In an era where digital technology is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace offsite construction stands at the crossroads of transformation.

The potential for digital tools to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and enable smarter decision-making is immense, yet the journey toward true industrialisation remains a complex one.

In this interview, Charlotte Garrett, Head of Industry Strategy at KOPE, provides a thought-provoking exploration of the evolving role of digital technology within the offsite sector, along with the continued importance of getting women involved in more STEM roles.

Which direction do you see the future of digital technology heading in the offsite sector?

Historically, investment in digital technology, particularly in the design phases, has primarily sat with architects, engineers and contractor-led design teams, while the supply chain has often lagged behind. This disconnect compounds silos in the sector, limiting the ability of manufacturers to influence early-stage design decisions.

To truly industrialise construction, we need to better enable the supply chain, ensuring that the logic of manufacturing is digitalised and connected to the design process. This will allow manufacturers to inform and interact with design models much earlier, reducing rework and inefficiencies.

We still live in a world of contractor choice, we are likely to see more PCSA agreements alongside generative design and automation which can change how we approach feasibility.

Technologies that focus on productisation, like KOPE, allow us to quickly assess the viability of different system technologies throughout the design lifecycle, validating options, de-risking decisions, and ensuring that the best-performing solutions are selected.

Looking ahead, the focus will continue to be on automation, data integration, and standardisation – not just at the design stage but across the entire supply chain. Seamless interoperability between digital tools will be key, ensuring that design, procurement, and manufacturing are fully aligned.

The real opportunity lies in bridging the gap between design and delivery, making digital solutions accessible, intuitive, and impactful at every stage of a project.

What are your thoughts on getting more women involved in STEM careers? What was your background, and how would you encourage other women to follow a similar path?

While progress is happening, real change requires collective effort – we all have a role to play in enabling and supporting women.

In offsite construction, the shift toward digitalisation, automation, and software-driven workflows presents a unique opportunity to break down traditional barriers.

One of the biggest challenges is that STEM already has a gender imbalance, and when you add digital and computational technology on top, the gap gets even wider. Many people don’t see software and digital construction as career paths for them – not because they lack ability, but because they were never exposed to it, encouraged to pursue it, or shown visible role models.

Even within architecture, when I studied, I always thought digital skills were something you needed alongside another career, rather than being a career in itself.

I fear many women in fields like architecture, engineering and design view software development and computational design as tools they need to stay competitive, rather than as a primary expertise they can specialise in. This means fewer women actively choose careers in coding, automation, or computational design, even though they have the potential to excel in them.

At KOPE, we have incredible women in front-end development and computational design, actively driving our product forward. Many young women are not encouraged to pursue these fields due to a lack of visible role models.

In offsite and software, we need to showcase the exciting opportunities available more and highlight how these roles are shaping the future of sustainable, efficient building methods.

Offsite construction’s digital transformation is a chance to rewrite the narrative, to show that these careers aren’t just for men, and aren’t just side skills. They are at the core of innovation in our sector.

If we want to get more women into digital and software roles, improving the visibility and advocacy would be a great place to start.

What is your involvement within the Offsite Construction Week Advisory Group and how do events like Offsite Expo support the industry?

As part of the Offsite Construction Week advisory group, my role – along with the roles of the other members – is to help shape the themes, discussions, and focus areas of Offsite Expo.

Our goal is to ensure that the event remains aligned with the most pressing challenges and opportunities within offsite construction. Key areas of focus for me include digital adoption, standardisation, and skills development, all of which I see as crucial to driving progress in the sector.

I also believe that events like Offsite Expo are critical because they bring together the entire ecosystem, something we often discuss but don’t always achieve in practice. These events unite manufacturers, designers, engineers, clients, policymakers, and technology providers, creating a rare opportunity to break down silos and foster real collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Ultimately, events like this are about shaping the future of the industry, setting the agenda for meaningful change, and building the momentum needed to make that change a reality.

That is why I’m involved – because I believe in driving that shift forward.

Taking place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry on 02 & 03 July 2025, the UK’s only Industrialised Construction Conference and Exhibition is acknowledged as leading the charge in showcasing groundbreaking solutions, cultivating collaboration and driving an industry-wide shift towards a more advanced approach to construction.

For more information and to book your tickets, visit www.industrialisedconstruction.co.uk

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