21/10/2025
In June the BWF attended a meeting with Skills England to work through the proposals that the Government were introducing to reform apprenticeships in England. This consisted of two major ...
Mental health remains one of the challenges facing the construction and woodworking industries today and it will take centre stage at this year’s Glazing Summit, taking place on 9 October 2025 at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
One of the highlights of the programme is a new interactive feature called ‘Build and Bond’, which will encourage delegates to step away from traditional conference seating and engage in open conversations about wellbeing.
The session will be led by Andy Stevens, founder and CEO of The Build Network UK, and will use a series of games designed to break down barriers. Participants will pick questions from a hard hat, sparking honest discussions with colleagues and peers, with prizes on offer for those who take part.
The statistics around mental health in construction are stark:
97% of construction workers have reported feeling stressed at work (CIOB, 2020)
One in four have experienced suicidal thoughts
Construction workers are four times more likely to take their own lives than those in other industries (ONS, 2024)
While these figures are troubling, they underline why events like Glazing Summit are so important. For woodworking and joinery professionals from small workshop owners to larger manufacturers the pressures of tight deadlines, complex projects and demanding client expectations can all contribute to poor mental health.
Creating a culture where people feel comfortable talking about their struggles, whether in the workshop or on site, is crucial. As Andy Stevens explains:
After a lot of hard work across the industry in recent years, the awareness of mental health has been raised significantly. It is time to move this on. Feeling comfortable talking to colleagues and associates is crucial. Playing games in a relaxed environment and being encouraged to answer questions drawn from a hard hat will enable people to do this.”
Rather than focusing only on the negative, ‘Build and Bond’ aims to create a positive, supportive space. By blending light-hearted activities with meaningful conversations, the session will show that talking about mental health doesn’t have to be heavy or taboo it can be a shared, constructive and even uplifting experience.
The Glazing Summit 2025 offers a packed agenda covering key issues shaping the future of construction and related trades, including the economy, business growth, sustainability, energy-efficiency and the impact of Artificial Intelligence.
For BWF members, it’s a chance not only to hear from industry leaders, but also to connect with peers across the wider construction and fenestration sector and to be part of an important conversation about how we support the wellbeing of our workforce.
The BWF are proud supporters of the Glazing Summit 2025, for the full agenda, and to book your place, visit www.glazingsummit.co.uk
