Offsite construction exhibition in Coventry to be at the centre of new national focus week

A major construction exhibition in Coventry will be at the heart of a new national focus week which will highlight how new technologies can help to get the UK building.   

Offsite Expo is the leading exhibition for offsite manufacturing and modern methods of construction (MMC), and will take place on Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18 at Coventry Building Society Arena.

The exhibition is part of the inaugural Offsite Construction Week, which runs from 16th to 20th September and will highlight transformative innovations that are advancing the design and application of offsite construction processes.

Offsite manufacturing is the process of removing the building process from the construction site.

Offsite Expo is expected to attract more than 4,000 visitors over two days at Coventry Building Society Arena, with more than 130 innovative exhibitors to showcase how technologies can drive change in the construction sector.

The exhibition will feature a series of feature builds on the show floor, with structures built inside the venue to highlight what can be achieved through offsite technologies.

Visitors will have access to more than 30 hours of free CPD-accredited masterclasses which are presented from pioneers in the industry, sharing knowledge and best practice from working on ground-breaking offsite projects around the world.

Buyers and specifiers will be able to easily meet with offsite industry suppliers through Offsite Connect, which runs at the exhibition and facilitates one-to-one meetings with suppliers.

The expo will run alongside the international Offsite Summit, which is co-hosted by Buildoffsite and celebrates 20 years of the organisation which campaigns for the uptake of offsite techniques by UK construction.

The two-day summit will see expert discussion panels share insights from the UK and abroad, with speakers from the UK, China, Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands set to share their global expertise.

It will see 35 speakers, with sessions on sustainability, zero-snag culture and other key industry topics. Buildoffsite will launch its new guidance on managing intellectual property for offsite and modern methods of construction.

Housing will be a subject discussed throughout the expo and summit, as the industry discuss the opportunities which will be presented by housing policy and the new Government’s housing agenda.

Julie Williams, Director of Offsite Expo and Offsite Construction Week, said: “Offsite Construction Week is the brainchild of a string of industry associations operating across the sector and will be the most comprehensive series of offsite events the UK has ever seen.

“There are a number of challenges currently facing operators in the offsite sector, particularly in the area of volumetric modular construction, however there are a wide range of opportunities set to present themselves under the new Labour government thanks to their positive attitude towards construction.

“The Offsite Expo, Awards and Summit at Coventry Building Society Arena will present the perfect opportunity for the industry to come together and consider those challenges and opportunities.”

Offsite Expo and Offsite Connect Forum are also co-located with the Offsite Awards, which is celebrating its 10th year and will recognise excellence in the offsite construction sector.

Over the last decade the awards have notched up over 1,750 entries, with 1,218 of these reaching the finals and 179 outstanding winners picking up a prestigious Offside Awards trophy.

Jenni Ford, Director of Sales and Marketing at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “This event highlights the versatility and flexibility of spaces at our conference and exhibition spaces at Coventry Building Society Arena. We’re looking forward to being at the heart of Offsite Construction Week this year.”

Offsite Expo, masterclasses and awards are free-to-attend. To register for Offsite Expo visit www.offsite-expo.co.uk/register