Round Up: Street Works UK Conference 2024
The 2024 Street Works UK Conference – ‘The Road Ahead: Making Street Works Work’, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on the 12th November, successfully brought together around 200 industry leaders, including utility companies, contractors, suppliers, policymakers, local authorities, and technological innovators.
The event highlighted the street works sector’s pivotal role in delivering the UK’s ambitious infrastructure targets, driving economic growth, and enhancing community connectivity.
Proudly sponsored by ABS Streetworks, Visibly and Skewb, the conference fostered collaborative dialogue, with attendees discussing the evolving challenges in the sector, and sharing their own innovative solutions, to help drive meaningful changes across the industry.
Key highlights from the day
Visionary Keynotes
The day began with a reflective keynote speech from Clive Bairsto CBE, Chief Executive of Street Works UK, who urged the sector to embrace innovation and continue to forge influential partnerships across local, regional and national landscapes, and highlighted the importance of workforce development to meet the rising demands on the sector.
Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads, followed with a keynote outlining the Government’s vision for a smarter, more efficient approach to street works. Her remarks set the tone for a day of forward-thinking discussions about infrastructure and innovation.
Pioneering Panellists
Panel sessions brought critical issues into sharp focus, with industry experts discussing issues shaping the future of street works:
Path to Progress: The Workforce of the Future
Driving Change: How can be embrace Innovation to achieve better works?
A critical juncture: A look at the Government’s priorities and policy pipeline
Expert Workshops
Interactive workshops offered practical insights into street works management, safety protocols, and sustainable practices. Attendees explored initiatives like RPS 298 and 299, tools like OPUS, which is revolutionising street works planning and efficiency, and learned how to foster greater collaboration across utilities, local authorities, and suppliers through the following sessions:
Showcasing Innovation
The exhibition hall featured cutting-edge solutions from industry players, from smart permits to advanced geospatial tools and training innovations. These demonstrations highlighted the sector’s commitment to delivering safe, effective, and community-focused street works, and provided attendees with fresh ideas to enhance their operations.
Exhibitors: ABS Commercial Solutions, Visibly, Skewb Ltd, Sapphire Utility Solutions Ltd, Core Highways, digdat, Aggregate Industries UK, Hatton Traffic Management Ltd, LSBUD (Linesearch BeforeUdig), Symology, Linewatch, GeoPlace, Blind Ambition, Causeway Technologies and Polaris Software.
Paving the way for the Road Ahead
The 2024 Street Works UK Conference reaffirmed our shared commitment to making street works safer, faster, and more efficient while minimising disruptions for communities. Your engagement is vital as we continue addressing the challenges posed by rising delivery costs, regulatory demands, and the need for a skilled workforce.
Street Works UK will continue to champion the sector’s progress by engaging policymakers, stakeholders, and industry leaders. Together, we can deliver on our shared vision of connectivity, sustainability, and innovation.
For more information, visit streetworks.org.uk or contact us at info@streetworks.org.uk
