The challenge aims to show how team sports can help improve the mental health of those working in the construction industry, where work characterised by limited-term contracts, long hours, long commutes, time away from family and the pressure to complete on time and within budget can negatively impact mental wellbeing.

Working with London’s Royal Docks and waste management and recycling service provider Powerday, four teams will be invited to build a vessel from construction waste materials, with the aim to race across Royal Victoria Dock on the opening morning of UK Construction Week London, Tuesday 2nd May.

As well as earning respect and plaudits from their peers, the winning team will also open the show alongside George Clarke and a host of industry movers and shakers.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, said: “Working collaboratively, the teams will highlight one of Construction Sport’s key aims - showing how team sports and activities can improve the day-to-day mental health of construction workers.

“Not only that, but by using waste materials from Powerday’s Waste Management centres, the teams will be able to illustrate how the sector is taking sustainability to heart.”

Steve Kerslake, founder of Construction Sport, added: “For us, construction is all about teamwork, passion and camaraderie. As an industry we build for the future, the future of our environment, the future of our community and the future of our workforce. The UKCW London Sustainable Vessel Challenge has it all!”

The winning boat will be on display at UK Construction Week London, the UK’s biggest trade show for the construction industry. This year’s regatta follows on from last year’s overnight mission to walk from Twickenham to ExCeL London to open UK Construction Week.

Walking the route of the Thames Tideway, Steve Kerslake and his team from Construction Sport were followed by “This is England”, the BBC documentary that focused on the mental health challenges faced by construction workers - and the work Construction Sport and others are doing in this space to help.

UKCW London, which runs from May 2-4, will feature sessions and seminars led by industry experts across the show’s six stages; the show will feature an incredible 300 speakers, with over 150 hours of CPD seminars available.

Visitors will also be able to find sections dedicated to Digital Construction, Infrastructure, Offsite, Surfaces, Net Zero including Renewables, HVAC, Energy Management; Build Show including Roofing, Cladding and Insulation; Tools; Health & Safety; Fire Prevention; Future Lab; and a Careers Trail.

Register for UKCW London for free.