BACH Annual Conference 2026 15th-17th March - Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Booking Now Open!

BACH National annual Conference 2026 –

15th-17th March

Crowne Plaza

Hawthorn Sq, Forth St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3SA

2026 will see lots of policy change impacting on providers of construction training. Join us at the largest event of its kind; bringing together Construction training leaders and managers, awarding organisations and trade organisations that support our work, and notable speakers from a wide range of backgrounds. Our packed agenda will focus on the things that really matter across the BACH network, including keynote speeches from;

We will also be covering a number of areas covering teaching and learning and curriculum including;

The conference begins Sunday evening for a light meal and a relaxed networking event, two days of packed conference activities, and a gala dinner on the Monday evening. The fee covers two nights accommodation, all meals and access to the conference.

 

 

National Annual Conference Programme

Monday 16 March

 

Time	Topic	Speaker
08:30 – 09:30	Registration
09:30 – 09:45	Welcome & What is happening in our sector	National Chair & BACH President
09:45 – 10:15	College Views	Nikki Davies, Principal LCB
10:15 – 11:00	CITB update	Mark Crosby, CITB Head of Strategic Engagement
11:00 – 11:15	Break
11:15 – 12:00	Industry View	Andrew Eldred ECA Director & CLC member
12:00 – 12:40	Ofsted update: Early findings and messages from the renewed inspection framework	Rachel Angus, Senior HMI for North East, Yorkshire & Humber
12:40 – 13:00	Grow the Trades	Matthew Cappell, Black & Decker/De Walt
13:00 – 13:45	Lunch
13:45 – 14:15	CTEC Programme	Mark Andrews Kent?
14:15 – 15:00	AI: for leadership and management	Heather Backstrom FEA-I
15:00 – 15:15	Break
15:15 – 16:00	Latest position on changes to EPA assessments	Helen Hewitt Employer Consortia
16:00 – 16:30	Panel on impact of all the policy changes	Chair of BACH to lead the discussion and Q&A
16:30 – 17:00	Black & Decker masterclass	Matthew Cappell, Black & Decker/De Walt

 

 National Annual Conference Programme

Tuesday 17 March

Time	Topic	Speaker
09:00 – 09:15	Summary of yesterday	National Chair
09:15 – 10:00	DESNZ Clean Energy Jobs Plan and GTECs	DESNZ speaker
10:00 – 10:45	Workshop	TBC
10:45 – 11:00	Break
11:00 – 11:30	Black & Decker masterclass	Matthew Cappell, Black & Decker/De Walt
11:30 – 12:15	Managing and improving student behaviour	Jonny Kay, Empower. Inspire. Transform.
12:15 – 12:40	Great 121 = great outcomes	Guy Walker, Dovetail & Slate
12:40 – 13:00	Close	BACH National Chair
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch and depart

Places are limited so secure your place early by completing and submitting the registration form.

NB: If you wish to attend only for certain parts of the conference please complete the part conference registration form at the bottom of the page.