Why Trade Shows Like Vertikal Days & Construction Week Help Shape the Future of Site Safety

Insights from this year’s leading construction events

This autumn, All Star Safety Ltd attended two of the UK’s most influential construction industry trade shows — Vertikal Days and UK Construction Week — both of which offered valuable insights into the future of safety, training and site technology.

Vertikal Days, held at the East of England Showground, continues to be the UK’s most focused event for lifting and access equipment. As a centre that delivers NVQs for crane supervisors, appointed persons, and slinger/signallers — as well as lift planning consultancy — we found the event particularly relevant. From new telehandlers and tower cranes, to lifting accessories, rescue systems, and operator safety technologies, the innovations on display showed that the lifting sector is rapidly evolving — and so must training and compliance systems.

Over at UK Construction Week in Birmingham, sustainability, digitalisation and site productivity took centre stage. As always, there was plenty of discussion around workforce development, skills gaps, and the rising demand for NVQs and accredited training as a solution to both compliance and retention. Our work in supporting firms with workforce upskilling — from plant operations to senior management NVQs — is directly aligned with these themes.

What we missed — and what’s coming next

Although we didn’t get the chance to attend Plantworx this year at Newark Showground, it’s very much on our radar for 2026. This event, which also takes place around the same time of year as Vertikal Days and UKCW, is one of the UK’s most hands-on exhibitions for construction equipment, plant, and related services. With our expanding NPORS training centre and ongoing support for CPCS to Blue Card upgrades, we’re keen to attend next year and connect with both suppliers and clients across the plant and lifting operations space.

Looking ahead, we’re also preparing for the Health and Safety Event in early 2026. This is one of the UK’s top forums for updates on legislation, new safety tech, and compliance trends across all industries — not just construction. As a provider of health & safety consultancy, workplace audits, and NVQs in occupational safety, it’s an important fixture for staying current and ensuring our offer matches the needs of our clients.

Why trade shows matter for you

Whether you’re a construction manager, H&S advisor, or training coordinator, these events reveal where the industry is heading — and that’s key to keeping your workforce competent, compliant and competitive. Here are a few trends we’ve picked up from this year’s trade show circuit:

Lifting operations are becoming more digitised, with new software, sensors, and planning tools. NVQs and CPCS/NPORS assessments need to reflect this shift.
Green construction and sustainability are no longer buzzwords — they’re being baked into procurement, tendering, and skills frameworks.
Training remains critical, not just for compliance but for staff retention, card renewals, and workforce progression. Grant funding and card upgrade deadlines are driving uptake.
Health and safety is broadening to include mental health, digital safety tools, and more strategic, forward-looking approaches to risk management.

If you’re not already planning for how these themes impact your site or workforce, now’s the time to act.

How All Star Safety Ltd can support you

We’re more than just a training provider. We offer:

NPORS and CPCS plant training and NVQs, including support for Red to Blue card upgrades
Lifting operations consultancy, lift plan reviews, and NVQs in planning/supervising lifts
Health & Safety consultancy, workplace audits, and support with new regulatory requirements
NVQs from Level 2 to Level 7 across plant ops, site supervision, construction management, H&S, and more