BESA takes conference online

UK: The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has moved its National Conference and Exhibition online this year due to Covid-19.

The Conference on on November 4 and 5 will look to build on the success of BESA’s series of daily webinars that kept the industry updated on commercial, business and health & safety developments throughout the Covid-19 crisis. These were a huge success reaching an audience of more than 20,000 between March and August.

“We are using the extensive digital experience we gained this year to bring the industry two days of top notch technical, industry and business content on a brand new virtual conference platform,” said BESA’s chief executive David Frise.

With discussion topics spread across a main digital auditorium and a series of smaller virtual seminars, BESA promises content to suit all building engineering interests.  Delegates will be able to ‘network’ in specially designated areas and there will be a virtual exhibition hall to showcase the latest products.

High-profile speakers

The line-up of speakers is to be confirmed but will include the return of World Health Organisation advocate Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah whose talk last year session on the links between air quality and child health was oversubscribed. This year she will update the industry on legal and political developments.

There will be series of plenary presentations covering topics from the impact of government rebuilding plans to new building safety legislation as well as the Future of Cities, training and skills linked to the need for improved diversity in the building engineering workforce.

These will be complemented by a series of technical sessions covering developments in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, indoor air quality, fire safety and smoke control, digital systems, off-site manufacture, ductwork and pipework – including updates on industry standards and best practice guidance.

There will also be tailored business seminars to help firms capitalise on the economic recovery and BESA Clinics providing support and advice for members from the Association’s technical, legal, commercial, employment and health & safety teams.

The two-day event will be free to attend, but BESA is asking attendees to make a contribution to its recently established IT poverty fund. This seeks to address the problem many young people have in accessing laptops and tablets so they can learn the skills and competencies needed to join the building engineering industry.

BESA has found that the Covid-19 lock-down and the need to learn from home exposed the scale and complexity of this issue. Therefore, all conference donations will go towards a project to collect, refurbish and distribute IT equipment to young people in the industry who are in need.

Further information and registration here.