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
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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
Next Events
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Networking reception at the House Of Lords
Wednesday May 14th, 6:30pm
Urbano Members networking reception at the House Of Lords, sponsored by Stewart Title. SOLD OUT
Read more > -
Urbano Build UK REiiF 2025 networking breakfast
Tuesday May 20th, 8:30am
Urbano REiiF networking breakfast in Leeds. Sponsored by Stewart Title UK.
Read more > -
Ladies Sip, Socialise & Celebrate Design
Wednesday May 21st, 10:00am
SAGAL Ladies Sip, Socialise & Celebrate Design networking event at Clerkenwell Design Week - free for Urbano Members!
Read more > -
Urbano Networking Evening at REiiFF
Wednesday May 21st, 5:00pm
Urbano Networking Evening at REiiFF, supported by Stewart Title.
Read more > -
Urbano speaker networking breakfast - City of London
Thursday June 12th, 9:00am
Urbano networking breakfast in conversation with Florence King, Lady Mayoress of The City of London..
Read more > -
Urbano - Connecting Companies Facilitating Opportunities
Tuesday July 1st, 12:00am
Connecting Companies & Facilitating New Business Opportunities. Information for Non-Members.
Read more >
Community Members
JMW Solicitors LLP - a Top 100 Law Firm with offices in London, Liverpool and Manchester.
Joelson LLP: Commercial Law Firm, with strong teams in Corporate and Commercial, Disputes and IP, Employment, Real Estate and Construction.
Helping teams and individuals support high performance and avoid burnout through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Logovisual - design and manufacture bespoke moving walls for collaboration spaces
The London Festival of Architecture celebrates London as a global hub of architectural experimentation, practice and debate.
Lucidica - The IT company for small businesses. We Support SMEs with all things technology including servers, consulting, hosting and CRM
Mills Power Architecture, design and consultancy for people, organisations and charities - retrofit, new build, planning, social value
Plain Talking HR supports small and medium sized businesses in Construction industry with our practical and pragmatic approach.
Plowman Craven - We provide integrated measurement & consultancy services to the property & infrastructure markets.
Rainbow Design helps companies create engaging and inspiring workplaces where people enjoy working.
Resident - we work with forward-thinking ambitious clients to create values-driven architecture and interiors.
Boutique interior design studio born out of the desire to create memorable environments - Commercial, Hospitality, Retail and Education.