Today, 26 February, home building’s ambitious early talent gathered at the Home Builders Federation’s (HBF) annual Future Talent Conference for a full day of insight, workshops and networking.

Over 100 industry apprentices, trainees, graduates, and new entrants came together to expand their professional knowledge and get inspired by what a career in home building has to offer. Now in its ninth year, the event provided attendees with exclusive industry insights into trends and challenges, with a particular focus on the impact of policy and politics on housing supply.

Over the course of the day, participants engaged in interactive workshops covering the procedures and policies of local plans, breadth of Building Regulations in home building, and the importance of good local engagement.

A highlight of the conference programme was its impressive line-up of speakers. Esther Dijkstra, Managing Director at Lloyds Banking Group and Adam Daniels, Executive Chair at Vistry Group, both took to the stage to share their experience as senior industry leaders, inspiring delegates on the endless possibilities in home building.

Sarah Bolton, CEO at The Lighthouse Charity, also took to the podium to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in the sector. Those attending also heard from Natalie Elphike Ross OBE, Director at The Housing & Finance Institute, on how she developed and progressed in her career.

The speakers rejoined the stage for a specialist panel on how different political priorities influence housing delivery. A highlight of the event is the concluding networking session…

Isabella Blaney, a Planning Apprentice attending the event, said: “The Future Talent Conference is a great opportunity for young people to get inspired and excited about their progression in the industry.”

James Lanfear, Business Graduate at NHBC, commented: “The workshops have been a highlight for me. It’s great to meet so many people at the same stage in their career as me.”.

Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive at the Home Builders Federation, said: “The day showcases the high quality talent our industry is attracting, giving the next generation guidance, inspiration and support to develop their careers. It gives me real confidence for the future, proving we have the start of a talent pipeline that can help us deliver the homes we urgently need.”