Industry leaders say next few years will be ‘transformational’ for UK house building as NHBC unveils speakers for BEYOND ’26 LIVE

The next few years are set to reshape UK house building, as leading figures from across the industry prepare to debate how the sector can meet ambitious housing targets, embrace innovation, ensure quality and deliver more sustainable homes.

Hosted by Broadcaster Louise Minchin, BEYOND ’26 LIVE, held by the National House Building Council (NHBC), will take place on 25 February 2026 at the CBS Arena, Coventry.

The national event will bring together more than 1,200 professionals and over 40 expert speakers to explore the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. From housing market growth and the skills shortage to innovation, sustainability, construction quality and regulatory change.

A defining period for the housing sector

With the government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament, the industry faces a pivotal moment as it balances growth with quality, safety and sustainability.

Cassandra Codling, Senior Regional Director at NHBC, said: “The challenges facing the house-building industry are significant, but they also present a tremendous opportunity to innovate, lead and deliver lasting change.

“The next few years will be transformational for UK house building. Meeting the government’s ambitious housing targets is vital if we are to tackle the national shortage of homes, but doing so in a market shaped by skills shortages, planning delays, rising costs and fragile consumer confidence will require collaboration and resilience.

“BEYOND ’26 LIVE isn’t just another conference. It is a huge opportunity and will offer a real conversation about the future of UK housing. It’s the chance to listen and talk to the people who are driving real change and equip everyone involved in home building with the insight, tools and connections they need to deliver. The quality of homes we build today will shape how our communities will live for decades to come. It’s all of our responsibility to get it right.”

Future of the new homes market

A headline session at BEYOND ’26 LIVE, The Future of the New Homes Market: Perspectives on Delivering Growth, will feature Jennie Daly, Chief Executive Officer at Taylor Wimpey, Mark Farmer, Founder and Board Executive of Cast Consultancy and Ian Workman, Chief Customer Officer at Homes England.

The panel will explore how the industry can deliver the homes needed while responding to changing regulation, market uncertainty and the growing need for sustainability.

Ian Workman, Chief Customer Officer at Homes England, said: The need for new homes has never been greater, but the pathway to delivery is increasingly complex. To meet national targets, we must unlock barriers in land supply, planning and skills, while embracing new approaches to design and sustainability. Collaboration across the industry will be crucial if we are to deliver the quality and quantity of homes the country needs. At Homes England, we’re focused on ensuring we have the right partnerships and investment frameworks in place to deliver homes that are affordable, well-designed and future-ready.”

Mark Farmer, Founder and Board Executive at Cast Consultancy added: “If we’re serious about building more homes, we must also build better. The next phase of housing growth must be underpinned by improved productivity, innovation and skills reform. Smarter delivery models, digital adoption and investment in modern construction techniques will be essential to creating a more resilient and efficient industry. BEYOND LIVE ’26 provides a vital platform for honest dialogue about what’s working, what isn’t and where we must focus next if the UK is to make real progress.”

A united industry, ready to build the UK’s future

With more than 250,000 extra construction workers needed by 2028 just to meet the current housing demand, Andy George, Director of Industry Attraction and Skills at the Home Builders Federation (HBF), will lead a key session on The Home Building Sector Skills Plan: addressing workforce challenges and building capacity.

“The home building industry is already stepping up to lead on the skills agenda with many interventions showing results. The updated Home Building Sector Skills Plan is a blueprint for the future, providing a long-term approach for attraction, developing and retaining the workforce that we will need to deliver home building targets.

“With our members actively delivering training, reshaping talent pipelines, partnering with colleges and creating new routes into the sector, we have the key foundations in place to support efforts to increase the pipeline,” said Andy George.

Key themes: innovation, skills and building quality homes across the UK

The BEYOND ‘26 LIVE conference programme will tackle the biggest questions facing UK house building today, including:

How the industry can deliver 1.5 million new homes while maintaining quality, safety and sustainability.

• The impact of the Future Homes Standard and how to build for climate resilience.
• Closing the skills gap and developing the workforce for modern house building.
• Insights from NHBC’s Pride in the Job Awards on leadership and achieving excellence on site.
• Advances in timber frame construction, roofing quality, water efficiency and modern methods of construction (MMC).
• The latest updates on regulation, including the Building Safety Levy and NHBC Standards 2026.

Delegates will also benefit from hands-on demonstrations, interactive panel debates, practical workshops and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, alongside networking with industry peers and suppliers.

Early Bird tickets are available for a limited time. For a full list of confirmed speakers, themes and to register, visit www.nhbc.co.uk/beyond.