UKCS 2026: A Look Back – Part Three | Emerging Talent & the road to 2027

 

Find Your Community expands industry engagement

The expanded Find Your Community area brought together key industry bodies and professional organisations, providing a central hub for guidance, training and networking.

Participants included The Concrete Society, the Institute of Concrete Technology, the Structural Concrete Alliance, the Institute of Quarrying and the British Aggregates Association, alongside the Advanced Carbons Council and MPA – The Concrete Centre. The Association of Concrete Industrial Flooring Contractors was also represented, reflecting increased focus on specialist contracting sectors within the show.

The inclusion of the Flowing Screeds Association further broadened representation across flooring and finishing disciplines, with organisations offering support on technical guidance, standards development and professional training.

The area provided a structured opportunity for visitors to engage with industry bodies, access technical resources and explore pathways for professional development.

 

 

Emerging Talent highlights next generation

The Emerging Talent Awards, delivered in partnership with The Concrete Society, recognised professionals aged 30 and under who are already making a measurable impact across the concrete sector through technical delivery, innovation and leadership.

This year’s entries were described by organisers as being of an exceptionally high standard, reflecting both the depth of capability emerging across the industry and the increasing demands placed on early-career professionals working across materials, design, production and sustainability.

Richard Bradbury, Event Director, said:

"The continued growth in both the quality and number of Emerging Talent Award entries is hugely encouraging and points towards a bright future for our industry."

 

In the Materials Specialist category, Harshita Garg, technical manager at Brett Concrete, was recognised for her work in concrete mix design, quality control and materials optimisation. Her contribution has supported improvements in consistency and performance across 19 plants, alongside the delivery of low-carbon, high-performance and high early-strength concretes on major projects. Her nomination also highlighted her role in education and industry outreach, extending her impact beyond plant operations.

The Design Excellence award was presented to Steve Brown, principal engineer at Ramboll UK, for his role in advancing low-carbon concrete design on One North Quay, a major commercial laboratory development. His work focused on challenging conventional design approaches, enabling significant embodied carbon reductions while developing new methods for specifying and tracking low-carbon concrete through live project delivery.

In the Precast & Offsite category, Tom Weston of Essex Precast was recognised for his contribution to the commissioning and operation of the Titan Procast batching facility. His nomination cited a strong technical understanding of batching and quality control, alongside a proactive approach that has supported improvements in output, efficiency and product consistency.

The Sustainability award was presented to Ansu Mary Alex, research and development associate at Leiths (Scotland), for her work in developing low-carbon construction materials. Her expertise in cement chemistry, alternative binders and environmental assessment has enabled the translation of research into practical, scalable solutions aligned with net zero objectives.

In addition to the category winners, the judging panel introduced a Highly Commended recognition to reflect the strength of submissions across all disciplines. This included Natalia Dziadosz, Ramboll, in Design Excellence; Sakshi Singh, ABT, and William Brentnall, Balfour Beatty Vinci, in Materials Specialist; Drew Wilkes, Wotmix, in Precast & Offsite; and Tom Dillon, Ramboll, in Sustainability, each recognised for strong technical contributions and emerging leadership within their respective fields.

The awards followed a panel discussion on attracting, developing and retaining talent, featuring Claire Ackerman, chief executive officer of The Concrete Society, John Reddy, president of the Institute of Concrete Technology, and Lauren Fairley, executive officer of the Concrete Repair Association.

The session explored how the concrete sector is tackling the skills gap in the face of decarbonisation and digitalisation, highlighting the importance of structured training pathways, professional development and industry collaboration.

The overall winner will be awarded at the Concrete Society Awards later this year at the Royal Lancaster, London.

 

Momentum into 2027

The 2026 event demonstrated strong engagement across the UK concrete sector, with a consistent focus on practical solutions, measurable performance and collaboration across the supply chain. Busy aisles and sustained visitor traffic across both days reflected the continued growth and relevance of the event.

Across equipment, materials and digital systems, the direction of travel was clear: technologies designed to integrate with existing workflows while improving productivity, quality and carbon performance.

With dates confirmed for 23–24 March 2027, the show is set to build on this momentum, continuing to prioritise applied innovation, industry collaboration and real-world delivery.

Looking ahead, Richard Bradbury, Event Director, said:

"We're already seeing exceptional momentum for 2027, with record exhibitor rebookings reflecting the confidence the industry has in The UK Concrete Show. If you have expertise or insights to share, we'd love to hear from you about contributing to our 2027 seminar programme."