A new partnership between Ecobuild, the UK’s leading event for the construction industry, and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has been launched today ahead of the 2016 Ecobuild conference. The partnership will focus around a major new conference and exhibition centre – The Infrastructure Revolution Hub – which will enable industry to come together and discuss ways it can maximise the opportunity for growth, following Government’s commitment to infrastructure as key economic driver.

 

At the heart of the Hub will be a large conference area which will debate the key issues for the infrastructure sector across the three days of Ecobuild. The Hub will also feature products and services key to this growth sector and the ICE genius networking bar, making it one of the key destinations at Ecobuild for infrastructure professionals looking to make connections with the people that matter.

 

The infrastructure seminars held in the Infrastructure Revolution Hub will feature the UK’s leading contractors and industry experts. With a mix of keynote speakers and panel sessions, the seminars will focus on future challenges, opportunities and global best practice. Discussions will cover three overall themes – ‘Creating the infrastructure of the future’, ‘Small cities’, and ‘Modelling climate change’, including decarbonising urban infrastructure, energy generation, unlocking private capital, bespoke planning, collaboration opportunities, modelling demand of growing populations, and flood risk management and mitigation.

 

The partnership between ICE and Ecobuild follows Government’s announcement of a National Infrastructure Commission – an independent body that will enable longer term, strategic decisions to be made on infrastructure. Government has also committed to investing £100 billion in new infrastructure projects in this parliament. The industry has a crucial part to play and the new Infrastructure Revolution Hub will bring the key players together to drive forward change and innovation.

 

Leading architect and member of the new National Infrastructure Commission, Sadie Morgan, will also be delivering a session on day two of the Ecobuild 2016 conference.

 

Nathan Baker, ICE’s Director of Engineering Knowledge, said: “The societal benefit of effectively procured and managed infrastructure is immense. The need for increased collaboration, innovation and managing risk has never been higher than today. To create sustainable infrastructure, it is essential that we embrace new methods of working, increase the use of technology and new materials and develop a highly skilled, diverse workforce. The new Hub will help to bring these challenges and opportunities to the fore and encourage positive action to be taken.”

 

Martin Hurn, Ecobuild Event Director commented: “The infrastructure sector is a key driver of construction industry growth with the Government putting a major focus on delivery of infrastructure pipeline projects, and the recent strong output figures boosted by the new Commission pointing to sustained performance. The new Hub will enable the sector to come together in 2016 and have the conversation around the shared agenda for delivery of the Infrastructure Revolution.”

 

Ecobuild 2016 takes place at ExCeL, London from 8th to 10th March 2016. For further information about Ecobuild 2016 please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.