Join us for Wright Hassall's upcoming Construction Conference on Thursday 28th September 2023 where we will be joined by industry experts to discuss the challenges that could change the face of construction.
Event Programme
8.15am - Arrival and breakfast
9.00am - An introduction from Michael Hiscock, Wright Hassall
9.10am - 'Construction Insurance In An Ever-evolving Market' with Jonathan Tandy, Towergate and Joe McMurrough, QBE Insurance
9.50am - 'An Introduction to SOCOTEC Advisory Services' with Gugu Sibanda, SOCOTEC UK Limited
10.30am - Coffee break
11.00am - 'Designing for Net Zero: Eight steps towards a zero-carbon future' with Steve Townsend, Associated Architects
11.45am - Conference close
Date, Time & Location
Thursday 28th September 2023
8.15am - 11.45am
Wright Hassall LLP, Olympus Avenue, Royal Leamington Spa, CV34 6BF
Registration for the event is free, sign-up to register here. If you have any questions about the event, please contact us.
About the Conference
The conference will be opened by Michael Hiscock, Partner and Head of Construction at Wright Hassall followed by our first speaker of the day, Jonathan Tandy from Towergate who will be introducing Joe McMurrough from QBE Insurance who will be discussing construction insurance in an ever-evolving market.
Gugu Sibanda from SOCOTEC UK Limited will be providing a brief overview of the strategic transition of SOCOTEC UK Limited, outlining the different services the business now provides as a result of the significant growth in the UK market in the last few years. The main focus will be the extended services of SOCOTEC Advisory, a forensic expert witness and quantity surveying consultancy.
The climate emergency is the biggest challenge facing the industry. It is recognised that the built environment sector must go further and faster to ensure that new and retrofit buildings deliver net zero whole-life carbon, in advance of any incoming regulation. Steve Townsend from Associated Architects, will discuss how net zero is possible through good design and informed decision-making and can add value to schemes. Steve will discuss eight practical steps to achieving net zero whole-life carbon, covering subjects including energy, embodied carbon, circular design and smart technology. The presentation will explore how buildings can become an essential part of an intelligent zero-carbon future, with a step-change in design thinking.
About Our Speakers
Michael Hiscock, Partner and Head of Construction at Wright Hassall
As a specialist in construction and engineering procurement, Michael advises on a variety of contracts, professional terms of appointment bonds, guarantees and ancillary documentation. Contractors, designers, employers, occupiers and funders have instructed Michael in a wide variety of sectors including social housing, health, education, sport and leisure, waste, logistics, manufacturing, local government and energy. Michael sits on the Constructing Excellence Midlands Leadership Council and has previously worked for what was called the Department of Trade and Industry.
Joe McMurrough, Regional Underwriting Manager, QBE Insurance
Based in their Birmingham office, Joe is the Regional Underwriting Manager for QBE Insurance and specialises in construction and high-risk insurance.
Jonathan Tandy, Area Sales Director at Towergate
With around 20 years experience working in the insurance broking sector, Jon has risen through the ranks at Towergate Warwick to his role of Area Sales Director, a position he has occupied for the past 10 years.
Looking after a large and complex account, many of Jon’s clients operate in and around the construction sector meaning that a sound knowledge of the fundamentals of Construction Insurance is paramount to ensuring his customers are not just adequately protected, but also provided with a bespoke insurance programme to match their varied needs.
Gugu Sibanda, Director at SOCOTEC UK Limited
Gugu is a Director at SOCOTEC Advisory Limited, a Chartered Quantity Surveying consultancy providing dispute resolution advice, expert services, business advice and management consulting domestically and internationally, across the construction and property sectors. On 10 May 2022, SOCOTEC Advisory (previously Base Quantum) was acquired by Socotec UK Ltd (“SOCOTEC”) and in January 2023, Gugu became a Director of SOCOTEC’s Advisory Division. Previously Gugu was the Commercial Risk Director for SOCOTEC UK Limited he was involved in the pre-contract and post-contract commercial activities and commercial management of different ground works/materials testing/monitoring [e.g Hs2, Lower Thames Crossing, Cross Rail, Highways England] packages. He also advises the business on corporate risk and contract due diligence for corporate transactions, in particular mergers and acquisitions.
He has a proven record advising and managing commercial teams to ensure the required standards and quality are met. Gugu also currently manages a team of quantity surveyors providing pre-contract and post-contract commercial activities, negotiation and defence of contractual claims and he has recently completed the RICS Expert Witness training with the intention of acting as a quantum expert in construction disputes.
Steve Townsend, Director, Associated Architects
Steve Townsend is an architect and a Director at Associated Architects, where he has focused on delivering environmentally responsible buildings for 15 years.
Steve has recently completed Birmingham’s largest commercial retrofit project and is currently working on several low and zero carbon office, residential and education buildings, including one of the Midlands’ first NABERS certified buildings.
Steve heads up the Practice’s ‘Green Team’ and is responsible for the development of its in-house carbon analysis tools and workflows, to support responsible design and client decision making.
