Keynote speaker: Alex Norris - Building safety minister
Room: Broadgate 2
The minister for building safety, fire and local growth, Alex Norris MP, will be joining us as a keynote speaker at this year's Building the Future Conference.
Norris was appointed to this role last year and has been the MP for Nottingham North and Kimberley since June 2017.
His role includes: building safety, regulations, the Grenfell Inquiry response, local and regional growth, investment zones and more. Join us on 2 October to hear his valuable insights and expertise, providing crucial context and perspective to important conversations around the built environment's future.
Responding to the latest building safety regulations – Implications for project delivery
Sponsored by:
Room: Broadgate 2
Time: 10.00am-11.00am
This session will delve into the sector’s response to evolving building safety regulations and their broader impact on construction, planning, and compliance. A particular focus will be placed on Planning Gateways 2 and 3, which introduce greater scrutiny at key project stages to ensure that safety is embedded from design through to completion.
Panellists will explore how these gateways are reshaping project approvals, risk management practices, and responsibilities across the supply chain.
The discussion will also consider proposed changes, such as the establishment of a single construction regulator and the role of a chief construction adviser in providing centralised oversight. These developments could significantly influence industry governance, accountability, and enforcement strategies.
Speakers include:
Responding to the latest building safety regulations – Implications for business operations
Room: Broadgate 2
Time: 11.30am-12.30pm
As regulatory expectations grow, so too does the emphasis on professional competence. This second session will examine the frameworks being introduced to ensure that individuals working on high-risk buildings possess the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to meet new safety standards.
Discussion will focus on licensing schemes, qualification requirements, and certification processes designed to elevate professional standards across the industry. Panellists will also highlight how these changes are likely to affect built environment businesses, projects, and workforce development strategies.
Industry experts will share successful approaches to building robust training programmes, supporting lifelong learning, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. This session will underscore the importance of moving beyond compliance, showcasing how a commitment to competence and excellence can lead to lasting transformation in building safety practices.
Speakers include:
Will new regulations revolutionise product safety and traceability?
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Room: Broadgate 2
Time: 3.30pm-4.30pm
As the construction industry moves towards a new era of product safety, this session explores the latest regulatory advancements designed to enhance the integrity of building materials. The panel will examine the newly established general safety requirements and their transformative impact on the supply chain.
A key focus will be the introduction of digital product passports, showcasing how technology can revolutionise transparency and traceability in construction materials. The session will also delve into enhanced labelling standards, unpacking their implications for manufacturers, suppliers, and end-users alike.
The session will also examine the vital role of passive fire protection, assessing how improved material standards and installation practices can enhance the long-term safety of buildings. With increasing emphasis on product safety and traceability, the panel will discuss how digital tools such as product passports can support compliance and accountability.
Through a dynamic discussion, industry leaders will share practical strategies for implementing these new regulations, addressing both challenges and opportunities.
This session will equip participants with the insights and tools needed to navigate the evolving product safety landscape, ensuring compliance while fostering innovation in material integrity.
Speakers include:
The Good Employer’s Guide: What makes good employers across the built environment
Sponsored by:
Room: Broadgate 1
Time: 10.30am-11.30am
As the built environment evolves to meet new challenges — from net zero to digitisation to housing delivery and maintenance — the question is no longer just how to attract talent, but how to retain it and nurture careers that last.
This follow-up session builds on our Good Employers Guide Live discussions on the skills & DEI challenges, turning the spotlight on career progression, retention, and long-term development, as well as what makes businesses within the built environment first choice employers.
We’ll explore:
– New models for early career support, apprenticeships, and progression into leadership
– How employers can foster loyalty through purpose, inclusion, and opportunity
– The role of mid-career upskilling and cross-sector mobility
– Creating industry-wide frameworks that support careers, not just jobs
Retrofit revolution: Decarbonising the UK’s existing building stock
Room: Broadgate 2
Time: 2pm-3pm
With 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 already standing today, decarbonising the UK’s existing building stock is one of the biggest—and most urgent—challenges in achieving national net zero targets.
This session will explore how the industry can scale up retrofit solutions across a range of building types, from homes to offices and public buildings.
We’ll examine the unique barriers and opportunities presented by different typologies:
– Residential: How can we accelerate retrofit housing stock at scale, ensure quality, and engage residents and landlords in the transition?
– Commercial offices: What role do landlords, tenants, and occupiers play in driving decarbonisation, and how can retrofits boost asset value and workplace performance?
– Public sector and community buildings: How can we leverage public funding and partnerships to upgrade schools, hospitals, and local authority estates?
Speakers include:
