Willmott Dixon holds business expo at Rochdale Riverside site

Date published: 16 October 2018

Willmott Dixon hosted a two-day ‘Better Together’ expo at Rochdale’s Riverside development on Wednesday and Thursday (10 and 11 October), showcasing the future of construction in the North.

The expo attracted hundreds of visitors to the Riverside project, with businesses exhibiting new ideas and innovative products set to shape the future of the construction industry.

35 companies showcased their products and services to potential buyers, alongside expert speakers who promoted their projects, and seminars were held focusing on what is current and most important in the construction industry.

All attending businesses made a £200 charitable donation to hold a stall.

Stallholders showcased a range of site materials such as fire-retardant protection products, plastic flooring, scaffold sheets, roofing and insulation and displayed the most up to date technology in connection to construction. Virtual reality experiences are now available to push more interactive education on health and safety training in the workplace.

Also amongst the exhibits were high-tech upper body exoskeleton vests, currently being trialled by Willmott Dixon in partnership with the robotics firm Eksobionics. Willmott Dixon is the first company in the construction industry to trial the ‘Eksovest’, which aims to support workers during lifting.

Dave Pennock, the supply chain manager on the Rochdale development site, said: “This event is about working collaboratively with us all and inviting customers to see the work we are carrying out.

“The title ‘Better Together’ is about making suppliers work better in future in terms of sustainability and efficiency, for example diverting plastic from skips and recycling more materials, but also in terms of joining with more local companies to promote their new ideas.

“By inviting college students to join us at these events, we are trying to send a message that construction isn’t just for builders and joiners, it’s also an industry that needs mathematicians and scientists. We want academics to join us in making a difference in the communities we work in and inspire the next generation of construction professionals.

“Rochdale Riverside is our biggest project at the minute and we want to leave a lasting legacy behind. We want the community to be able to celebrate this innovative and collaborative project in the heart of the centre.”

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “Innovation is in the DNA of Willmott Dixon and our supply chain partners. I have been amazed and inspired by the ingenuity on display. After the success of our first event in Blackpool last year, this event is now a staple of the northern construction calendar and it was great to see such a fantastic turnout over both days, which created a buzzing atmosphere and a really exciting forum for new ideas.

“As we look to the future of construction and to inspire a new generation, visitors needed only take one look outside at the live Rochdale Riverside project to see how, together, we are all shaping the future of our communities.”

The ‘Better Together’ expo was hosted at the Riverside this year as the site is a perfect example of the transformative and future-gazing projects that Willmott Dixon are working on.

Developed by a joint venture of Genr8 and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Riverside will provide 200,000 square foot of retail and leisure accommodation. The Riverside regeneration is one of the Rochdale's most important schemes to date.

The site is currently one of the largest retail developments under construction in the North.