For decades productivity has been considered one of the main issues within the construction industry – the sector has gained a reputation for projects being completed behind schedule and over budget.
According to the Smart Construction report, researched and published by KPMG - the infrastructure, building and construction industry has seen a substantial increase in pipeline activity, with industry-wide sentiment improving in recent years and greater significance placed on sustainability.
The construction industry currently makes up 6.5% of the UK economy and forecasts suggest a healthy growth rate of 3.6% in 2016 returning output to pre- recession levels. Growth is being driven by demand for infrastructure, public and private housing and commercial buildings.
While the construction industry is buoyed by predicted growth and expansion, it continues to underperform in four strategic areas: productivity, certainty in delivery, skills shortage and data transparency.
Offsite construction - the prefabrication, modularisation and standardisation of construction processes and assets within controlled factory environments - continues to be quoted across government and industry as a potential catalyst in meeting these challenges.
Offsite construction offers an alternative by presenting transformative improvements across the asset lifecycle in time, cost, quality and health and safety. But most importantly, offsite construction offers predictability.
Future infrastructure clients like HS2 are specifying the ‘presumption for offsite’ in future tenders and The Housing Corporation and English Partnerships are requiring that 25% of funded units be constructed using technically advanced offsite construction methods.
Joshua Southern, author of the KPMG Smart Construction report, will be speaking at Explore Offsite Infrastructure - discussing how offsite construction can offer a viable alternative to the construction status-quo.
Joshua Southern will be joined at Explore Offsite Infrastructure by an outstanding speaker line-up that includes: Phil Wilbraham, Development Director - Heathrow Airport; John Spittle, UK Representative - Wiehag; Martin Perks, Commercial and Procurement - Highways England; Steve Kaye, Head of Innovation - Anglian Water; Paul Newby- Executive Engineering Services Director - SES Engineering Services, Phil Robinson- Lead, Principal Engineering - Laing O'Rourke. For the full list of speakers go to: http://exploreoffsite.co.uk/2017-events/explore-offsite/conference-speakers
Taking place on 05 December 2017 at the NEC in Birmingham, this combined conference and exhibition will present pioneering case studies of civil engineering projects that have used offsite technology to deliver infrastructure schemes on programme and budget. Explore Offsite Infrastructure provides a dynamic and interactive learning experience for all delegates through presentations and the wide array of exhibitors. Tickets cost £125 + vat to include parking, refreshments and lunch - to find our more or to secure your place at Explore Offsite Infrastructure go to: www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book
