*Guest content contributed by UK Construction Week
Small and medium-sized builders have a major role to play in the future of UK construction. From increasing housing delivery to creating jobs, developing skills and strengthening local economies, their ability to grow and compete matters to the entire industry.
At UK Construction Week Birmingham 2026, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) will put their voice at the heart of the conversation. Secure your complimentary ticket today.
Taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC Birmingham, the show will bring the industry together at a time when the pressure to deliver more homes, improve productivity and build a stronger construction sector has rarely been greater.
For SME builders, that ambition comes with very real challenges. Rising costs, tighter margins, regulatory change, skills shortages and procurement pressures are all influencing how smaller businesses operate, while the drive to deliver 1.5 million homes is raising important questions about where the capacity to build them will come from.
As the organisation representing small and medium-sized building firms across the UK, the FMB will bring these issues directly to The Construction RESET Stage, contributing to two important discussions around housing delivery and the future competitiveness of SME construction businesses.
Housing at Scale: The Race to 1.5 Million Homes
How does the industry turn an ambition for 1.5 million new homes into homes actually being built?
On Tuesday 29 September, Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, will join the Housing at Scale: The Race to 1.5 Million Homes session to examine what it will take to significantly increase housing delivery.
Delivering around 300,000 homes a year will require more than setting ambitious targets. It will demand changes to how housing is planned, designed and delivered, alongside a serious examination of the capacity and diversity of the businesses expected to build it.
Brian will be joined by Ed Griffiths, Head of Analytics at Barbour ABI; Emma Osmundsen, Chair of the Passivhaus Trust Board and Principal Housing Development Officer at Highland Council; and Matt Mahony, Policy & Public Affairs Manager at the Construction Industry Council (CIC).
Bringing together perspectives from across housing, market intelligence, sustainability and industry policy, the panel will explore the barriers standing in the way of delivery and where the opportunities lie to create a housing market capable of building at greater scale.
For the FMB, the role of smaller builders will be a crucial part of that debate. If the industry is to increase the number of homes it delivers, enabling more SMEs to enter the market, grow their businesses and contribute to housing supply cannot be overlooked.
Futureproofing SME Builders: Surviving, Scaling, and Staying Competitive
Building more homes is only part of the challenge. The industry also needs a strong and competitive network of businesses capable of delivering them.
That question will take centre stage on Wednesday 30 September during Futureproofing SME Builders: Surviving, Scaling, and Staying Competitive.
The session will look directly at the commercial realities facing smaller construction businesses and what SMEs need to navigate an increasingly demanding market.
From adapting to tighter margins, regulation and procurement pressures to identifying future pipelines of work and developing capabilities in areas such as digital delivery and compliance, the discussion will focus on how SME builders can become more resilient while creating opportunities for growth.
Nicola De Sousa, Central Director at the Federation of Master Builders, will join Carl Goodhew, Founder of G2 Construction and Consultancy, to explore what futureproofing an SME construction business looks like in practice.
Rather than simply asking how smaller builders can respond to change, the conversation will consider what needs to happen across the wider industry to create an environment in which good businesses can survive, scale and stay competitive.
Putting SMEs at the heart of The Construction RESET
Both conversations speak directly to the ambitions behind The Construction RESET, UK Construction Week Birmingham’s new programme for 2026.
Built around Building Better, Building Smarter and Building Responsibly, The Construction RESET will challenge the industry to move beyond identifying its biggest problems and focus on the practical changes needed to address them.
For SMEs, that means ensuring the conversation around construction’s future reflects the realities of the businesses delivering projects on the ground.
Whether the challenge is increasing housing supply, improving productivity, responding to new regulation or adopting new ways of working, the strength of the SME sector will have a direct bearing on the industry’s ability to deliver.
Meet FMB representatives at stand C90
The FMB’s presence at UK Construction Week Birmingham will extend beyond the stage programme. Across all three days, visitors can meet the Federation of Master Builders at stand C90, connect with the team and learn more about its work supporting and representing SME building businesses across the UK.
It will also be an opportunity for builders and construction professionals to continue the conversations raised on The Construction RESET Stage and discuss the challenges and opportunities affecting the sector.
With ambitious housing targets ahead and construction businesses being asked to adapt to a rapidly changing market, the voice of SME builders needs to be part of the discussion about what comes next.
At UK Construction Week Birmingham 2026, the Federation of Master Builders will make sure it is.
Register for your free ticket to UK Construction Week Birmingham, hear from the FMB on The Construction RESET Stage and meet the team at stand C90 at the NEC Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October 2026.
