The first
ever Futurebuild has been hailed as a resounding success with 27,283 visitors
joining the event to address the industry’s biggest challenges.
Bringing
together senior decision makers and innovators from across the built
environment, the event furthered ecobuild’s legacy of fostering collaboration
and enabling new business opportunities.
Innovation
was high on the agenda for visitors as professionals continue to seek new and
pioneering solutions to address the multiple challenges facing the industry.
Futurebuild’s position as a leader in this field was solidified after an
increase in attendance among research and development professionals. The event
also saw an 8% increase in the number of housebuilders and developers visiting
over three days and organisers, Futurebuild Events, have said that architects,
buyers and specifiers took up 23% of the total visitor number.
To meet
the industry’s demand for more opportunities to learn about innovation,
Futurebuild exclusively partnered with the Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial (BEIS) to deliver the Innovation Zone in conjunction with Innovate
UK.
Offering
a platform for a range of innovators and businesses to come together and share
advice and knowledge, the Zone provided inspiration and information to visitors
through a dedicated seminar programme. Key topics included the government’s
approach to meeting carbon targets, transforming our economy, and how we build,
use and heat our buildings in order to meet these goals. As well as creating a
buzz around innovation, the Zone brought together key players to help drive the
industry forward, showcasing over 40 innovative
start-ups, and hosted a dedicated business bar focused on knowledge sharing and
one-to-one expert advice.
This
wasn’t the only aspect of the event putting a spotlight on innovation. Many
exhibitors utilised Futurebuild as a platform to launch new products,
publications and innovations. Gemma Burley, Marketing Operations Manager at
ACO, said: “Futurebuild has given us the opportunity to develop relationships
with customer types we don’t always get the chance to speak to and has allowed
us to showcase new products and innovations.
“The
event was a great place to launch askACO, a service which will allow us to
offer expertise to our customers such as professional development and design
support.”
Kelly Knight, Brand
Marketing Manager at ZIP, said: “Futurebuild
is a great fit for us, its focus on sustainability aligns with our own brand
values. Last year we launched Reuse Refill Refresh, a campaign designed to
educate, and support businesses reduce single-use plastic use in their
workplace.
“We are encouraged
to see that Futurebuild has committed to going single use plastic bottle free –
this is something we are helping more businesses to do by building awareness
around filtered drinking water systems that are mains-fed, so don’t require any
plastic bottles.”
As
well as learning more about the latest innovations, visitors were keen to know
more about the latest trends in the built environment and the biggest
challenges facing the industry. Futurebuild provided more structured learning
opportunities than ever before, with over 500 hours of
CPD-accredited sessions spanning an inspiring conference programme, 11 seminar
streams and four deep-dive workshops hosted in the Knowledge Forum. Visitors were able to experience the event’s unrivalled conference
programme and dedicated series of seminars across each of its six Hubs, which debated the latest in urban infrastructure, offsite, materials,
interiors, energy and buildings, and waste and the circular economy in the
Waste Zone.
In
the Time for Action ecobuild conference arena, 13 of the biggest challenges in
the built environment were explored. From health and well-being in design and
maintenance, to the circular economy and the housing crisis, the key
discussions were led by a wide range of industry leaders including Cristina Gamboa, CEO at World Green Building Council, Professor
Peter Madden OBE, Director at ecovivid, and Jane Briginshaw, Director at Design England.
With 2020
a key milestone for many businesses when it comes to sustainability, next
year’s Futurebuild will provide an unrivalled platform for the innovation which
is helping industry deliver on its promises.
Innovation,
knowledge sharing and education will drive the format of the event, with
visitors able to experience the latest thinking and ground-breaking solutions
through Futurebuild’s innovation trails, exhibitor showcases and
demonstrations, key partnerships with government and help in funding SMEs.
With a
focus on key trends including carbon, the circular economy, wellness and
digital construction, it will be home to collaboration and the go-to event for
visitors who want to be the first to see and get hands-on with new products
from the most forward-thinking brands across the built environment.
Martin Hurn, managing director of Futurebuild Events, said:
“Futurebuild 2019 represented everything we set out to achieve as we evolve to
meet industry demands for innovation and forward-thinking solutions. From key
partnerships fostering innovation to setting clear agendas for a more
sustainable built environment, the feedback we’ve had so far is that
Futurebuild is the place to showcase new ideas, thinking and solutions.
“As
we look forward to 2020, we will continue to be an event for the industry,
created and curated by the industry – we are 100% committed to championing
innovation and sustainability for the future of the built environment. We will continue to support, encourage and help develop
cutting edge thinking across the industry as well as offer a platform to debate
the key issues touching the heart of the built environment.”
To find
out more about Futurebuild 2020 exhibiting opportunities, visit www.futurebuild.co.uk/exhibit
