HUNDREDS of businesses came together to celebrate the innovation and successes of the Essex construction sector.

Essex Build 2025 brought 425 attendees from across more than 270 different organisations to Hylands House in Chelmsford on Thursday 13 March.

The Expo is the largest event ever organised by Essex County Council’s Essex Construction Alliance.

Attendees were invited to learn about upcoming projects in Essex, regulatory changes, acquire new business leads, and explore the latest industry advancements and supply chain opportunities.

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, welcomed guests before opening up the packed programme to attendees.

The event boasted a total of 53 exhibitors, covering all aspects of the construction sector, as well as organisations providing support to construction firms in areas such as skills or apprenticeships.

Attendees were invited to a full programme of free workshops across two separate stages. These covered key topics for the industry, such as tips on winning work in Essex, public procurement changes and safety standards in construction.

Another highlight of the day was a series of Meet the Buyer sessions. These allowed attendees to speak directly to representatives of organisations such as Kier Construction, Morgan Sindall Construction and Essex Highways about available opportunities.

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, said: “Essex Build 2025 was about celebrating the success of the county’s construction sector, which contributes an impressive £5.6 billion per year to the UK economy, while also looking to the future of an industry which is hugely important to our economic prosperity.

“Essex is already a great place to do business, but as a council we are determined to ensure our business community reaches its full potential. Through the Essex Construction Alliance and events like Essex Build, we aim to promote innovation, encourage growth and build connections between businesses, helping create an environment where the sector thrives – now and into the future.”

Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, added: “It was fantastic to be at the inaugural Essex Build Expo and see so many businesses come together to build connections, learn and share ideas.

“While the construction sector in Essex is thriving, we know there are skills shortages which must be addressed to ensure the industry reaches its full potential. We are working hard to support businesses, and at the event I was pleased we were able to hear directly from them about how we can support them going forward.”

Essex Build 2025 was organised with the support of a series of key partners from across the industry – CITB, Federation of Master Builders, Attract & Engage and Constructing Excellence.

The event was sponsored by Kier Construction, Morgan Sindall Construction, Ringway Jacobs and Joseph Gallagher Limited.