Construction leaders from across Cornwall attended a dedicated event to discuss tackling the main challenges currently facing the industry in the south west.

The event was organised by a Constructing Excellence South West, a member-led organisation designed to drive positive change in construction, and was chaired by Giles Blight from Bailey Partnership and Lewis Tolputt of Classic Builders.

Held at Watergate Bay Hotel, the event was sponsored by global business insurer Gallagher and supported further by Bailey Partnership and Classic Builders.

The attendees included key clients, local authorities, council leaders, architects, engineers, developers and contractors who all openly talked about their experiences of working in the industry and shared their recommendations on how to combat the climate crisis, building safety and procurement on value.

Giles Blight, chair of the Constructing Excellence Cornwall hub, said: “This event was a pilot project for a wider programme being rolled out by Constructing Excellence South West. It was great to be given the opportunity to test the water in Newquay to see who would engage in the conversation and attend on the night.

“It was fantastic to have so many of the key players who work in construction come together and give up their free time to discuss issues like the climate crisis, building safety and procurement on value to understand their different points of view.

“Everyone was incredibly passionate about the topics being discussed across the evening, and it was agreed more events like this are needed to help make a real difference to the future of the industry.”

“Construction is fundamental for the UK economy, and so it’s vital we take action now to make sure the sector continues to thrive. Starting small and looking at what can change within our region is a great first step, before rolling out new ideas and initiatives further afield.”