Andrew Smith

​Andy is currently Head of Materials Development for Forterra Building Products Ltd, one of the UK’s major manufacturers of clay bricks, aircrete and aggregate concrete blocks and pavers and bespoke precast concrete products, with well-known brands such as London Brick, Butterley Brick, Ecostock, Thermalite, Formpave, Jetfloor, Conbloc and Bison Precast.  

He heads up the Research & Technical Development team responsible for all materials-based innovation and product development across the Forterra business.  

Andy is also an Associate Professor in Mineral Products within the Centre for Mineral Products at the University of Derby.

For the past 10 years, Andy has also been Chair of the European Standards Technical Committee for Masonry Products (CEN/TC 125).

Andy is a passionate advocate for sustainability, decarbonisation and resource efficiency within the building products sector and prior to joining Forterra worked as a Senior Consultant working with businesses, international investors and trade bodies in the UK, Europe, North America and South Africa on major sustainability and resource efficiency projects within the field of construction materials.