Dame Judith Hackitt announced as keynote speaker at the Construction Product Leaders Summit

On 13th February 2020, NBS, the leading specification platform for the construction industry, will bring together policymakers, industry experts and decision-makers in construction, economics and digital transformation for The Construction Product Leaders’ Summit. The construction sector is lagging behind other industries when it comes to technology adoption, which is why the event will specifically highlight lessons learned and efficiencies gained in other sectors which have experienced sustained periods of technology transformation and disruption.

For the keynote speech, Dame Judith Hackitt, Government Advisor, will share her ideas for creating a new national building safety regulator and explore the role manufacturers can play in shifting the construction industry towards more stringent standards.

Michael Saunders, monetary policy committee member at the Bank of England, will be talking about the latest economic projections and the outlook for interest rates (under Chatham House Rule). The leading e-commerce expert will use his experience in digital retailing to highlight lessons learned from other sectors that have gone through rapid digital transformation.

Other pressing topics on the agenda include: the current unsettled economic landscape, the government’s drivers for construction sector change and opportunities presented by digitisation to transform the industry.  

The concept of the Golden Thread of Information will be covered in a Q&A session. Attendees will discover how the supply chain should be fully integrated into this concept to increase transparency, visibility and profitability. The speakers will also deliver practical advice on the steps manufacturers need to take to digitise product data, processes and workflows. Furthermore, a leading e-commerce and retail expert will recount their experiences and share the challenges they faced on their journey. 

Richard Waterhouse, Chief Executive, NBS, says, “Technology is an enabler and yet construction hasn’t yet realised the opportunity. Sensible adoption can drive up standards, reduce mistakes and save costs. The sector hasn’t yet realised the pace and scale of change coming down the line. The industry will be impacted from three directions, the new safety regulations, as well as the proposed housing and infrastructure programmes. Acting now can give your business a competitive advantage.”

He continues “Product manufacturers are going to be a key part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a better Britain. Dame Judith Hackitt is a force for change within our industry and with her clear focus on making sure homes are safe and fit for habitation, she will be an electrifying and rousing speaker.”

Concluding, he adds, “The Construction Product Leaders’ Summit will provide attendees with inspiration and practical guidance to equip them for the future.”

Location and attending

The Construction Product Leaders’ Summit will be held 13 February 2020, 9:30am -4:15pm, NBS: The Construction Product Leaders’ Summit at the IET Birmingham: Austin Court, 80 Cambridge Street, B1 2NP.

Register for the event

Places are limited, so to be sure of a place, please register swiftly.

Journalists wishing to attend, please contact, on Joanna Wilmot or Priti Dey at The Think Tank, on 0207 831 2225. Email Joannaw@thinktank.org.uk, pritid@thinktank.org.uk