The Cities of Leuven and Mechelen will are hosting their first Gleam NSR City Dialogue as part of Bouwbar 2025, a networking event that units small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction sector in Flanders. Bouwbar is designed for Bouwuie members to provide advice, advocate for their needs, and create networking opportunities, but is open to anyone in the construction industry. The informal event will include a introduction by the Bouwunie president, food and drinks, and information booths for various organizations.
The City Dialogue will focus on the SMEs operating in the construction sector: electricians, roofers, painters, window installers, HVAC technicians, and many others. These are the tradespeople and independent contractors who navigate the city every day to deliver essential services, renovations, and installations in homes, offices, and public buildings. The goal of this City Dialogue is to learn about their daily reality:
- What are the practical challenges they face when entering or working within the city?
- What obstacles do they encounter in terms of access, parking, loading and unloading, permits, or time restrictions?
- How can the city, through policy and infrastructure, support their transition toward more sustainable and efficient logistics?
We will ask these questions in plenary through a Mentimeter, right after the introduction of the president, and will then follow up in person in our dedicated Gleam NSR booth.