Join us for Wright Hassall's upcoming Construction Conference on Thursday 24th October 2024 where we will be joined by industry experts to discuss the challenges that could change the face of construction.
Book your place now
Event Programme
- 8.30am: Arrival and networking
- 9.00am: An introduction from Michael Hiscock, Wright Hassall
- 9.10am: ‘Key challenges faced in today’s market in respect of fire safety for buildings’ with Tim Jackson, calfordseaden
- 9.50am: 'Examples of placemaking and sustainability' with Simon Jones, Corstorphine & Wright
- 10.30am: Coffee break
- 11.00am: ‘Nature in the Built Environment – Its Importance and How to Fund It’ with Dr Beck Collins, Sustainability West Midlands
- 11.45am: ‘Breaking Down the Barriers’ with Sophie Horgan, Horgan Homes
- 12.30pm – Lunch and networking
- 1.30pm – Conference close
Date, Time & Location
- Thursday 24th October 2024
- 8.30am – 1.30pm
- Warwick Trident College (part of WCG), Trident Park, Poseidon Way, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick, CV34 6SW
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 Tim Jackson.
Tim Jackson from calfordseaden will be examining some of the key challenges faced in today’s market in respect of fire safety for buildings. Tim will provide a reflection on his industry experience to share insight, knowledge, and lessons learned.
Next, we will hear from Simon Jones, Group Director from Corstorphine & Wright who will give some real-life examples of placemaking and sustainability including the new Oakley Grove School.
Following a coffee break, we will introduce Dr Beck Collins from Sustainability West Midlands (SWM) who will be presenting ‘Nature in the Built Environment – Its Importance and How to Fund It’. This talk sets out the critical importance of nature and nature-based solutions for a number of challenges affecting urban environments. It also introduces the WMCA Local Investment in Natural Capital programme; a DEFRA funded project seeking to unlock private finance to restore nature in the WMCA area.
Our final talk will be ‘Breaking Down the Barriers’. Small housebuilders face a myriad of challenges in 2024 with the planning system still in crisis, new government targets being set and a skills shortage to tackle. Award-winning developer Sophie Horgan, Managing Director at Horgan Homes looks at the issues and shares how she and the award-winning Horgan Homes have navigated recent headwinds. Sophie will explore how small housebuilders could be the catalyst to delivering thriving communities across the UK.
How to Book
Registration for the event is free, sign-up to register here. If you have any questions about the event, please contact us.
Book your place here.
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’s previous experience includes government legal advisor in a predecessor to what is now called Department for Business and Trade. Clients describe Michael as: “Quick and efficient, knows our business well and feels like a colleague when supporting us” (Legal 500 2024). “We have an open dialogue that is to the point, we are well advised, and the communication is always timely” (Chambers & Partners 2024).
Tim Jackson, Partner and Chartered Building Surveyor at calfordseaden
Tim Jackson is a Partner and Chartered Building Surveyor at calfordseaden. He has over 20 years of experience in the industry with a wide range of projects in the residential, health, education, community, and commercial sectors. Tim has led multi-disciplinary teams on various new build, adaptation, and refurbishment projects for both Public and Private Sector clients. These projects have ranged in value from £100k to £3.14bn.
Tim is responsible for the site inspection service, overseeing the identification and management of resources for the Clerk of Works and Quality Technical Inspector’s commissions, and providing hands-on involvement when necessary.
Tim is enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with colleagues in the construction industry and encouraging more people to join the field. He co-leads calfordseaden’s RICS APC Mentoring Programme and is involved in education engagement, coaching, and training.
Quality and compliance, especially in Fire Safety, have been major focus areas throughout Tim’s career. In 2019, he achieved Associate Membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and in 2023, he became a Member of the Institution of Fire Safety Managers. Tim is an advocate for improved passive fire protection, and he regularly presents seminars focused on Fire Safety to share industry knowledge and to support positive change.
Simon Jones, Group Director at Corstorphine & Wright
Simon is a chartered architect and a Group Director with over 20 years of professional practice experience. As Group Director, he is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the practice. He successfully established the Birmingham Studio in 2017 and has since been instrumental in managing the growth of both the team and the scale of projects we undertake.
In addition to his role as Group Director, Simon leads the City Living and Education sectors, driving the expansion and development of our dedicated PRS and education teams. He has overseen the design and delivery of numerous exciting and successful projects across the UK.
Simon collaborates closely with clients and project teams at every stage of the development process, offering creativity and practical advice from project inception throughout the life of a project, ensuring that the right people are made available at the right time.
Dr Beck Collins, Senior Sustainability Adviser at Sustainability West Midlands (SWM)
Beck joined SWM in April 2022 after fifteen years working in higher education, local government, and as a director for a community energy society. She brings to SWM her skills in research, knowledge transfer and stakeholder engagement, and her knowledge in sustainable energy and sustainable built environments. At SWM she advises and supports organisations across the West Midlands to improve their sustainability practice, and leads on zero carbon innovation. Current and recent projects include supporting zero carbon innovation and collaboration, a household retrofit training programme for local authorities, a circular economy feasibility study, and a major West Midlands programme to build the infrastructure to fund nature restoration.
Sophie Horgan, Managing Director, Horgan Homes
Sophie Horgan is one of the leading lights of the UK’s small housing sector, delivering award-winning homes in communities across the Midlands and Lincolnshire.
She is managing director of Horgan Homes and was last year named as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction by the National Federation of Builders.
In 2023, Horgan Homes won the title of UK Best Small Housebuilder in the prestigious WhatHouse Award – with judges highlighting Horgan Homes’ luxury bungalow builds as a hallmark of the company’s commitment to exception quality and design.
Sophie, a founder member of the national I Am a Housebuilder campaign launched by the All Party Parliamentary Group for SME Housebuilders, also heads up Midlands-based Horgan Commercial.
