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constructing excellence north conference

17th September 2026 

Aspire, Leeds

Book Tickets

The North Blueprint: Delivering Action Together

 


Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber, North East and North West are bringing together leaders from across the built environment for a collaborative conference focused on the future of the North of England.


Taking place on 17 September 2026 at Aspire, Leeds, this one-day event will explore the opportunities, challenges and innovations shaping the region, with practical discussion and insight from across the industry.


The conference will bring together clients, contractors, consultants, SMEs, innovators and industry leaders to share knowledge, build connections and promote collaboration across the North.


What to Expect

  • The future of procurement and public sector delivery 
  • Retrofit, decarbonisation and Net Zero 
  • Major projects and infrastructure across the North 
  • Supply chain collaboration and partnership working 
  • Interactive workshops and practical discussion 
  • Innovation and best practice showcases 


Designed For

  • Public sector organisations 
  • Contractors and consultants 
  • SMEs and supply chain partners 
  • Developers and infrastructure teams 
  • Industry professionals and innovators 


Event Details


Date: 17 September 2026
Time: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Location: Aspire, Leeds
Tickets: £40



The North Blueprint - Conference Agenda

09:30 - Registration and Networking

Sign in, meet our partners and network

10:00 - Introduction

Introduction by Alison Nicholl, Head of Constructing Excellence

10:10 - Keynote - State of the Region

Lucy Howard, Co-chair of Constructing Excellence and UK Major Bids Lead at Turner & Townsend, briefs on the current status and outlook for the construction industry

10:25 Project Showcase - York Central

Rob Auld - Construction Director, McLaren Property


York Central is one of the largest, and most exciting, city centre regeneration schemes in the UK.


Comprising 45 hectares of land directly linked to the city’s railway station and National Railway Museum, it is a project of world-class ambition which is on track to deliver a brand-new city quarter for York featuring more than 2,500 brand new homes and over 1 million sq ft of commercial and retail space.


And it’s here that a vibrant and distinctive mix of residential neighbourhoods, a high-quality commercial core, cultural spaces, and extensive parkland and public realm will come together to create a brand-new place like no other in the heart of one of the UK’s most historic and desirable cities.


York Central is being developed by a joint venture partnership between McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate on behalf of majority landowners Homes England and Network Rail.


10:45 - Break

11:10 - Retrofit & Net Zero Panel

The panel will discuss how to take on the challenge of implementing net zero and better energy efficiency in retrofitting the UKs existing building stock.


Chair - Mike Raven, National Sustainability Lead of the National Association of Construction Frameworks


Confirmed Panellists:
Steve Batty, Head of Sustainability at Equans
Professor Dave Glew, Director of the Leeds Sustainability Institute
Steph Parker, Senior Advisor at Energy Systems Catapult

Peter Dodd, Project Director, VINCI Building


11:40 - "Value vs. Cost" Workshop

All delegates will take part in a fun and informative activity demonstrating the Value Toolkit through the magic of Lego! Kathryn Gardner, Director at Avison Young, chairs the Constructing Excellence North East Value group.

12:20 - Lunch

13:05 - "Is the Procurement Act working?"

 

Kieran McGaughey, leading expert on procurement, will talk on the latest developments in procurement law, then will chair a panel discussing whether new procurement legislation is actually helping SMEs, what contracting authorities are opening themselves up to, and what opportunities should contracting authorities be taking advantage of.

Chair - Kieran McGaughey, Freelance Procurement Lawyer and Training Provider

Confirmed Panellists:
Ross Markwell, National Chair of Civil Engineering Contractors Association and Director of Business Development at Esh Construction
Andrea Leigh, Senior Associate in Construction Projects & Public Procurement, Trowers & Hamlin LLP
Jane Turner, Construction Lead at the North East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO)
Phil Morrison, Head of Construction at Tyr Law

13:50 - Project Showcase

A showcase of hand picked Constructing Excellence award winning projects across the north:


  • The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, Leeds - the first purpose-built centre dedicated entirely to MND care, research, education and holistic support, won Best of the Best, Building Project of the Year, and Integration & Collaborative Working at the Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber awards, as well as Project of the Year at the RICS Yorkshire & Humber awards, and the Architects' Journal AJ100 award for Community Impact of the Year


  • Pilgrim's Quarter, Newcastle - the transformation of this key block of Newcastle into HMRC's largest UK regional hub won Building Project of the Year at the Constructing Excellence North East awards this year, as well as being recognised with a Highly Commended in the category of Integration & Collaborative Working. The development has also picked up awards for Commercial Development of the Year at the Insider Media North East Property Awards and the CoStar Impact Award.


  • Countess of Chester Women & Childrens Hospital, Chester - the first completed NHS facility verified as compliant with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, this £110m project won two awards at the North West Regional Construction Awards this year, the Sustainability Award and the Project of the Year (Cheshire, Wirral & Warrington), as well as winning Best Architectural Design at the Healthcare Design Awards.

14:35 - Break

15:05 - Beyond the Hard Hat

Presentation by Liam Colebrook of Cover3

15:25 - The Human Blueprint - Breaking the Silence on Mental Health Panel

The panel will discuss the challenges of supporting mental health in the construction industry and opportunities to support the workforce.


Chair: Lucy Howard, Co-chair of Constructing Excellence and UK Major Bids Lead at Turner & Townsend


Confirmed Panellists:

Liam Colebrook, Cover3

Stuart Young, Head of Stakeholder Management, Department for Business and Trade

Henrietta Frater, Head of HSE & Wellbeing and Trustee of Mates in Mind, The Crown Estate

Johnny Lawless, Minds Matter UK

16:00 - Closing

Alison Nicholl, Head of Constructing Excellence, will close the day.

tickets

Tickets are £40 per person - buy now!
BUY TICKETNeed an invoice? Click here to email us!

sponsorship package

Event Partner

£1,500

3 Tickets included 

We can only run this conference with the support of our event partners, with your help we can put on more top-quality conferences like this :)


If interested get in touch with us at admin@ceyhclub.co.uk

Find out more

speakers

Alison Nicholl - Head of Constructing Excellence

 Alison has a background in knowledge transfer, driving innovation and change into the construction sector both in the UK and overseas.  Alison is currently Head of Constructing Excellence, where she works with its members and wider movement to drive positive change in the built environment.  Alison has a passion for transforming the construction sector into a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable industry. 

Lucy Howard - UK Major Bids Lead at Turner & Townsend


 Lucy has 25 years experience from construction to work winning to driving industry change.


Since 2013 Lucy’s focus is programme and project management consultancy with Turner & Townsend to maximise outcomes delivered from clients’ assets; including London Overground, Network Rail, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Airport. Progressing from Senior PM to Operations lead for the southern region to UK Head of Infrastructure Markets to UK Major Bids Lead. She works with sector, service, and regional experts to arm our team with the best of industry innovation for clients across Infrastructure, Real Estate, Energy & Natural Resources and Defence.


As a new co-chair of Constructing Excellence she is passionate about working with all stakeholders to transform our industry for the better. Lucy's industry activity includes since 2017 with Project 13 with the Infrastructure Client’s Group as Development Board member and co-chair of the Capable Owner workstream. She contributes to the Institution of Civil Engineers on Productivity and produced the Programmes with Purpose report with CBI. Lucy regularly contributes to debates on infrastructure; diverse thinking (particularly neurodiversity); and mental resilience.


Originally from the North-East of England, in her early career she studied Civil Engineering at Imperial with experiences in nuclear, residential and upgrading the Albert Hall. Graduating to the Kings Cross redevelopment and East London Line Viaduct reinstatement, she was NCE Graduate Civil Engineer of the year and quickly chartered. By 26 she was leading South Quay DLR station construction, chairing Constructing Excellence’s G4C, moving on to improving her division’s work winning rate for major projects.

Professor David Glew - Director Leeds Sustainability Institute at Leeds Beckett University

 

David manages and oversees interdisciplinary projects and supervises doctoral students, across the institute's three research themes of Sustainable Behaviour, Sustainable Buildings and Sustainable Urban Environments. David has led major Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) research projects for the UK Government to investigate performance gaps and unintended consequences of new low carbon buildings and retrofits, including his most research project, the Demonstration of Energy Efficiency Potential or DEEP retrofit research project, which was the largest project of its kind looking at how to make retrofits in solid walled homes effective and safe.


David's team are specialists in BPE field testing of products and processes, and undertake a range of methods including the coheating test, QUB tests, air leakage detection, air tightness assessments, in use monitoring of energy and smart meter data and indoor air quality, modelling to assess energy use in buildings (including Energy Performance Certificates), and to perform damp and mould risk assessments. His team also explore the potential of behaviour change techniques to encourage healthier or more sustainable choices and understand occupant experiences in homes.


David is an established expert in retrofit evaluation and holds various positions at academic, industry and policy organisations, he is on the Board of the Good Homes Alliance and the Installation Assurance Authority, and member of the Building Performance Network, he sits on OFGEM's Technical Advisory Panel for innovation in ECO, and he is Associate Editor for the Journal Buildings and Cities. 

Rob Auld - Construction Director at McLaren Property

 

 Rob Auld is the Construction Director for McLaren Property and is responsible for the delivery of the fantastic York Central development.


His remit covers the coordination of design, procurement of the projects, delivery of the construction phases and the establishment of the operational elements of this market leading regeneration of such an important area of a great historic city. 

Jane Turner - Construction Lead at NEPO

 

Jane Turner is Construction Lead at NEPO, leading the development of procurement solutions for construction, infrastructure and professional services across the public sector.


A former local authority procurement professional, Jane brings extensive experience from both client and procurement leadership roles. Throughout her career, she has supported the delivery of major capital programmes, including education, housing, regeneration, infrastructure and decarbonisation projects.


Jane works closely with local authorities, contractors and consultants to develop collaborative procurement approaches that deliver value for money, social value and sustainable outcomes. She is particularly passionate about improving project delivery through early market engagement, strong contract management and effective implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.

Phil Morrison - Head of Construction at Tyr Law

 

Phil Morrison is a dedicated construction lawyer at Tyr, providing strategic guidance and practical solutions for clients across all sectors of the construction industry. Dual qualified in England and in Scotland, Phil’s 25 years of experience in construction law is gained from working on both contentious and non-contentious matters.


Phil advises clients across the full lifecycle of construction, from procurement and contract negotiation, through to dispute resolution and project close out. He assists a mix of private and public sector clients including developers, main contractors, subcontractors, consultants and funders.


Phil’s deep technological knowledge complements his commercially minded approach to the law. Phil also offers training on the requirements and implications of legislation, including the Building Safety Act.

Kieron McGaughey - Consultant Solicitor and Procurement Law Trainer

 

 Kieran McGaughey is a consultant solicitor and legal trainer, specialising in public procurement law. He sits on the Executive Committee of the Procurement Lawyers' Association (PLA) and contributes as a public procurement expert for LexisNexis. As a solicitor, Kieran has advised various contracting authorities on successfully navigating the procurement rules. As a legal trainer, he has delivered training to thousands of public procurers, in particular on the new Procurement Act. 

Stephanie Parker - Senior Advisor at The Energy Systems Catapult

 

 Stephanie Parker is a Senior Advisor at the Energy Systems Catapult.  She works in the Sites team helping predominantly public sector organisations deliver energy, carbon and cost savings.  Most recently, Stephanie’s work has focused on the Public Sector Decarbonisation Guidance, a free to access suite of guidance, tools and checklists that makes it simpler and quicker for the public sector to decarbonise their buildings and estates. She also leads areas of the UKRI funded SENSE which brings together smart energy data to enable researchers and policy makers to tackle difficult social problems including ensuring equitable EV charging infrastructure. Stephanie’s background is in the Civil Service, where she worked on policy and strategy across a number of departments over ten plus years. 

Kathryn Gardner - Director, Avison Young

 

  Kathryn is a Chartered QS and PM with over 30 years of project delivery across infrastructure and real estate. She is a Board Member of Constructing Excellence North East and chairs their Value Theme Group.

Andrea Leigh - Senior Associate, Trowers & Hamlin LLP

    

Andrea specialises in public procurement and construction projects, advising both public and private sector clients on a wide range of procurements and construction projects. Recently, she has been working with clients to enable a smooth transition to the Procurement Act 2023 and has advised many clients on their first procurements under the new regime. As a member of the Manchester Constructing Excellence Committee, she also takes a keen interest in how the construction industry can work better, particularly for SMEs. 

Liam Colebrook - Cover3

 

 

Liam has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. He started his career in the sector on the tools as a Plasterer and has worked across the industry in all parts of the supply chain initially for a Contractor, then later a manufacturer and most recently Distributor where he was a Business Development Director. Following some challenges with mental health and addiction, in the summer of 2024 Liam stepped away from the corporate world to work for himself and share his story to raise awareness and reduce stigma of the challenges he faced.


He has a passion for mental health and its impact on those affected with a specific interest in mental health within the construction industry. He is involved with a number of charities in this sector sharing his lived experience to both industry and the charity space.

Mike Raven - Client Engagement Lead at YORhub

 

Mike is an award-winning chartered construction manager with over two decades of experience in the construction sector, particularly in procurement, project management, sustainability, and contract administration.


He is the national sustainability lead for the National Association of Construction Frameworks, setting strategy for frameworks across the country on the implementation of sustainability and carbon reduction within their procurements, and as YORhub's Client Engagement Lead he specialises in working with public sector organisations on their procurement of construction works and services, advising on procurement solutions and the administration of NEC contracts.


Mike is proud to be co-chair of the Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber Club, working alongside with fellow co-chair Caroline Key.

Peter Dodd - Project Director at VINCI Building

 

Merseyside resident and LJM alumnus, Peter has extensive 

experience in the delivery of complex laboratory and research 

facility projects with a proven ability to deliver challenging 

schemes on complex sites using advanced construction 

methods to meet demanding technical and programme 

requirements.


He consistently manages projects to 

completion within tight schedules whilst exceeding quality 

expectations. 

Ed Besford - Regional Director at Bowmer & Kirkland

 

Ed Besford is a respected leader in the construction industry, known for his strategic thinking and commitment to high standards. With over 35 years of experience, he has played a key role at Bowmer & Kirkland, one of the UK’s top construction companies. He started as a trainee with Bowmer & Kirkland in 1992 and was crucial in the company’s first big project in the Northeast. His hard work led him to become a Director in 2007, where he now manages operations in the Northeast and Scotland.


One of Ed's recent achievements is his work on the completed Pilgrim Quarter development in Newcastle, which is now in the fit-out stage. This project aims to revitalise a historic area by blending modern design with its cultural heritage. Under Ed's guidance, the Pilgrim Quarter development is set to become a vibrant hub for business, living, and leisure, enhancing community involvement and economic growth.


Ed has a strong history of completing complex projects on time and within budget. He is dedicated to sustainable practices and improving community wellbeing. His commitment to excellence and teamwork continues to drive Bowmer & Kirkland's success in shaping future developments.

Event partners

YORhub - LEAD EVENT PARTNER

 

YORhub is the regions collaborative public-sector construction procurement hub, providing a comprehensive suite of building, civil engineering and consultancy frameworks across Yorkshire & the Humber, the North East, and the East Midlands.


Established and managed by local authority officers to deliver better-value construction procurement, YORhub helps public-sector organisations access high-quality contractors and consultants while driving social, economic and environmental benefits for communities across the region. Its experienced team works closely with clients and suppliers to ensure projects achieve positive outcomes for both stakeholders and local communities.


YORhub is widely recognised for its award-winning commitment to social value, championing employment and skills initiatives, supply-chain engagement, community investment and sustainable construction practices. Through programmes such as YOR4Good and its extensive SME engagement activities, YORhub continues to support economic growth and create lasting benefits.


YORhub’s support for the Constructing Excellence North Conference reflects its ongoing commitment to collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the built environment sector. We look forward to exploring how we can collectively deliver better outcomes for the North.


www.yorhub.com

Blaze Trap Innovations

Blaze Trap Innovations is the innovation and development arm of the Blaze Trap group, focused on next generation passive fire protection systems for modern construction, infrastructure, and high performance environments. Working alongside Blaze Trap Ltd, which manufactures the company’s systems, the business brings together design, testing, certification, and production to deliver practical, compliant fire protection solutions.


Focused on compliance, durability, and real world installation, Blaze Trap supports safer buildings through intelligent fire protection engineered for the evolving demands of the construction industry. Blazetrap® Rapid Outlet Box System ROBS was the Innovation Category Winner at the Constructing Excellence National Awards 2024, awarded to Blaze Trap Ltd.  Blazetrap® Rapid Outlet Box System ROBS is a fire rated electrical back box system, tested as a complete installed assembly, designed to support compliance, traceability, installation speed, and consistency. Tested up to 120 minutes fire resistance, Blazetrap® Rapid Outlet Box System ROBS is suited to refurbishment projects, modular construction, and modern 1st and 2nd fix applications. The system has been developed to simplify installation while improving reliability and reducing variability associated with traditional firestopping methods. BlazeTrap® Rapid Protect is an A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire coating engineered for long term durability in demanding architectural and infrastructure environments.

Suitable for:

Escape corridors

Stairwells

Balcony soffits

Public transport infrastructure

Marine and industrial environments

The coating is designed to withstand:

Weathering

Industrial cleaning

Graffiti removal

Impact and mechanical wear

Corrosive environments


The BlazeTrap® product range is developed through an integrated approach

combining innovation, testing, certification, and manufacturing, supporting modern building safety requirements through performance, durability, reliability, and compliance by design.

TYR Law

 

Tyr is a full-service commercial law firm which redefines the lawyer and client relationship.


Tyr is recognised for prioritising clients’ goals and offering support beyond purely legal advice. With a commercially minded and pragmatic approach, the firm builds rapport and relationships with clients. The legal advice provided is always of a high technical standard.


Tyr has an extremely strong client base including PLCs and other major corporates and advises on high-profile and complex matters.

Bradley O'Mahoney

 

Established in 1991, Bradley O’Mahoney is a branding and communications specialist whose primary focus is to make clients category famous.

Our core services include brand and marketing strategy, media relations, PR, social, video and graphic design.


We are focused heavily in construction, regeneration and the built environment.


Some of the organisations we have supported include Arup, Constructing Excellence North East, Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Northern Counties Builders Federation, Construction Alliance North East, Sir Robert McAlpine, Turner & Townsend, Silverstone Building Consultancy, Carney Consultancy, Hodgson Sayers, John N Dunn Group, Castle, Compass Developments, Classic Masonry, Greener Solutions Group and True North Construction.

Efficiency North

 

Efficiency North is a membership-owned and led, not-for-profit consortium of social housing providers, one of the first trailblazing procurement consortia established in 2006. We provide a comprehensive range of procurement solutions that save time and money for social housing providers, covering every aspect of new build, repairs, refurbishment, installation, improvement, compliance and retrofit.  These are underpinned by a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits to support local socio-economic regeneration, social mobility and accelerate the journey to net zero, alongside investment in communities through Efficiency North’s charity EN:Communities CIO.


More on our website

https://www.efficiencynorth.org/

Cidori

 

Cidori helps construction employers build stronger, more sustainable talent pipelines - bringing new people into the industry and developing the workforce they already have.


Through our Into Work programmes, delivered in partnership with colleges in the North, we help unemployed and economically inactive people take their first steps into construction. Candidates gain essential industry skills and qualifications, including CSCS cards, before being connected with employers and real job opportunities through our national employer network.


Our support doesn’t stop at getting people into work. Through employer-led apprenticeships, we help organisations develop existing employees, build capability, improve productivity and create clear progression pathways.


By connecting colleges, employers and communities, Cidori helps turn skills investment into employment, progression and tangible workforce outcomes - creating accessible routes into construction while helping the industry develop the people it needs for the future.


Igniting careers. Transforming workplaces.

Devonshires

 

Devonshires is a leading law firm with a large, highly regarded construction team, operating from Leeds, Birmingham and London. Recognised by the major legal directories, our lawyers are known for their responsive, pragmatic and hands-on approach.


We advise across the construction and engineering sectors, acting for developers, contractors, housing associations, local authorities and construction professionals. Our work spans the full project lifecycle, from procurement and the drafting and negotiation of construction documentation through to dispute resolution, including adjudication, arbitration and litigation in the Technology and Construction Court.


Our construction lawyers combine deep sector knowledge with technical expertise and a clear focus on practical, commercially driven outcomes. We are particularly recognised for our expertise in building safety, helping clients navigate complex and evolving regulatory requirements alongside the wider commercial challenges facing the sector.


Whether supporting a project from the outset or helping resolve a dispute when things go wrong, we provide clear, decisive and commercially focused advice designed to help clients protect their position, manage risk and keep projects moving.

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