Futurebuild is one of the most exciting events in the construction industry calendar. It provides industry leaders with the chance to share expertise and knowledge and also helps start-ups and SMEs gain increased recognition for pioneering products and ingenious ideas. Two of the most anticipated events at Futurebuild are the Big Innovation Pitch and the Big Ideas Pitch, where a panel of judges made up of industry-leading experts vote on which businesses and products are driving real change in the built sector. 

tepeo’s ZEB (Zero Emission Boiler) wowed the judges of the Big Innovation Pitch this year, taking home the impressive accolade on day two. The ZEB is a low-carbon, plug-and-play alternative to a traditional fossil fuel boiler. The ZEB’s intelligent charging algorithm looks at the tariff, the weather, the grid carbon intensity and how much heat a home uses to automatically charge up when electricity is cheapest & cleanest – keeping running costs and carbon low, while avoiding wasted heat.

With heat pumps unsuitable for up to half of the UK’s homes the ZEB represents an alternative solution for the UK to reach its Net Zero commitment / target. The Net Zero Pioneer’s chose to exhibit at Futurebuild knowing it was the event for innovation within the construction industry. Johan Du Plessis, CEO at tepeo said: “We attended Futurebuild to generate more brand recognition and meet industry partners. We were impressed with how successful it was, as our stand was constantly busy throughout all three days.”

“Entering the award was a great opportunity to be showcased amongst other innovative products, and being chosen by industry judges as the overall winner was a huge accolade. We know we’ve got a great product and its great to have the experts in the UK construction industry saying it too. It’s a huge proof point which will support and help with our mission to drive the transition away from fossil fuel heating.”

The winner of the Big Ideas Pitch was firstplanit, a cloud-based project management software that is designed to empower construction teams to plan, manage and deliver projects to the highest standard of health and eco-consciousness. The software assesses environmental risks, sources sustainable products and plans projects with positive impacts in mind. It embodies the essence of Futurebuild in creating a community that modernises the building industry by always looking at the bigger picture.

Mark Salter, Advisor for firstplanit said: “It’s obvious that Futurebuild is the go-to place for our industry, I was impressed by the quality of intelligence taking place at the stands and the discussions. Firstplanit aligns nicely with Futurebuild’s drive to spread and make important knowledge available.”

“Winning the Big Ideas pitch allows us to wear that badge with pride and it is now incorporated into the conversations we are having. It has empowered us to make invaluable connections and build contacts with people and companies whose ethos is the same as ours.”

Oliver Jones, who headed up the judging panel for both awards, said: “The quality of the entrants this year was outstanding, and it was inspiring witnessing passionate companies present real innovations that are certainly going to move the industry forward. Congratulations to tepeo and firstplanit for winning, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for them.”

Next year’s Big Innovation and Big Ideas Pitches promise to be just as exciting and inspiring. As the construction industry works more towards embracing sustainability, events such as Futurebuild continue to highlight the compelling work taking place, and the companies and people who are accelerating progress to new levels.