Digital construction guru May Winfield and Build UK CEO Suzannah Nichol OBE will deliver keynote presentations at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) Annual Conference on October 16.
This year’s one-day event at the Brewery in London will focus heavily on business growth with sessions aimed at helping building engineering firms identify new markets and opportunities, as well as achieving more through innovation and workforce development.
There will be two distinct strands: Theatre One, sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric, will be focused on the day-to-day business of running a building engineering firm and Theatre Two, sponsored by Schneider Electric, will concentrate on how firms can ensure their employees are equipped with the skills they need to meet current and future challenges.
Winfield’s morning keynote “Implementing AI: Will You Get Sued?” will challenge delegates to look at how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work but also consider the risks in areas like contract liability and data responsibility.
A leading construction lawyer with almost two decades of industry experience, she will explore the implications of integrating AI and explain what firms must do to protect themselves and their projects.
Nichol’s afternoon headline slot will focus on sector collaboration, resilience, and growth. ‘Building Better Together: Transforming Construction for Growth and Efficiency’ will consider how the construction supply chain can unite to drive productivity, deliver critical housing and infrastructure, and support the next generation of skilled professionals.
Her session will address the practical steps businesses of all sizes can take to secure their economic futures and deliver safer and more sustainable projects.
BESA chief executive officer David Frise invited people to join the more than 200 delegates who have already registered for the event.
“Come and be part of the conversation shaping the future of our industry,” he said, adding that a key theme running throughout the day would be how to address the impact of the “race to the bottom on cost which has hindered business success, damaged the sector’s reputation and undermined innovation, quality, and long-term performance”.
“Moving the business model away from short-term, price-driven procurement to one that prioritises long-term value and whole-life performance will be an ambition that dominates several sessions and discussions.
“We will aim to address the key questions: What does outcome-based procurement look like in practice—and how do we embed it from design to delivery to operation?” said Frise.
Business tools and advanced engineering processes and technologies will be in the spotlight along with more detailed technical challenges like designing for improved water quality and maximum heat pump performance. BESA’s speakers and workshop leaders will also challenge current recruitment models to ensure the emerging generation are being equipped with the skills they need to achieve competence and compliance on multiple fronts.
“In too many cases, we are still training tomorrow’s generation to do yesterday's jobs,” said BESA’s director of competence and compliance Jill Nicholls. “Our employer members and NextGen network of young engineers are helping us shape a skills model that is more fit for purpose and reflects the rapid pace of change across our industry.”
Click here to register for the BESA Annual Conference on October 16.
