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Keen to research your next self build, home extension or renovation project? Need specific advice or want to learn some hands-on skills?
There’s a wealth of events out there to help you make a success of your scheme – including our advice and inspiration-packed Build It Live shows.
Here’s our pick of key events on now for self builders and renovators:
Guide to Project Management
When: 12th April 2025
Price: £165
Where: NSBRC, Swindon
Covering everything from budgeting, insurance and site management through to health & safety, snagging and VAT reclaim, this course is essential for anyone considering their first self build, home improvement, loft conversion or renovation project.
Starting Your Self Build Journey
When: 15th April 2025
Price: £40
Where: Virtual
If you are considering self build for the first time, or are still searching for a plot, then this interactive session will lead you through the key steps on the journey to your dream home. From the pros and cons of self build through to design, making key decisions and more, this workshop will arm you with the knowledge you need to take your project forward. This introductory training course is delivered via Zoom by Chris Batesmith, Build It’s Content Director, and lasts 2 hours.
Passivhaus Workshop
When: 25th and 26th April 2025
Price: FREE
Where: NSBRC, Swindon
This free workshop will ensure you have the right team behind you for your Passivhaus home. With a full timetable of seminars, question time sessions and live guided tours from the NSBRC technical experts, highlights include an introduction to Passivhaus, surgeries on airtightness, insulation ventilation and windows and doors, real life case studies and question time.
DIY In A Day – Basic Electrics
When: 3rd May 2025
Price: £210
Where: The Goodlife Centre, London
This short home electrics workshop is for absolute beginners and covers the most common requests that homeowners, landlords and tenants want to know more about in their homes. The course covers skills such as changing switches to dimmers, look behind socket plates and understanding how to change ceiling pendants.
Project Management Routes & Steps to Success
When: 15th May 2025
Price: £40
Where: Virtual
In this two-hour course delivered by our self build and renovation expert, Build It’s MD, Calum Taylor, learn the tools you need to successfully manage a project – whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro. This zoom masterclass covers deciding how involved you want to be, effective scheduling, budgeting and cashflow, assessing quotes and contractors, managing build quality, avoiding common project management mistakes and more.
Introduction to Gardening
When: 17th May 2025
Price: £85
Where: Walworth Garden, London
This workshop guides you through the approaches and essential knowledge that will help you to become a successful gardener. It covers growing media, compost and soil, pruning, the basics of propagation, pests and diseases, what to grow that’s easy and considerations for planning your growing schedule. Ideal for those with little or no gardening experience.
Planting for Wildlife
When: 24th May 2025
Price: £125
Where: Centre for Alternative Technology
With no prior knowledge needed, this one-day course will explore the basics of how to support wildlife in your garden or outdoor space – from choosing the right plants, planning, maintenance and beyond. With ever increasing loss of biodiversity worldwide, every bit of green space can make a difference. Spend the day preparing the gardens at CAT for the season ahead while learning how to create a haven for wildlife.
Eco Workshop: Building Systems and Project Management
When: 31st May 2025
Price: FREE
Where: NSBRC, Swindon
One of four eco workshops, this one focuses on building systems and project management. This workshop will help you understand your options and ensure you end up with the home that delivers against your original design brief, budget and expectations. It covers the role that the self builder plays in the construction process, whether it be self-project managing, package managing or using sub-contractors – addressing the merits and drawbacks of each route.
DIY In A Day: Plumbing
When: 1st June 2025
Price: £210
Where: The Goodlife Centre, London
Designed for absolute beginners with no prior experience necessary, learn how to tackle some basic plumbing tasks around the home in this practical, hands-on workshop. Learn how to isolate water supply, fix a leaky tap, rescue something from a U bend and unclog a blocked sink – all the basic essentials that you need to be able to do yourself without the expense of calling someone in.
Build It Live Bicester
When: 7th and 8th June 2025
Price: £12
Where: Bicester Motion Events Centre, Oxfordshire
A one-stop shop for all things self build, renovation and home improvement, Build It Live is designed to provide anyone with a property project with the inspiration, advice and information they need to make it a success.
DIY Basics
When: 10th June 2025
Price: £80
Where: Neon Saw, Brighton and Hove
This workshop is for anyone who is keen to carry out some DIY work but doesn’t know where to start. In a safe and supportive environment you’ll be able to try out a variety of tools and techniques to help you on your way. It covers everything from planning, measuring, marking out, holding and cutting timber, up to successfully drilling and plugging a wall to make a secure fixing.
What You Can Achieve Without Planning Permission
When: 19th June 2025
Price: £40
Where: Virtual
In this in-depth two-hour course, Build It’s professional planning consultant Julia Riddle gives you a clear steer on the home renovation and extension projects you can complete without formal planning consent. Delivered via Zoom, Julia takes a look at the rules and restrictions around no-planning projects – from extensions and loft conversions through to energy-saving upgrades, replacement doors and windows, outbuildings, internal works and more.
Build It Live South West
When: 13th and 14th September 2025
Price: £12
Where: Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Meet 100s of key suppliers, source the right materials for your project, attend free seminars, workshops and demonstrations, book one-to-one sessions with industry experts and buy yourself a plot of land, all under one roof at Build It Live!
Do you have an event you think we might be interested in sharing with our readers? Email us the details!
You may be interested in
Hallo, i’ve just joined, and i wonder how you can submit relevant events for inclusion in this list please? Thankyou
Gemma
Hi Gemma. Thanks for your question – I’ve now added our email address to this page so you can get in touch with the team if you have an event you think may be relevant to our readers.
Chris (editor, Build It magazine)