On 9 September, construction health and safety professionals from across the UK gathered at Aston University for the APS National Conference 2026, marking APS's first in-person national conference for a number of years. Prior to the conference, APS members also came together for the Association's Annual General Meeting (AGM), providing an opportunity to reflect on the past year and look ahead to future priorities for the organisation.

The event provided a welcome opportunity for delegates to come together face-to-face, reconnect with colleagues, share experiences, and discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Throughout the day, attendees engaged with a diverse programme of speakers, offering insights into some of the key issues shaping the future of construction health and safety.

A particular highlight was the high level of engagement from delegates, with lively question-and-answer sessions encouraging discussion and debate. The return to an in-person format allowed attendees to interact directly with speakers and fellow professionals, creating valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing.

The conference featured contributions from respected industry leaders, including Dame Judith Hackitt and Aman Sharma, whose thought-provoking presentations highlighted the importance of leadership, innovation, and collaboration in creating a safer built environment.

A key feature of the conference was a panel discussion bringing together senior policy representatives from all four UK nations to explore post-Grenfell regulatory and policy developments. Chaired by APS CEO Sofie Hooper, the session provided delegates with a unique opportunity to hear perspectives from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the evolving building safety landscape. Panellists discussed key regulatory changes, shared challenges, lessons learned, and future priorities, highlighting both the common themes and differing approaches being taken across the UK to improve building safety.

As well as hearing from expert speakers, delegates enjoyed the opportunity to meet peers, exchange ideas, and strengthen professional connections. The positive atmosphere throughout the day demonstrated the value of bringing the APS community together in person.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the conference such a success. We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to support our members and the wider industry.

APS would also like to thank the conference sponsors for their continued support of APS and the National Conference. Our sincere thanks go to Safety in Design, our Headline Sponsor; Synergie, our Conference Sponsor; and our exhibitors, SOCOTEC, Gift a Tree, and The Lighthouse Charity. Their contribution is greatly appreciated and helped make the event such a success.

Photos and additional conference highlights will be shared in the coming weeks.