The important issue of retrofit will step into the spotlight at UK Construction Week (UKCW) Birmingham.

The event, which is taking place at the NEC from 30 September to 2 October, has joined forces with the National Retrofit Hub to deliver a dedicated seminar programme covering topics such as upgrading and decarbonising the nation’s housing stock, driving innovation in retrofit practices and exploring how retrofitting is an essential strategy in the race to net zero.

On day two of the event (1 October), the focus on the Housing Action Hub turns to retrofit’s role in reducing whole-life carbon emissions and strengthening climate resilience, with expert-led seminars.

In addition, a number of other stages at the three-day event will feature retrofit-focused talks and seminars.Some of the highlights include:

Main Stage
October 1, 10.30am - Retrofit Revolution: Meeting citizen demand for warmer, greener homes 
Learn about the latest research and insights on what drives demand for retrofit and decarbonisation. Discuss the critical role householders play in enabling the transformation to low-carbon, low-cost, healthy homes, and how we all can better work with citizens to increase uptake and grow the retrofit sector.

Housing Action Hub
October 1, 12.15pm - Enabling Retrofit Innovation : RetroNetZero
This seminar will present tools and resources published by the project that can help innovators and specifiers alike. It will explore regulatory pathways, discuss where innovators need to go to test and demonstrate their solutions and consider how regulation can better realise the health co-benefits of retrofit. 

Net Zero Hub
October 1, 2pm - Building a Sustainable Future: Retrofitting for climate resilience
This session will bring together those behind some of the big standards, campaigns and solutions for reducing whole life carbon emissions, particularly in the retention and retrofit of existing buildings. The conversation will be far-reaching and consider policy, materiality, economics, and community needs.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, UKCW Birmingham returns under the theme “where decisions are made”. Across three days, visitors will experience a line-up speakers, talks, live demonstrations, product launches and technical workshops.

Neil Gaisford, divisional director, construction, said: “Retrofitting buildings has never been a more crucial part of construction and the pursuit of net zero, hence why we’re dedicating so many hours of UKCW seminars to discuss and dissect this important topic.”

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is also partnering with UKCW Birmingham.

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