WoodBUILD 2024

The Climate crisis continues to intensify. Our natural and built environments need to adapt to change rapidly. More and more societies see forests and timber construction as a bigger part of the solution to decarbonising our built environment. At the same time forests are becoming more under pressure from global warming. What does this mean for future building projects? WoodBUILD offers an opportunity to meet with experts from across the forest industries and timber construction sectors to learn, collaborate and be inspired.

Since the first WoodBUILD event in 2016, this conference and expo has become the premium timber industry and low carbon housing event in Wales. This year’s WoodBUILD will be bigger and better than ever. For 2024 we are organising two-days packed with enticing speakers, exhibitors and a series of presentations, panel discussions, off-site forest and farm visits, interactive plenary sessions, co-creation workshops and hands-on demonstrations. Join more than 250 industry experts on 2-3 July in Swansea.

WoodBUILD 2024 will engage Timber and Construction Industry stakeholders in a collaborative effort to build new, multi-disciplinary business opportunities and regenerative solutions.

Draft Programme

DAY 1: Breaking down boundaries

Designed to bring together stakeholders from across the timber value chain, provide a safe space to air perspectives, share knowledge, get hands on with new industry tools, and deliver updates on Home-Grown Homes 2.

08:00. Wood walk

09:00. Arrivals, refreshments, exhibition, networking

10:00. Welcome, keynote and elevator pitches from sponsors

11:00. Break: refreshments, exhibition, networking

11:30. Breakout session with targeted presentations of Home-Grown Homes 2 project outcomes to date

13:00. Lunch: exhibition, networking

14:00. Breakout session with hands on demonstrations and tool share

15:30. Break: refreshments, exhibition, networking

16:00. Plenary focused on co-collaboration and building cross-group relationships

17:45. Wrap up

19:00. Networking and Dinner

DAY 2: Building co-creative relationships

Focusing on bringing communities together and developing collaboration for action. First within traditional streams, then deliberately seeking to cross boundaries and develop the ‘next best step’ towards cross-boundary community projects.

08:00. Wood walk

09:00. Arrivals, refreshments, exhibition, networking

10:00. Plenary with policy update keynote

11:00. Break: refreshments, exhibition, networking

11:30. Breakout session focused on strengthening existing communities of practice, building relationships and sharing challenges

13:00. Lunch: exhibition, networking

14:00. Cross-boundary co-creation workshops: bringing together groups across the boundaries between streams to find common ground, define a single collaborative action, and define the next best step.

15:30. Break: refreshments, exhibition, networking

16:00. Plenary with round up and feedback

16:00. Conference close

16:00. Break: refreshments, exhibition, networking

16:15 – 17:00. Woodknowledge Wales AGM for members (closed session)

Sponsors

Thank you to our event sponsor and partners for supporting WoodBUILD 2024. We are still open to sponsor and exhibitor enquiries. Please find our sponsorship pack here.

How to get there

Planning to arrive via public transport or car? Find out how to get there here.

Swansea campus is made up of multiple locations across the city. A dynamic and thriving hub of education and innovation, nestled within the vibrant city known for its breathtaking coastal beauty and rich cultural heritage.

To ensure your smooth arrival and easy navigation around our campuses, please use the University's “How to Find Us” page to provide you with all the information you need. Whether you’re travelling from near or far, our goal is to ensure that your arrival is as stress-free as possible.

Parking

On site parking is free at the campus but you must register your vehicle prior to the event. You can pre-register your vehicle using the QR code below. The QR code will only be effective for the 2nd and 3rd July. If you park outside of these dates, then you will receive a parking ticket. Those who wish to set up their exhibitor stands on the evening of the 1st you will need to register your vehicle on campus in reception on arrival. Someone from WKW will be there to assist you.

Please note that parking on campus is ample but we encourage where possible for attendees to use public transport, cycle or arrive on foot.