Businesses came together to celebrate the successes of the Essex construction sector.
Our Essex Build 2025 event took place at Hylands House, Chelmsford, on Thursday 13 March. There were 425 attendees from over 270 organisations. The Expo was the largest event ever organised by our Essex Construction Alliance.
The event boasted a total of 53 exhibitors, covering all aspects of the construction sector. Attendees were also invited to a full programme of free workshops across two stages. These covered key topics for the industry, such as:
- tips on winning work in Essex
- public procurement changes
- safety standards in construction.
Another highlight of the day was a series of Meet the Buyer sessions. These allowed attendees to speak to representatives of organisations about available opportunities.
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, said: “Essex Build 2025 was about celebrating the success of the county’s construction sector, which contributes an impressive £5.6 billion per year to the UK economy, while also looking to the future of an industry which is hugely important to our economic prosperity.
“Essex is already a great place to do business, but as a council we are determined to ensure our business community reaches its full potential. Through the Essex Construction Alliance and events like Essex Build, we aim to promote innovation, encourage growth and build connections between businesses, helping create an environment where the sector thrives – now and into the future.”
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, added: “It was fantastic to be at the inaugural Essex Build Expo and see so many businesses come together to build connections, learn and share ideas.
“While the construction sector in Essex is thriving, we know there are skills shortages which must be addressed to ensure the industry reaches its full potential. We are working hard to support businesses, and at the event I was pleased we were able to hear directly from them about how we can support them going forward.”
Essex Build 2025 was organised with the support of a series of key partners - CITB, Federation of Master Builders, Attract & Engage and Constructing Excellence.
The event was sponsored by Kier Construction, Morgan Sindall Construction, Ringway Jacobs and Joseph Gallagher Limited.
