What the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) terms significant and potentially transformative changes to face UK construction will be on the agenda at next month’s GAI conference.
Chaired by GAI president, David Stacey, the annual conference will include three discussions on the financial state of the construction sector, the Hackitt Review and the impact of digital.
Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, will provide an economic overview of construction, helping attendees to make more informed decisions when considering future business. Since joining Barbour ABI in 2013, Michael has been responsible for providing monthly updates to clients and to Building magazine on the key economic, political and financial changes that impact the UK economy and construction.
Michael says: “It is fair to say that the construction sector is currently steady, but certainly not buoyant. The uncertainty for the UK economy caused by Brexit is having an impact and the skills shortage is hindering the supply of skilled workers. These are both huge factors hindering growth.
“Against this backdrop of uncertainty and the expected tightening up of the entire construction supply chain following the Hackitt Review, architectural ironmongers will have an increasing role to play to ensure that the ironmongery specified and installed always meets stringent industry standards and requirements.”
Jon O’Neill OBE, managing director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), will speak on the official UK Government Hackitt Review (after the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017) and looking at building and fire safety regulations and related compliance and enforcement issues.
The closing speaker of the conference will be Andreas Haeberli, chief technology officer at phsyical security product manufacturer dormakaba, pictured. He will be looking at how digital transformation is affecting architectural ironmongery
The GAI Conference on Friday, May 18 will run at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Tower of London. It is sponsored this year by dormakaba, GEZE (UK), Lorient, CES, HOPPE (UK), ASSA ABLOY Ltd, and Exova (UK). Register to attend: http://www.gai.org.uk/events-117/gai-conference-2018.
About the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI)
The body represents the UK architectural ironmongery industry. Its qualifications, education and CPD are used in the UK and overseas. Its technical information service is the only specialist service of its kind and provides GAI members with advice. Visit http://www.gai.org.uk/.
