Project Controls Expo UK 2026 brought together industry leaders, project controls professionals and technology specialists at Wembley Stadium from 2–4 November to explore the challenges and opportunities facing complex capital programmes.
With more than 2,000 senior leaders reported by the organisers across the three days, the event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies and examine how organisations are improving project delivery.
As a Silver Partner, fu3e was pleased to be part of the event, meeting industry professionals, showcasing our Integrated Digital PMO and contributing to conversations about the future of project and portfolio management.
Looking across the published sessions and industry discussions, five themes stood out.
1. AI is changing project controls, but reliable data remains essential
Artificial intelligence was one of the most prominent topics at the Expo, with increasing attention on its practical application to forecasting, risk identification and decision-making.
James Garner of Gleeds explored the move from traditional dashboards and retrospective reporting towards predictive intelligence. The session drew on the organisation’s experience of developing AI capabilities using historical project information and machine learning to support cost, schedule and performance forecasting.
Meanwhile, MIGSO-PCUBED explored the potential of autonomous project controls, including intelligent agents and virtual co-workers that could reduce time spent managing information and allow professionals to focus on higher-value activities.
The wider lesson is that AI adoption needs to be supported by trustworthy information, structured processes and appropriate human oversight.
For organisations managing complex portfolios, building these foundations is just as important as investing in new technology.
2. Connected information is critical to better portfolio visibility
Complex programmes generate significant volumes of information across cost, schedule, risk, commercial performance and delivery.
The challenge is not simply collecting that information, but making it consistent, accessible and useful across the organisation.
At the Expo, AtkinsRéalis featured an enterprise project performance approach covering 24,000 projects, while the Thames Water digital controls journey, presented through Octave and Turner & Townsend, examined the move from reporting towards more connected insight.
These examples highlight the importance of bringing information together so that teams can understand performance at both project and portfolio level.
For senior decision-makers, connected information provides the opportunity to identify emerging issues earlier, improve coordination and make decisions based on a more complete picture of delivery.
4. Strong governance and assurance remain fundamental
While technology and automation continue to evolve, effective governance remains central to successful project delivery.
Sessions covering digital controls, risk management and commercial assurance reinforced the importance of consistent processes, clear accountability and reliable project records.
Arcadis explored lessons from procuring and mobilising major capital works, highlighting the importance of establishing the right foundations early in the project lifecycle.
Other discussions examined how robust controls and evidence can help organisations manage contractual risk and avoid disputes.
The broader takeaway is that digital transformation must strengthen governance rather than create additional complexity.
Organisations need processes that provide visibility, support accountability and maintain a clear record of decisions throughout delivery.
5. The future of project controls is increasingly integrated
One of the most interesting themes across the Expo was the relationship between technology, people and processes.
Better dashboards alone will not solve fragmented reporting. AI cannot compensate for unreliable information. And strong governance becomes harder to maintain when project teams operate across disconnected systems.
The direction emerging from the event is towards a more integrated approach, where project information, workflows, governance and reporting operate together.
For organisations delivering complex capital programmes, this creates an opportunity to move beyond managing individual projects towards improving performance across entire portfolios.
Our Perspective at fu3e
The themes discussed at Project Controls Expo UK 2026 closely align with the challenges fu3e is focused on addressing.
Our Integrated Digital PMO is designed to connect portfolios, programmes, projects, processes and data within one governed environment.
By bringing information and management workflows together, fu3e helps organisations strengthen governance, improve real-time visibility and support better-informed decisions across complex capital programmes.
As the industry explores greater automation and AI-enabled intelligence, the importance of reliable, structured and connected information will only increase.
The future of project controls is not simply about generating more reports. It is about connecting information, strengthening governance and giving organisations the confidence to act earlier.
Continuing the Conversation
Thank you to everyone who connected with the fu3e team at Wembley and to the Project Controls Expo organisers for bringing the industry together.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and exploring how connected digital PMO capabilities can support the next generation of project and portfolio management.
Discover how fu3e can help connect your projects, processes and data.
