UK Construction Week will champion women in the construction industry at its upcoming Birmingham show with a dedicated programme of panel discussions, skills workshops and networking opportunities.

Taking place at the NEC from 30 September to 2 October, this year’s event will address the sector’s ongoing challenges of representation and retention, while showcasing the development opportunities available for women to drive greater diversity in the construction industry.

Now in its 10th year and with a theme of ‘where decisions are made’, UKCW Birmingham will be celebrating the impact of women shaping the built environment. The programme of talks and workshops include sessions intended to inspire leadership, drive cultural change and create meaningful connections across the industry.

Talk highlights include:

Wednesday 1 October:
Roofing, Cladding & Insulation Hub, 10.30am
Unlock The Power Within: A Leadership Activation
An energising session with Natalie Baksheieva, executive coach and trainer. Discover practical strategies to build clarity, confidence, and leadership skills for every stage of your career.

Digital Construction Hub, 3.30pm
Crafting Business Brilliance – Women in BIM Panel
Hear from Women in BIM experts on how generative AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and agility in construction. Speakers include Emma Rees, Wates Smartspace; Hadeel Saadoon, Turner & Townsend; Lilian Ho, AECOM and Mairead Gallager-Morgan, Grimshaws. 

Digital Construction Hub, 4.15pm
Women In BIM Networking Session
Connect directly with Women in BIM experts, exchange insights, and share experiences in an informal, one-to-one setting. This is expected to be a popular event, therefore seats are reserved on a first come first served basis. 

Thursday 2 October
Culture Change & Skills Hub, 1.15-3.15pm
Building Connections: Meet Women Who Shape Construction
Networking session moderated by Monique Wintle-Camp with panellists Siu Mun Li, director at Siu-lutions; Holly Kattenhorn, senior construction manager at L.A. Kattenhorn & Partners; Renee Preston, CEO at Gallaway Construction & Founder, Construction for Women and Sam McCabe, sustainable buildings lead Scotland and passive house designer at WSP & Women in Property, who all volunteer for NAWIC (The National Association of Women in Construction). Engage in practical networking exercises, small group reflections and conversations that explore challenges and opportunities for women in construction - and how to build a stronger, more inclusive industry.

Round Table at the Build Connect Lounge, 11am
Women Leaders In Construction – Beyond Allyship: Conversations For Leaders Who Want To Get It Right
Bringing together a small group of industry leaders for a closed-door roundtable on lived experiences, leadership and building inclusive cultures. Led by Monique Wintle-Camp, MD at Wintle-Camp Coaching, hear directly from women in construction about their lived experiences and reflect on what that means for your leadership, culture, and company.

Neil Gaisford, divisional director, construction, said: “It was important for us to put women’s voices and experiences at the forefront of this year’s show - not just to spotlight the fantastic leaders already making waves in the built environment, but to also challenge the industry to do more.

“It needs to move faster on diversity and cultural change to ensure retention and inspire more women to consider a career in construction. This year’s programme has been designed to inspire reflection and action to ensure the next decade of UKCW reflects a more inclusive and dynamic community.”

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is partnering with UK Construction Week (UKCW).

As the sector faces growing pressure to deliver smarter, greener and more efficient infrastructure, ACE and UKCW are coming together to spotlight the role of consultancy and engineering in shaping the future of construction.

Click here to find out more about the event and for your free ticket click here