If you walked past Stand D582 at DCW last week, chances are you heard some laughs, clocked a crowd huddled around a reaction game, and maybe grabbed a drink while waiting your turn. That was us.
For two days, the Propel stand became a bit of a magnet. A place where conversations sparked over a quick round of Snatch It, and drinks were poured for new friends, familiar faces and curious passersby.
But it wasn’t all fun and games. Behind the buzz, we had deep, energising conversations with founders, sales leaders and innovators, all curious about the same question: how do we scale better, smarter, and more sustainably?
We dived into what’s happening in ConTech right now, and where it’s going next. Leaving with a fresh burst of energy, here’s what our team took away from the show floor…
1. Carbon is Climbing the Agenda
– Shane Callaghan, Senior Consultant
The topic of net zero was everywhere at DCW – and not just in signage and stage titles, but in conversations that really matter. I attended several talks at the Net Zero Theatre, where the crowds were super engaged and clearly committed to reducing their environmental impact.
The standout for me was Net Zero Starts with Data, a session packed with genuine, practical and actionable insight into how businesses can measure and manage their carbon footprint more effectively. It’s a space I care deeply about, so it was great to see the industry taking it so seriously and raising some really important questions.
What stood out most was how many people wanted to talk about this topic. Founders, hiring managers, and even job seekers were all asking about values alignment, ESG roles, and long-term impact. Sustainability isn’t just a box-ticking exercise anymore. People are really thinking about the kind of companies they want to build or join.
It’s becoming a core pillar of both business and hiring strategies, and we’re seeing that reflected in the kinds of roles and leadership conversations we’re having with clients.
Connect with Shane on LinkedIn
2. From Seed to Scale, Momentum is Building
– Maisey Wood, Senior Consultant
If I had to sum up this year’s DCW in one word, it’d be variety. I spoke to ConTech businesses at every stage, from fresh-faced pre-seed startups making their UK debut to established names thinking about global expansion.
The energy in the ConTech space is incredible right now. Everyone’s experimenting, building, pushing boundaries and asking bigger questions. One personal highlight was chatting with the team at Cintoo. Their tech is so impressive, but even more exciting was hearing how open, ambitious and excited they are about scaling into new regions. They’re really thinking about how to do it properly, how to build the right culture, and how to hire smart from the start.
There was also so much emerging tech on show. From digital twin platforms to a robot dog that maps underground tunnels, the innovation is wild! But what stood out to me most is that these companies are thinking seriously about the people they need to grow. There’s a real appetite to build not just flashy tech, but the right teams to take it to market.
Talent, especially in go-to-market roles, came up again and again. Businesses are hungry for salespeople who understand the ConTech landscape and know how to sell into the construction industry, not just adjacent to it. It’s clearly a top priority across the board.
Connect with Maisey on LinkedIn
3. ConTech’s Hiring Gap is Still the Biggest Challenge
– Adèle Patel, Senior Consultant
One theme that kept cropping up at DCW was talent. Specifically, the challenge of hiring commercial talent who can fluently speak both the grit of construction and the logic of software. It’s a complex niche, and for many of the businesses we spoke to, it’s a real barrier standing between them and their next big milestone.
Luckily, that’s where we fit in. We understand the rhythm and nuance of the space, and we know how to build teams that get the job done without losing sight of the bigger picture.
The other conversation that really stuck with me was around mental health in construction – a topic that’s often overlooked, but incredibly important. We talk so much about scaling, innovation and digitisation, but the reality for people on-site is long hours, high pressure, and a culture that hasn’t always encouraged openness. It’s a tough industry.
It’s a hard truth, but if we want to attract and retain great people, we need to give this side of the conversation more airtime.
That’s what I loved about our stand. It felt like a space for real, open conversations – not transactional, but human. We weren’t just there to talk about vacancies; we were talking vision, challenges, and change.
Connect with Adèle on LinkedIn
4. AI, Expansion and Energy Everywhere
– Zac Evans, Managing Consultant
This year’s DCW felt like a tipping point. I spoke with sales leaders and ambitious account execs, and one word that kept popping up was AI, especially generative design in architecture and infrastructure. It’s no longer theoretical; it’s happening, marking a major shift in the market and something we’ll be watching closely.
But with that shift comes a real talent gap. Everyone’s talking about expansion –especially across the UK and EMEA – but hiring is still the biggest blocker. People want commercial talent who can blend industry credibility with growth firepower. That combination is rare, but it’s where we do some of our best work.
Overall, what struck me most wasn’t the demand but the passion. You could feel it across the floor: the people in this industry are mission-driven. They care about the future of the built world, and that made for some incredibly inspiring conversations.
Every person I spoke to went beyond surface-level hiring chat. They were all about impact and the kind of companies they actually want to build. It’s got the team so excited for what’s to come!
DCW 2025 reminded us why we do what we do.
Of course, we talked hiring, but more than that, we talked ambition. We spoke about scale, sustainability, leadership, market moves, and what it takes to build a brilliant team in 2025.
The stand might have looked like a mini games arcade at times (yes, Adèle is still undefeated at Snatch It!), but what happened there went far deeper.
To everyone who stopped by, THANK YOU! For the chats, the energy and the big ideas. Whether you came for a quick game, a drink, or a deeper conversation, we loved meeting you.
If you’re thinking about what’s next – for your team, your business, or your own career – we’d love to keep the conversation going. Connect with the team on LinkedIn or drop us an email at enquiries@propellondon.com, and let’s build the future of construction tech together.
