Watch where an industry gathers, and you’ll see where it’s headed.
I’ve been tracking London Build since its early years. The event celebrates its 10th anniversary this November at Olympia London, expecting 38,000 professionals across 450+ suppliers and 12 stages.
The exhibition floor shows where money and attention are going. Sustainable materials, digital construction tools, AI-driven design, modular building techniques, smart city solutions.
AI adoption in UK construction jumped from 15% to 75% in just two years. The urgency makes sense. The sector bleeds £25 billion annually to avoidable errors—design inconsistencies, coordination failures, on-site rework.
But the expo reveals more than technology adoption.
The event now bills itself as a “Festival of Construction,” blending professional development with entertainment and community building. Over 20 networking events with major industry bodies. Live entertainment. Competitions. The UK’s largest Women in Construction and Diversity in Construction gatherings.
Women now represent 15.8% of the construction workforce, with 37% of new entrants being female. Progress, but skilled trades remain 99% male.
The event’s structure matters too. Architects, procurement teams, and suppliers in the same space. Different priorities, forced conversations. Construction has become too complex for isolated thinking.
200+ hours of CPD-accredited training across multiple stages. Skills from five years ago don’t work today, and everyone knows it.
What started as a traditional trade show now covers technological innovation, sustainability, mental health awareness, and professional development. The scope expansion tells you something about construction’s widening concerns.
Events show you priorities better than annual reports. What gets floor space, who gets stage time, which topics draw crowds.
This November, 38,000 professionals will gather at Olympia London.
They’ll come for products and connections. But watch what gets attention. That’s where the industry is heading.