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| London Build | |
|---|---|
| Name | London Build |
| Genre | Construction and Built Environment Expo |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Venue | ExCeL London |
| Location | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| First | 2010s |
| Organizer | Informa Markets |
London Build is a major annual exhibition and conference for the construction, architecture, engineering and property development sectors, held in London. The event attracts a mix of contractors, architects, engineers, developers, consultancies and public-sector bodies for trade stands, seminars and product launches. It sits alongside other United Kingdom and international trade fairs and professional gatherings, drawing delegates from the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
London Build functions as a marketplace and knowledge forum for participants from cities, professional institutions and corporate groups. Typical attendees include representatives from Crossrail, Heathrow Airport Limited, British Land, Canary Wharf Group, Network Rail, and local authorities such as the City of London Corporation and Greater London Authority. The programme features exhibitors from manufacturers like Tata Steel, Saint-Gobain, Kingspan Group, Arup Group, AECOM, and consultancies including PwC, KPMG, Atkins. The event’s conference strands commonly engage institutions such as the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Chartered Institute of Building, and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Origins for the exhibition model trace to trade shows in the 2010s focused on construction technology, building materials and urban regeneration. Early iterations overlapped with sector gatherings at Excel London, colocated with exhibitions like UK Construction Week and forums for Affordable Housing initiatives. As the London property market reacted to events such as the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and post‑Brexit planning shifts, the show adapted content to cover regulatory change involving the Building Regulations 2010, fire-safety debates linked to the Grenfell Tower fire, and procurement reforms promoted by agencies like Homes England. Over time, the event broadened to include international delegations from markets such as United Arab Emirates, Singapore, China, and Germany.
The format combines exhibition halls, themed theatres, panel debates, and masterclasses. Key programme strands have included sessions on digital delivery featuring Building Information Modelling, sustainability sessions referring to Net Zero roadmaps, and offsite construction showcases referencing modular programmes by groups such as Laing O'Rourke and Balfour Beatty. Speakers historically have been drawn from organisations including Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Mayor of London’s office, and infrastructure clients such as Transport for London. Practical demonstrations and product launches are staged alongside continuing professional development sessions aligned with the Chartered Institute of Building and Royal Institute of British Architects accreditation frameworks.
Exhibitor categories span building materials, façade systems, structural steel, concrete technology, fit-out, MEP services, fire safety, workplace solutions and digital services. High-profile exhibitors have included Schneider Electric, Siemens, Bosch, 3M, Kingspan, Knauf, Tata Steel Europe, and specialist suppliers like Sika AG. Sponsors have ranged from corporate patrons such as Willmott Dixon and Skanska to financial and legal advisors including Savills, CBRE Group, DLA Piper, and Eversheds Sutherland. Trade associations and professional bodies such as the UK Green Building Council and the Construction Leadership Council frequently support conference streams.
Showcases have presented innovations in timber engineering from firms linked to projects like The Shard supply chains, high‑performance glazing used at The Gherkin, and retrofit approaches applied to estate programmes managed by Peabody Trust and Clarion Housing Group. Digital construction exhibits highlight implementations of BIM Level 2 workflows on programmes such as Crossrail and modular delivery methodologies advanced by companies like Panasonic and Sekisui House. Sustainability case studies have referenced low‑carbon solutions promoted through PAS 2080 and examples of circular economy pilots with procurement partners including British Land and Landsec.
The event has hosted awards and pitching competitions to recognise excellence in sustainability, innovation, offsite construction and SMEs. Categories have involved judges from organisations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects, Institution of Structural Engineers, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and client representatives from NHS England estates teams and local housing providers. Winning projects frequently get promoted through sector media like Building Magazine, Architects' Journal, and Construction News.
Supporters cite the exhibition’s role in business development, knowledge transfer and networking between contractors, developers and public clients including Transport for London and Homes England. Critics have raised concerns common to trade shows: the environmental footprint of large conferences, the balance between commercial promotion and independent technical debate, and accessibility for smaller firms and community stakeholders. Debates prompted by the exhibition have engaged policy actors from Parliament of the United Kingdom committees and trade unions such as the GMB (trade union) and Unite the Union on topics including procurement, skills shortages, and building safety reforms.
Category:Construction trade fairs Category:Events in London