Delivering more from less: Futuresource 2010 takes on the challenge
The waste and resource management industry, like many others, is facing some tough challenges, and some of the impacts will be most keenly felt at local government level.
Targets and performance expectations are going up, budgets are shrinking, and access to finance for new infrastructure is harder to come by. Tackling these issues head-on, Futuresource conference and trade fair returns this year with a strong focus on efficiency, value for money and partnerships.
Organised by CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) and ESA (Environmental Services Association), the event brings together the sustainable waste management, recycling and resource efficiency sector and its major client base under one roof.
With some 350 exhibitors, a full conference programme and an expected 9,000 attendees from across the UK and Europe, Futuresource is designed to provide the right platform for public, private and third
sector professionals to come together and debate the future of resource management, its capacity to drive sustainable economic growth and its potential to help mitigate climate change - issues that will influence policy and service delivery for years to come.
One of the major aims of the event is to stimulate dialogue and partnerships that will help the sector to successfully tackle some of the challenges ahead. The three-day Futuresource conference will have ‘More from Less’ as its core theme, with a range of expert speakers looking at key issues facing the industry; infrastructure funding and delivery, efficiency in service provision, and smarter decision making on technology choice. On the exhibition floor, meanwhile, visitors will find the latest practical solutions, services and products designed to enhance productivity and keep costs down while still protecting the environment.
Policy drivers and partnership working
Top of the agenda in the opening conference session will be the political landscape and future environmental policy. Key speakers from Europe will share the stage with UK government ministers to provide the big picture on the role of the sustainable waste and resource management sector in tackling climate change and what direction European and UK environmental policy will take in the future.
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and his Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts Nick Herbert and Tim Farron have all confirmed their attendance in principle and Karolina Fras, Head of Sector - DG Environment for the European Commission will be among the speakers offering a European perspective.
Building on this, day two looks at how partnerships can help to deliver more efficient environmental services across the UK and case studies exploring the benefits and challenges of partnership working will give delegates practical insight. The third day will see wider resource efficiency on the agenda, as well as the challenges of choosing, funding and delivering the right treatment infrastructure.
Supplying the solutions
The Futuresource trade fair, which is already 81 per cent sold, offers visitors the opportunity to meet an array of technology and service suppliers in six themed zones: recycling and composting; waste and waste water management; air, energy and climate change; street scene and facilities management; professional services, and vehicles and plant. Many of the industry’s leading names will be there, from the UK’s largest waste contractors – including Waste Recycling Group, Veolia Environmental Services, SITA UK, Cory Environmental Ltd, and Viridor Waste Ltd – and plant and vehicle suppliers such as JCB, Finning/CAT and Volvo, to specialist pollution control and energy management technology providers. In addition, government departments and agencies, including the Environment Agency, Defra, the Welsh Assembly and WRAP will have a presence.
With infrastructure development being acknowledged as one of the biggest challenges facing the sector, the 2010 exhibitor lineup also underlines the growing interest in the sector from civil engineering and utility companies and the finance sector. Balfour Beatty, Costain Ltd, May Gurney Ltd, United Utilities, Vinci Environment UK, Volker Fitzpatrick, Raymond Brown Group, and BAM Nuttall Ltd have already signed up, as well as financial institutions including Bank of Ireland and Clydesdale Bank plc.
Visitors can also access over 50 free seminar sessions at two Information Theatres located on the exhibition floor. The programme includes a series of seminars by the LGA and REIPS focused on ‘Helping councils do more with less’, as well as speakers from the Environment Agency, WRAP, and London Thames Gateway.
Sauce Consultancy and CIWM are also teaming up again to host the Communications Hub, where visitors can hear an exciting array of speakers debate some of the communications challenges that face our industry, including FT Environment Correspondent Fiona Harvey, Bobby Duffy, Managing Director of Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, Michael Warhurst of Friends of the Earth, and Rhion Jones, Programme Director at the Consultation Institute.
This year, senior public sector professionals can also explore the opportunities for smarter, greener procurement, thanks to a new co-location agreement with Guardian News & Media’s (GNM) sector-leading Public Procurement Show 2010 (www.publicprocurementshow.com). The event partners include Buying Solutions and Action Sustainability and a full seminar programme features high profile speakers looking at issues including procuring services from the third sector, delivering cost savings through sustainable procurement, and procuring shared services.
Full details of the event and online booking for the conference can be found at www. futuresourceuk.com
