CONNECTING TALENT AND CREATING OPPORTUNITY: DESIGN & BUILD UK JOINS UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK BIRMINGHAM 2026
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Design & Build UK will join UK Construction Week Birmingham 2026 as an official event partner, bringing its industry network and commitment to championing people across construction to the NEC from 29 September to 1 October.
At a time when construction is facing significant workforce and skills challenges, creating an industry where talented people can build lasting careers, develop strong professional networks and see clear opportunities to progress has never been more important.
That conversation will be part of The Construction RESET, the central theme of UK Construction Week Birmingham 2026. Built around Building Better, Building Smarter and Building Responsibly, the RESET will bring the industry together to examine what needs to change and, importantly, how construction can turn those conversations into action.
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Through its partnership with UK Construction Week, Design & Build UK will put people and connections at the heart of that discussion.
Connecting and championing construction
Design & Build UK works across the construction sector, connecting businesses and professionals while providing a platform to showcase the people, projects and ideas helping move the industry forward.
Led by Managing Director Michaela Wain, the organisation has also played an active role in creating greater visibility and opportunities for women across construction. Michaela is the founder of Women in Construction, an initiative focused on building connections and supporting women working across the sector.
At UKCW Birmingham, that commitment will translate into two opportunities for women from across the industry to meet, exchange experiences and build new professional relationships.
Women in Construction takes to The Construction RESET Stage
On 29 September from 15:00 to 16:15, Michaela Wain will join the Women in Construction Panel, Meet Up and Networking on The Construction RESET Stage.
She will be joined by Desiree Blamey, Managing Director at Considerate Constructors Scheme; Emma Richman, Assistant Director – Strategic Asset Management at Altair and Past President of Women in Property; Rashida Rajkotwalla, Director at DWIP Consultants and NAWIC Midlands Co-Chair; and Siu Mun Li, Director at Constructing Siu-lutions Ltd.
Together, they will share their career journeys, practical advice and the lessons that have shaped their paths through construction.
The discussion will look at the opportunities ahead for women in the sector, the value of visible role models and what meaningful progress towards a more inclusive construction industry needs to look like in practice.
But the session is designed to go further than the stage conversation.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet women working across different areas of construction, expand their professional networks and build relationships with others helping to drive change across the industry.
Turning networking into collaboration
Earlier that day, Design & Build UK will bring another approach to networking to the Build Connect Lounge from 10:30 to 11:30.
Working in partnership with the Women in Construction Hub, Design & Build UK will host a focused one-hour networking session bringing together up to 40 women from across construction.
Rather than traditional open networking, participants will be matched in pairs ahead of the event. They will meet their match in the lounge before working together to tackle two real industry challenges, combining different experiences and perspectives to develop their ideas.
Pairs will then pitch their thinking back to the room, turning an initial introduction into an opportunity to collaborate, contribute and learn from one another.
The format is designed to make networking more purposeful. Instead of simply exchanging contact details, participants will have a reason to start a meaningful conversation, work together and create a connection around the issues affecting their industry.
Meet Design & Build UK at UKCW Birmingham
Visitors can also meet the Design & Build UK team on Stand B90 throughout all three days of UK Construction Week Birmingham.
The stand will provide another opportunity to connect with the team, find out more about its work across the construction industry and continue the conversations started through its sessions.
For an industry built on collaboration, creating the right connections matters. Stronger networks can open doors to new ideas, opportunities, mentors, collaborators and career paths, while greater visibility can help ensure that the people shaping construction reflect the breadth of talent within it.
Through its partnership with UK Construction Week Birmingham, Design & Build UK will help create those connections both on and off the stage, giving women across construction more opportunities to meet, contribute and be part of the conversation about what the industry does next.
Register for your free ticket to UK Construction Week Birmingham and meet Design & Build UK on Stand B90 at the NEC from 29 September to 1 October 2026.
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