CCBP at UK Construction Week Birmingham 2026

Join us at this year’s UK Construction Week in Birmingham, where CCBP will be sharing the findings from their study on early contractor involvement on the main stage.

UK Construction Week Birmingham is back from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October 2025, bringing the UK’s biggest built environment event to the NEC Birmingham. This year promises to be one of the most ambitious yet, with a packed programme designed to inform, inspire, and connect professionals from every corner of the industry.

At the heart of the event are five distinct content theatres, each focusing on a core area of the modern construction landscape: Digital Construction, Roofing, Cladding & Insulation, Onsite On Hire, Build X, and more. Across these stages, delegates can expect over 200 expert speakers and more than 150 CPD-accredited hours, ensuring valuable learning for every attendee.

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Early Contractor Involvement: Building Better Projects from Day One

Thursday 1^st October, 11:30 – 12:15

Getting contractors involved earlier can improve project outcomes, reduce risk and unlock greater value. But how do clients make it happen successfully? This panel, hosted by the Centre for Construction Best Practice, explores the latest research into Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), examining the evidence, recommendations and practical lessons emerging from industry. Hear from clients, contractors and delivery experts on why ECI matters, where it delivers the greatest benefits, and what needs to change for earlier collaboration to become standard practice.

As part of this session, CCBP will deliver an initial presentation sharing the findings from the whitepaper exploring the impact of early contractor involvement, followed by a panel discussion with industry and academic experts in the built environment sector.

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Our Speakers at UKCW Birmingham 2026

Karen Heigham

Public Sector Director, Wates

Karen Heigham

Public Sector Director, Wates

Karen Heigham is Public Sector Director at Wates Construction and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with more than 20 years’ experience in the UK construction industry. She leads Wates Construction’s public sector strategy, overseeing strategic relationships with clients, framework partners and key stakeholders, alongside the performance of its national public sector frameworks. Karen joined Wates in 2007 and has held a range of senior commercial leadership roles across education, healthcare, justice, residential and other sectors. She is passionate about collaborative working, strong governance and delivering high-quality, value-focused outcomes across public sector construction.

Dr Kudirat Ayinla

Lecturer in Construction Management, Loughborough University

Dr Kudirat Ayinla

Lecturer in Construction Management, Loughborough University

Dr Kudirat Ayinla is a Lecturer in Construction Management and Programme Lead for the BSc (Hons) Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying programme at Loughborough University. Her research focuses on improving efficiency and performance across the built environment through digital technologies and sustainable construction. Her expertise includes Artificial Intelligence, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, offsite construction, modern methods of construction, productivity and embodied carbon. Kudirat holds a PhD in Quantity Surveying Practice and an MSc in Construction Management from Loughborough University. She is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Building and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Robbie Blackhurst

Chair, Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP)

Robbie Blackhurst

Chair, Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP)

Robbie Blackhurst is Chair of the Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP), shaping its strategic direction and its work to improve outcomes across the built environment through independent research, collaboration and best practice. With extensive experience in construction, procurement and public sector project delivery, Robbie brings a strong practical understanding of the challenges facing clients, contractors and supply chains. He is also Founder and Director of Black Capital Group. Through CCBP, Robbie works with industry, academia and the public sector to identify key challenges, support research-led solutions and promote better procurement, earlier collaboration and improved project performance across the construction industry.