Why I’m heading to the London Build Expo
And what I am really there for.
On 19 November, I’ll be swapping my laptop and dashboards for trainers and a big, fat smile: I’m heading to my first London Build Expo with the talented Katherine Eagle (find out more about her fab work here!) at Olympia.
It’s the UK’s biggest construction show, packed with more than 450 exhibitors and 700 speakers talking about everything from sustainability and net-zero goals to AI, modern methods of construction, and the future of building.
But let’s be honest: I’m not going (only) for the shiny stands or the free tote bags.
I’m going because the construction world runs on systems, and I want to see how they do it.
If you strip away the scaffolding and concrete, the construction industry is really about coordination. Layers of projects, people, approvals, and moving parts that somehow (mostly) end up forming something solid.
It’s operations in 3D.
And that’s my language.
I’m fascinated by how trades and builders manage flow, communication, and chaos at scale.
Construction people get systems in a way most service businesses don’t.
They understand that without sequencing, planning, and communication, everything falls apart (sometimes literally).
So, I’ll be walking the aisles of London Build looking for inspiration:
How do they plan, brief, coordinate, and track their projects?
What tools are emerging to keep site and office connected?
And what can we borrow from that world to make small business operations sturdier, simpler, and a little more human?
What I’ll Be Exploring
These are the conversations and talks I’m making a beeline for:
Digital construction & AI — how technology is being used to bring structure and data together (and where it’s going wrong).
Sustainability & net-zero — not just about materials, but how efficiency and systems design play a role.
Diversity & mental health in construction — because operational culture isn’t only processes, it’s people.
Meet the Buyers sessions — I’m curious how decision-making and procurement workflows actually happen behind the curtain.
For me, it’s all about keeping abreast of the conversation and understanding how builders think.
My Plan for the Day
If you’re heading there too, here’s what my plan looks like (minus the coffee detours):
Scout the systems: I’ll be looking out for project management, communication, and workflow tools.
Ask awkward questions: the usual me ones “Okay, but how does that actually work when we hit the proverbial fan?”
Take notes for the next wave of Achievist clients: what’s efficient on-site often translates beautifully into how we run operations behind the scenes.
Talk to people who think in flowcharts and checklists: my kind of nerds.
What Comes Next
I’ll be sharing my top takeaways after the event: not a blow-by-blow of who spoke on what, but a breakdown of what construction can teach the rest of us about working smarter, leading better, and building something that lasts.
(And yes, there will probably be metaphors about foundations, scaffolding, and soft structure. Because I can’t help myself.)
So, if you’re also fascinated by how things run, not just how they look, or if you secretly love a well-organised site plan as much as I love a clean ClickUp board… keep an eye out for the follow-up post.
And if you’ll be at London Build on the 19th, come say hi. I’ll be the one taking notes on a clipboard and muttering by myself happily about operational flow ;-)