The week comprises of a range of events, which can be found on their website, and includes Offsite Expo.

Offsite Expo, 17th & 18th September
Offsite Expo is a must attend event for specifiers looking for the latest offsite solutions. Visitors to the show, which will be held on the 17 & 18 September, will be able to see an expanded range of offsite system and technologies, and the widest display of new and innovative applications for the built environment. To find our more and book your place, visit their website.

CE Procurement Group meeting – September
2024-09-09 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | Online
The Constructing Excellence Procurement Group brings together a highly knowledgeable group of our members who are committed to delivering better procurement.
During the call we’ll hear from our highly knowledgeable group committed to delivering better procurement.
Agenda

Introduction to our new Procurement members
Fair Payment – Trevor Hursthouse
Conflict Avoidance Pledge – Len Bunton
Procurement group, the plan for 2024/2025

This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

Constructing Excellence Climate Action Group- September
2024-09-05 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Join the Constructing Excellence Climate Action theme group for their next meeting on Thursday 5th September, Chaired by Annette Boren.
This session will focus on ‘Framing Carbon Action’.
With climate transition mentioned in corporate action, frameworks and policy, what are the fundamentals of climate transition, and how can it help in practice? An interactive introduction with opportunities for discussion.

This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

Offsite Manufacturing & Technology Group Visit to British Offsite Horizon Factory
2024-07-31 10:00 - 13:00 | British Offsite, 1 Rontgen Place, Braintree, CM77 7AX
The CE Offsite Manufacturing & Technology Group are delighted to visit the British Offsite Horizon Factory on 31 July 2024.
Set up in 2023 the 180,000 sq. ft factory is one of the most automated light gauge steel panel assembly lines in Europe and the largest single production line in the UK to date. Automation and productivity solutions are complemented by skilled operatives. Working together they have quadrupled production capacity to 10,000lm – the equivalent of 6,000 homes per year. British Offsite operates across a range of sectors including housing, health, education, justice and defence.
Join us on 31 July to find out more about how this advanced manufacturing facility can play a key role in our move to more productive, industrialised construction.
This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

RetroNetZero Innovator (Fabric) Workshop
2024-07-30 15:00 - 16:30 | Online
RetroNetZero Innovator Workshop for building fabric-based products/ processes: your opportunity to voice potential solutions
The RetroNetZero network is intended to help overcome regulatory science-related challenges to facilitate the adoption of innovation in domestic retrofit.
Acknowledging that the fundamental intentions of legislation should be respected and maintained (e.g. Building Safety Act, etc), the aim of the network will be to identify and propose solutions to existing challenges faced by retrofit product innovators, or, at the very least, identify the research or data needed to allow the regulatory landscape to safely adapt to facilitate the use of innovative products, systems and approaches in the medium to long term.
We are keen to hear from innovators with a building fabric focus (or associated stakeholders, such as specifiers) who can reflect on their own experiences and thoughts to suggest solutions to common challenges of mainstreaming the use of innovative technologies and approaches for retrofit.
(Note that building services solutions will be explored in a separate workshop.)
It is intended that this insight will help the RetroNetZero team shape our proposals for the operation of the regulatory science network which we hope you will follow and join us.
Take a look at the project overview to find out more.

CE Performance Measurement – July
2024-07-24 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
The Performance Measurement group will be meeting to continue exploring different measures and tools available and how they can be used/ what they’re good for. We will be joined by Group Chair Simon Cross, Director at Mott MacDonald.
Join us on Wednesday 24th July for a productive online discussion. Further details to be confirmed.

This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

Digital by Default- Kier's Digital Twin Pathfinder Project
2024-07-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join the Digital Group on Thursday 18th July for an engaging and insightful session on Kier’s Digital Twin Pathfinder Project.
We will be joined by James Franklin, Digital Construction Lead for Kier Strategic Projects, Matthew Scard, Digital Lead for the MoJ, and Lucas Cusack, Asset management Lead for Glider.
Kier is working with their client the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Glider and Future Decisions on a Digital Twin Energy Performance focused Pathfinder project for a single house block at their new build prison, HMP Five Wells. The Digital Twin is a virtual, 3D mirror image that provides complete knowledge of the building to a level that has never before been possible.
This will allow operators to use real-time sensor data to monitor and assess performance of the houseblock and components throughout its lifecycle. The technology will significantly improve performance and efficiencies, allowing MoJ to run the prison to be run more cost-effectively and sustainably.
Read more about the project here.
This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

Innovation Exchange – Leveraging the Knowledge Base
2024-07-03 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
The built environment and construction industry face constant external and internal challenges that require a systemic approach to innovation to turn these challenges into opportunity. Innovation is vital to driving continuous improvement and to achieve our net zero ambitions, although it often suffers from hype with a lot of noise and a lack of implementation.
Join us for the next Innovation Exchange meeting on Wednesday 3rd July, for a session on Leveraging the Knowledge Base…
How does the construction sector collaborate with the universities and RTOs?
Do we fully understand the skills and knowledge available to help industry solve our current and future challenges?
How we can leverage those relationships to maximise R&D opportunities and create industry wide innovation?
Is the sharing of knowledge created good enough and clear enough?
In this session we will be hearing from a panel of stakeholders from academia, RTOs and from the AgriTech sector to consider what works, how to make it work better and how we improve the value of the relationship between industry and the research community.
Group Chair, Ben Pritchard, will be chairing a panel including:

Dr Jo Morgan Design Manager, SPECIFIC, University of Swansea
Robert Hill, Director of Innovation, Commercialisation and Grant Support, Rothamsted Research
Tom Bassett, Research Lead, BRE
Nick Podevyn, Innovation & Improvement Manager, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Kelly Harrison, Director, Whitby Wood

This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

Major Projects Group- Delivering Projects in a Complex Environment
2024-07-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Online
***This event is invite only***
On Monday 1st July, the Constructing Excellence Major Projects group will be meeting to explore how to deliver major projects in complex live environments. To find out more, get in touch.
The Constructing Excellence Major Projects group brings together industry members to drill into the challenges and opportunities of major projects to facilitate productivity improvements and build on their potential to act as live learning environments.
***This event is invite only***

Constructing Excellence Climate Action Group- June
2024-06-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join the Constructing Excellence Climate Action theme group for their next meeting on Tuesday 11th June, Chaired by Annette Boren.
The annual embodied carbon emissions stemming from the construction, maintenance, and demolition of buildings equates to 40-50 million tonnes of CO2 – more than emissions from aviation and shipping combined.
To evaluate the industry’s trajectory, Akerlof have reviewed the top 30 UK Tier 1 contractors to understand their carbon maturity. Join us to learn about a key findings and the organisational, project and ecosystem actions that are needed to help the industry meet net zero goals and help in our mission to improve constructions impact on the climate.

This event provides Constructing Excellence National members with CPD in partnership with BRE Academy.

CE Performance Measurement – May
2024-05-29 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
The Performance Measurement group will be meeting to continue exploring different measures and tools available and how they can be used/ what they’re good for. We will be joined by Group Chair Simon Cross, Director at Mott MacDonald.
Join us on Wednesday 29th May for a productive online discussion. Further details to be confirmed.

Digital by Default- AI in Construction: An introduction to Costplan.ai
2024-05-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
The Future of Systems, People and Projects Lab at Leeds Beckett University present…
AI in Construction: An introduction to Costplan.ai
(In association with Constructing Excellence, Digital by Default series)
Thursday 16th May 2024
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 GMT
Can AI solve all of construction woes? We think we have an answer…
These days it is hard for anyone to have not heard that AI is going to fix everything, and not just for construction – literally everything. But is this really the case? Does the industry even know where and how to start using AI in a safe and productive way?
Well some of the answers may actually be close at hand. thinkBIM are pleased to bring you an online event where not only will a practical use case for AI be demonstrated but you will have an opportunity to influence the future of the tool that is being developed by researchers here at Leeds Beckett University.
Join us online on 16th May 2024 to see Dr Temitope Omotayo, Senior Lecturer in Quantity Surveying and Leader of the Future of Systems, People and Projects lab at the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett University, together with Shakeel Khan from The Property Box Group Ltd describe how BIM and AI have been harnessed to create this generative AI prototype web-platform – Costplan.ai – for predictive cost planning.
Hear about how this Innovate UK funded tool is being developed and help to influence the direction of its future development.
Join us for what we know will be an enlightening and interactive event.

Procurement Group X Innovation Exchange: 'The Art of the Possible'
2024-05-13 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Ever considered the incredible potential of procurement to fuel innovation in your projects, programs, or even across your entire organisation?
Procurement is frequently underestimated as a powerhouse capable of driving superior results, and indeed, as a catalyst for innovation.
Get ready to dive into a dynamic discussion as the CE Procurement group teams up with the Innovation Exchange to explore ‘The Art of the Possible’. Together, we’ll unravel the ways in which procurement can ignite innovation and unlock limitless possibilities.
The Procurement group chair, Rebecca Rees, will give us an overview of the recently published Art of the Possible report from the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre and how the construction industry can harness the power of the procurement act 2023 to define creative & Innovative strategies.
We’ll also be joined by Jeremy and Ross of 4C Consultancy who will give us some case studies of how procurement has enabled innovation to thrive across a range of other industries.

Jeremy is the MD of 4C Associates, a 120 person Commercial, Supply Chain and Operations consultancy, and works across the Public and Private Sector clients. His primary focus is on operating model design and releasing value through process re-engineering and relationship management. A QS by trade he has been a Procurement & Supply Chain consultant for over 22 years now and enjoys sharing the various ways that different sectors approach their supplier relationships and sourcing practices.
Ross is a passionate, results-driven procurement leader with a track record within transformation, strategic sourcing, operating model design, training & mentoring and contract & supplier relationship management.​ He is 4C’s SME in the existing Public Contracts Regulations and the upcoming Procurement Act. Ross is experienced in business wide transformation projects, having worked as a sourcing and supplier management SME developing processes, people and technologies. Ross has worked in numerous Universities and Housing Associations and currently leads 4C’s Higher Education sub-sector.

Retrofit Net-Zero Building Regulatory Science and Data Network for Unlocking Adoption of Innovation (RetroNetZero)
2024-05-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Net-zero ambition, and regulation is driving significant activity in innovation around solutions for retrofitting UK buildings. For SMEs, innovators of step change or new approaches the established system of standards, tests and approval routes may be unclear, or they do not fit: presenting a significant barrier to adoption of innovation for use in the market. An evidence-based, data driven regulatory science solution is proposed that utilizes a far-reaching industry network to present a pathway for innovators to deploy their technologies and systems in the retrofit of UK buildings.
Join us on 10th May to find out more about this initiative funded by Innovate UK and delivered by a partnership of BRE, Constructing Excellence, National Retrofit Hub, National Energy Foundation, Planet Mark and Construction Products Association. Find out more about the program, how you can get involve and help us overcome the barriers to delivering net zero retrofit at scale.

Driving Productivity Through Industrialisation
2024-04-25 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
The narrative around MMC is changing. There are increasing calls for government to embrace the principles of ‘industrialisation’ as a means to unlocking productivity in the construction sector. The proposed shift in narrative recognises that our long-held interest in the adoption of manufacturing processes and technologies as a means to higher productivity requires a fundamental change in our traditional project delivery model.
Where the traditional construction delivery model promotes constant reinvention in what we deliver and how we deliver it, Industrialised Construction approaches are focused on driving standardisation, repeatability and continuous improvement in systems, processes and relationships across suitable programmes and portfolios of work. Through these approaches, we can create the conditions for manufacturing supply chains to thrive, and embrace more productive approaches to design, logistics, assembly and beyond.
On Thursday 25th April, the CE Offsite Group will join Ron Lang, Regional Director at AtkinsRealis, in a debate on why we should shift our focus towards industrialisation if we are to create a modern industry that embraces technological development, that attracts and retains the best talent and that efficiently delivers high quality outputs that meet the needs of society.
Why not come along and share your thoughts?

CE Climate Action Group- A Visit to the Smart Blue-Green Roof, Manchester
2024-04-24 10:00 - 13:00 | Bloc, Manchester, Bloc, 17 Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW
Join the Constructing Excellence Climate Action group for a visit to the ‘smart’ blue-green roof, from Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation, on Bruntwood’s Bloc, Manchester.
This project aims to help in developing a greater understanding of how new construction and data technologies can help cities and urban developments to mitigate the impact of climate change and population growth, while enhancing biodiversity. Click here to find out more about the Smart Blue Green Roof.
During this visit, attendees will have the opportunity to hear about Green Urbanisation and the Smart Blue Green Roof product and how it related to climate resilience, as well as see the roof for themselves on small group tours.

Agenda:
10:00- Arrival and coffee
10:30-11:00- an introduction to the CE Climate Action Group
11:00-12:00- a presentation on Green Urbanisation and the smart blue/green roof
12:00-12:45- visits to the smart blue green roof. Visit the link to watch a short video giving insight into how this project link to climate resilience.
12:45-1:00- closing remarks.

Address: Bloc 17, Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW
Requirements: none-slip shoes

Nima Virtual Conference- CE Digital By Default Session
2024-04-18 | Online
Nima will be hosting their second Virtual Conference on Thursday 18th April, exploring whole-life information management. This is not just another conference, it is a unique opportunity to listen, reflect and discuss how to go about winning with data!
The Spring Conference will be held in an immersive environment, where the audience, speakers and exhibitors interact through a series of virtual spaces for presentations, demonstrations and networking. Supported by four keynote presentations and four practical discussion panels.
Within the virtual environment, there will also be six networking rooms, each with their own topic area for insight, predictions and real-world projects that will demonstrate the digital progression of the built environment.
Within the virtual environment, there will also be six networking rooms, each with their own topic area for discussion, insight and real-world experience. They will demonstrate Information Management learning and progression within the built and managed environment.
Constructing Excellence will be running a Digital by Default session in the Let’s Talk About BIM Networking Room.
When you land in the Let’s Talk About BIM Networking Room, whether you’re a BIM-beginner or a digital genius, we have something and someone for you. We’ll cover the fundamentals of Information Management, including how BIM can be applied to each stage of the design and built process. As well as an international perspective and an understanding of the ISO 19650 standard.
Join us to explore Digital by Default from 10:00-12:00.
Registration for the conference is free, sign up via the website.

CE Performance Measurement – April
2024-04-03 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
The Performance Measurement group will be meeting to continue exploring different measures and tools available and how they can be used/ what they’re good for. We will be joined by Group Chair Simon Cross, Director at Mott MacDonald.
Join us on Wednesday 3rd April for a productive online discussion. Further details to be confirmed.

Digital Construction – A Creative Challenge?
2024-03-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Unit 9, 12 Swan Yard, London, N1 1SD, United Kingdom
What role can the Creative Industries play in digital construction? How can construction benefit from the advanced techniques and tools developed for gaming and film?

That is exactly what the CE Digital Group will be finding out in this workshop hosted by Unit9, a global innovation partner built from a team of skilled strategists, innovation architects, product designers, software engineers, gaming experts, art directors, producers and film directors. They’ve worked with some big name brands from Samsung to Channel4 to Disney – this is an excellent opportunity to explore how their unique perspective can be translated to construction. UNIT9 | Learn more about what we do as a production studio.
During this event there will be 3 sessions followed by a Q&A session and networking:

Session 1: Innovation from the creative sector applied to the construction industry.
Presentation of Immersive Spatial Design Capabilities by the Spatial design team at Unit9
Session 2: Immersive Construction with Unit9’s VICTOR
Demonstrating VICTOR’s use cases in an Immersive Construction Environment by Unit 9
Session 3: Advancements in Construction Technology
Exploring Camera Technologies and AI capabilities on Construction Sites by Evercam
Q&A Session
Networking

VICTOR
BRE and Constructing Excellence are currently partnering with UNIT9 on VICTOR, an InnovateUK supported R&D project. VICTOR focuses on leveraging spatiotemporal data and technology to create a virtual site representation that enables remote experts to address on-site issues without needing physical access. It enables:

Integration of Data Sources
Navigation and Annotation Tools
Remote Collaboration
AI/Language Model (LLM) Integration

Join us on 21st March to explore the project and find out how these unique skills can be applied in construction – there might even be some whizzy tech to play with!

Collaborative Working Mentors – March
2024-03-20 08:30 - 10:00 | Online
The Collaborative Working Mentors will be meeting on 20th March to continue providing insight and inspiration on how to work collaboratively within the construction industry.
Their recent work around Collaborative Alliancing and modernising the traditional build model will feed into this meeting and create a basis for discussion around the importance of collaboration and how to effectively achieve it.
Further details will follow shortly.

CE Procurement Group meeting – March
2024-03-18 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
The Constructing Excellence Procurement Group brings together a highly knowledgeable group of our members who are committed to delivering better procurement.
Rebecca is a partner and Head of Public Procurement at the international law firm, Trowers & Hamlins, and is a leading national expert in public procurement law, consistently ranked as among the world’s leading government contracts lawyers.
More details on this session will follow shortly…

Innovation Exchange Group
2024-02-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
The built environment and construction industry face constant external and internal challenges that require a systemic approach to innovation to turn these challenges into opportunity. Innovation is vital to driving continuous improvement and to achieve our net zero ambitions, although it often suffers from hype with a lot of noise and a lack of implementation.
Consultation with our members has identified a space for Constructing Excellence members to come together with innovators and researchers to explore innovation and its wider context. To give opportunity for innovators and researchers to share and explore ideas, learn from each other and consider how the innovation can move to implementation. Led by Ben Pritchard, Head of Innovation Management at Invennt, the Innovation Exchange group will meet regularly, either online or through visits to inspiring innovative places and organisations, to jointly explore how to move from innovation to mainstream.
Join us for the next meeting on 28th February, at 10:00am, where we will be discussing ‘Creating a culture that allows innovation to thrive’. More information to follow shortly…

Constructing Excellence Major Projects Group
2024-02-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
*Invite only event*

The Constructing Excellence Major Projects group will be meeting to feed back on the key points from the Constructing Excellence Annual Conference and how we, as a major projects group, can build on this key learning to address the challenge of delivering a better future for the industry.
If you are interested in joining us for this session, please get in touch.

CE Performance Measurement – February
2024-02-07 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
The Performance Measurement group will be meeting to continue exploring different measures and tools available and how they can be used/ what they’re good for. We will be joined by Group Chair Simon Cross, Director at Mott MacDonald.
Join us on Wednesday 7th February for a productive online discussion. Further details to be confirmed.

Climate Action Group- February
2024-02-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Online
Join the Constructing Excellence Climate Action theme group for their next meeting on Thursday 1st February, Chaired by Annette Boren.
As a group we will explore the actions we can take to make a positive impact on current climate challenges.
During this session, we’ll be joined by our Net Zero Award winners for 2023, Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Our guests Chris Jones (Building and Property Services Manager, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council) and David Evans (Senior Design Manager, Morgan Sindall) have kindly offered to join us, to share some insight on their successful project.
Please feel free to have a quick introductory read here Pen Y Dre High School NZC Refurbishment – Constructing Excellence.
We’ll also be joined by Dr Stuart Gadsden (Commercial Director, Kensa Group) where he’ll discuss their ground source heat pumps, and their work within schools. We’ve been talking to the presenters and it’s going to be an exciting discussion on the challenges and opportunities of decarbonising our existing stock. If you’d like to join us on the day, please register using the link Constructing Excellence Climate Action Group- February – BRE Group Events.

Constructing Excellence Conference 2024
2024-01-24 09:00 - 16:00 | BMA House, London
The Constructing Excellence Annual Conference brings together key decision makers from across the Constructing Excellence Movement and wider construction industry to explore the burning issues of the day and how they relate to Constructing Excellence Mission and Vision. The 2024 Annual Conference will focus on the theme: Delivering Tomorrow Today: Act Now for a Better Future.

Delivering Tomorrow Today: Act Now for a Better Future
With so many drivers for change in the built environment, the risks of inaction outweigh the opportunity to do things better. On so many issues, from climate change through skills shortages and inflation through to building safety, many of the solutions exist but organisations are failing to act at the scale and pace required to deliver the required shift in performance.
A sense that the optimum solution lies somewhere in the future and too many options can lead to procrastination and inaction. We owe it to our future selves and future generations to act now. The future can’t wait!

Panels
During the event, we will host 4 panels focusing on:

Future Climate
Future Society
Future Major Projects
Future Delivery

Sponsors

Exhibitors

Supporters

For further details about the event, view our Conference Page.
To discover opportunities for sponsorship, see our 2024 Brochure.

CE Procurement Group meeting – January
2024-01-22 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
The Constructing Excellence Procurement Group brings together a highly knowledgeable group of our members who are committed to delivering better procurement.
Rebecca is a partner and Head of Public Procurement at the international law firm, Trowers & Hamlins, and is a leading national expert in public procurement law, consistently ranked as among the world’s leading government contracts lawyers.
During the call, we’ll be joined by our Value Award winners for 2023 – Galliford Try and Speller Metcalfe. Our guests Mathew Prior (Project Manager, Galliford Try) and Kim Davies (Communications and Engagement Manager, Speller Metcalfe) have kindly offered to join us, to share some insight on their successful projects. Please feel free to have a quick introductory read below.

Galliford Try – HMP High Down – Training Facility – HMP High Down– Training Facility – Constructing Excellence
Speller Metcalfe – The Skylon project – Skylon Campus – Constructing Excellence

Digital by Default- January
2024-01-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Digital is ubiquitous. It is no longer a special, intangible thing reserved for people with digital or BIM in their job title. We are all to a greater or lesser extent digitally-enabled. The Constructing Excellence Digital Group has moved from being about BIM to Digital Construction to now looking at the implementation of digital in all its forms into construction and the built environment.
The CE Digital Group aims to provide a safe space to exchange ideas and challenges, share best practice and explore emerging technologies and their practical application in the construction context. Whatever your level of digital maturity from just about able to join a zoom call to a digital ninja, the CE digital group provides a trusted, safe space to gain insight, ask questions and consider how you can better implement digital approaches in your projects and organisation.
Join us on Thursday 18th January to hear from our Digital Award winner 2023 – Bouygues UK.
Ian Massey (Regional BIM & Information Manager) has kindly offered to join us on the day to share some insight on their successful project, BIM Builders Work & Passive Fire Stopping Golden Thread Solution – Constructing Excellence

Collaborative Working Mentors – January
2024-01-17 08:30 - 10:00 | Online
The Collaborative Working Mentors will be meeting on 17th January to continue providing insight and inspiration on how to work collaboratively within the construction industry.
The Agenda for the meeting is as below:

Introductions
Update on ISO 44001 (Paul Greenwood)
Frameworks – Ascertaining organisational (Bidder) maturity – base line assessment methodology (Andrew Thomas)
Preparation for Collaborative Alliancing roundtable 13/3/24 (Alison Nicholl)
Agenda for next meeting 20/3/24
Schedule of meetings
AOB

CE Performance Measurement – December
2023-12-13 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
The Performance Measurement group will be meeting to continue exploring different measures and tools available and how they can be used/ what they’re good for. We will be joined by Group Chair Simon Cross, Director at Mott MacDonald.
Join us on Wednesday 13th December for a productive online discussion. Further details to be confirmed.
