Urbano Communities

Urbano UWACTE

Since we began in 2011, Urbano has had a proud track record of championing opportunities for women, especially in historically male dominated industries and sectors, such as construction, engineering and technology. 

Urbano is 50% female owned: Caroline Brock, who leads on UWACTE, tenders (Caroline is ex Work Winning Assocites at AECOM), and increasingly social value (she is also a qualified Social Value Paractitioner. Read more about Caroline here: Caroline Brock

Around 50% of an Urbano Build event audience has always been female, many running their own companies or with senior positions at larger companies. Our speakers have also included many leading and inspiring women from across the ACTE & STEM sectors.

To develop deeper connections between women in SMEs and larger ‘corporates’, we added a new community to Urbano: UWACTE (Urbano Women In Architecture, Construction, Technology & Engineering) where women in Urbano member firms can develop and enhance their connections across our network. This also links into other Women in Business events for true diversity across industry.

We have also had more female speakers from across the 'Build' sectors and beyond, whilst encouraging an approach to networking that ignores negative barriers to connections based on race, seniority, sector, background, wealth or that just values sales rather than people.

You can watch videos of recent speaker events by clicking on the images below. 

You can also listen to these events as podcasts as produce them under our 'Only Connect' podcasting series, (which includes our speaker events, including zero carbon) or click here: Only Connect Podcast

Upcoming Urbano Build/UWACTE/Zero Carbon Community Events

At Urbano, we see all our events  as catalysts to quality connections and as such our events are open to not only women and men, but also companies from any sector and stage of business. UWACTE will help support our own efforts to support diversity and encourage entrepreneurship across the ACTE & STEM sectors at events and also online.

“Having presented on sustainable construction for Urbano Build, I would definitely speak at an Urbano event again. Not only was I warmly welcomed by the Urbano team, but I was particularly delighted at the depth of the Q&A with such a multi-disciplinary and informed audience from across the built environment sector. Urbano clearly has a great reach into the industry, and to see so many women attending was indicative of the high quality of the event and the relevance of the topic to women in industry.” 
Jacqui Glass, Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Construction at Loughborough University & Director of the Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Construction Engineering (CICE)

"Urbano events are always unique. I loved the variety of attendees and the interaction with the audience. The events are well organised and they know how to make the most of the time: a great combination of network opportunities, learning and Q&A session. Listening to different points of view is always refreshing even if you are the subject expert. I hope to speak again in future Urbano event!"
Dr Marzia Bolpagni, BIM Advisor at Mace, Task Group Leader of the European Committee for Standardization, and Ambassador of the UK BIM Alliance

Upcoming UWACTE events



* Women In Business events always include and welcome attendees from UWACTE companies and individuals

MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNITIES SUPPORTER INFORMATION

Non-member companies are welcome to book and send representatives to a maximum of TWO Urbano events in total, including Urbano Build events before needing to join and experience the full benefits of membership. Click through to the Membership page for options, fees and download on joining Urbano: Urbano Membership

If you would like to consider becoming an Urbano Build & UWACTE Community Supporter, helping our Zero Carbon in Construction Programme and efforts to inspire diversity across in the ACTE sectors, please click here:
Urbano Build/UWACTE Community Supporter download

______________________________________________________

Some of our past female speakers at Urbano include:

  • Ella Bennett - HR Director, Fujitsu UK & Ireland
  • Pauline Bickerton - Entrepreneur in Residence at Cass Business School
  • Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne - Founder, Genius Foods
  • Charlie Duff - Global Social Media Relations Manager, Ernst & Young
  • Jane Duncan - ex President of RIBA
  • Prof Jacqui Glass - Professor of Architecture & Sustainable Construction
  • Teresa Gonzalez Rico - Future Cities Catapult Project Lead
  • Daisy Goodwin – Producer/Writer of ITV Series ‘Victoria’
  • Jo Haigh - Dealmaker and responsible for over 300 multi-million deals
  • Kate Holt - HR Director at KPMG UK
  • Nicola Horlick - 'Superwoman', CEO of Derby Street Films
  • Lara Morgan - Entrepreneur & ex CEO of Pacific Health
  • Sadie Morgan - Founding Director, dRMM
  • Ann Pickering – Chief HR Officer at O2
  • Modwenna Rees-Mogg - Editor of Angel News
  • Dr Anne Kemp - Chair UK BIM Alliance & Director at Atkins for BIM Strategy 
  • Jackie Sadek - CEO of UK Regeneration
  • Jo Taylor - Former Head of Talent Management, TalkTalk
  • Katie Wood - Director of Operations Consulting, ARUP
  • Dr Kerstin Sailer - Social and Spatial Networks, The Bartlett School of Architecture
  • Bola Fatimilehin - Diversity & inclusion expertise, the Royal Academy of Engineering
  • Dr Marzia Bolpagni - BIM Advisor at MACE & UK BIM Alliance Ambassador
  • Dr Judith Grant - Director of Health & Wellbeing at MACE Group
Join community

Next Events

  1. Urbano Network March Top Table Networking Lunch

    Thursday March 28th, 12:30pm

    Urbano Network March Top Table Networking Lunch at Social Eating House in Soho.

    Read more > Social Eating House
  2. AI in Construction Speaker Networking Breakfast

    Thursday April 11th, 9:00am

    Urbano speaker breakfast on AI uses and impact in the ACTE sectors, feat. Andreas Galatoulas, AI Director at AECOM.

    Read more > Gatehouse Chambers
  3. Urbano Build Post MIPIM Pre REiiF networking evening

    Wednesday April 24th, 6:00pm

    Urbano Build Post MIPIM Pre REiiF networking evening at The Italian Greyhound in Marylebone, London.

    Read more > The Italian Greyhound
  4. Urbano networking breakfast at Conrad London St James

    Thursday May 9th, 9:00am

    Urbano networking breakfast at Conrad London St James on Thursday May 9th.

    Read more > Conrad London St James Hotel
  5. Urbano at REiiF networking breakfast

    Wednesday May 22nd, 7:30am

    Urbano Build networking breakfast in Leeds for Urbano members attending REiiF, supported by Edward Architecture

    Read more > IF Up North East Parade

Community Members

If you want to connect your venue to Urbano's collection of 55,000 members, associates and business subscribers, click Contact.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

2zero3zero is a consultancy dedicated to encouraging more women into STEM subjects, using interactive storytelling with technology.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Annabelle Charles Associates specialise in recruiting high calibre candidates for the Beauty Industry.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Apolis s.a.m. is a single family office based in Monaco focusing on private credit market. The family office provide direct loans.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Art In Offices - we create happy and productive offices with art, which you can buy, rent and rotate.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Ashwells Reclaimed Timber reclaims tropical hardwoods for creative people working on a wide range of structural projects throughout the UK

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

BDP

BDP

Anna Sinnott, Director of Planning - BDP.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Black Chilli Video Ltd - we help businesses sell more with website, event social media video.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Bowman Riley - Award-winning architects, building consultants and interior designers in Leeds, London and Skipton, established in 1969.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Box Architects focus on client-centric, creative design and commercial delivery, with offices in London and Leeds.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Brodies LLP Solicitors

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

CAMA - Comprehensive storage solutions for the creative and construction industries.

  1. Profile
  2. Contact

Partners