Programme
Capitalising on a Climate of Uncertainty
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Registration and Refreshments
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Keynote Morning Chair’s Keynote Address: Extinction or Rebellion
- Session 1: Environmental Policy Framework, Drivers, Disruptors & Brexit
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Outlining Key Environmental Policy Drivers & Priorities
- Update on current regulatory and political policies affecting the environmental consultancy sector and what to look out for going forward
- Pinpointing key opportunities and challenges for the UK environmental industry sector over the next 5 years and post-Brexit
- Post CAP environmental reforms and the move to environmental land management as key funding and regulation drivers
- Implementing the 25 Year Environment Plan, new Environment Bill, and related strategies:
- examining the role of the new Environmental Watchdog
- ensuring environmental innovation during Brexit
- assessing how net environmental gain calculations are working in practice
Ahead of his presentation Matthew Farrow has set out what the next few years may hold for the environmental services industry - read the article here.
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Morning Refreshments & Networking
- Session 2: Market Structure & Future Outlook
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Reviewing the State of the UK & Global Environmental Consultancy Market
- Examining the current UK market structure and industry rankings
- Assessing key policy developments, business drivers and how to respond to these
- identifying emerging trends and market forecasts
- pinpointing where key growth opportunities and challenges lie
- managing disruptors and emerging risks
- Update on the global environmental consultancy services sector; leading players, sector insight, emerging trends and new opportunities
- Session 3: The Industry Response
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Industry Panel Discussion
Industry panellists will respond to market and policy drivers, offering insight on how their companies are responding to different threats and opportunities, whilst enhancing the value of the service they provide.
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Networking Lunch
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Welcome Back from the Afternoon Chair
- Session 4: Environmental Risk - the Rising Investment Fundamental
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Exploring how Environmental and Climate Risk is being Valued & Managed in Business & Investment Decisions
- Examining how environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk factors, climate risks and due diligence are increasingly being considered in business finance and investment decisions
- Determining appropriate metrics to measure, monitor and benchmark these risks
- Exploring how environmental consultancies can help support bridging the gap between finance and sustainability in the C-suite
- Session 5: Delivering Projects & Services Through A Collaborative Approach
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Optimising the Environmental Consultancy Business Model & Client-Consultant-Contractor Relationships to Achieve Successful, Value-Driven Project Delivery
- Examining the evolution and key changes in project frameworks and alliances to better manage risk-reward and cost structures
- Assessing the impact of proposed “social value” and KPI requirements for Government and public procurement contracts
- Establishing key criteria for successful long-term partnerships
- Strategies to ensure we are really getting value from the work we are doing: what is the most appropriate business model for the industry looking forward?
- Session 6: Roundtables
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Round-table Delegates move to their chosen roundtable discussions
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Interactive Roundtable Discussion Session
An opportunity to discuss a relevant topic in a more informal, participative format. Delegates may choose one roundtable to attend, and each table will be hosted by a facilitator to lead discussion, encourage optimum debate and exchange of ideas
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A. Delivering the Digital Revolution on the Ground
How can we best respond to the challenges of digitalisation and the opportunities presented by new technology? What are the expectations of our clients in terms of the cost savings, efficiencies and added-value insights that can be delivered using the latest digital innovations? Hear first-hand how new technologies are transforming the services that our sector can offer.
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B. Best Practice Procurement and Partnership Strategies to Achieve Success in Major Project Delivery
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C. Getting the Right People at the Right Time at the Right Price - Best Practice Resourcing Solutions
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D. Optimising Environmental Consulting Opportunities & Market Positioning for SMEs
Best practice strategies to optimise resource management, address procurement challenges and deliver value to both clients and employees
Marco GarfagnoliDirector, Blue Compass -
E. Selling Sustainability and Empowering E&S Professionals to Talk the Language of the C-Suite
Too often, sustainability considerations are seen by clients as an obstacle, an extra tick-box that “has” to be considered as part of a project, and often brought to the agenda at too late a stage to make a positive difference. However, it is becoming increasingly recognised that high ESG performance can have a direct correlation with financial performance. This session will discuss tools and strategies that can be employed to effectively “sell” sustainability and ensure it is a genuine consideration at the key stages of project and client relationship development.
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F. Strategies to Address the Gender Pay Gap & Increase Diversity in the Environmental Management & Consulting Sector
Dr Jenny DavidsonSenior Lecturer in Leader Development and Organisation Futures, Newcastle University Business School & NE Lead, Women in Sustainability Network -
G. Strategic M&A Options for Environmental Service Businesses
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H. Valuing Environmental Impacts: Practicalities of Applying a Natural Capital Approach in Practice
Greater Manchester is the first city-region in the UK to develop a Natural Capital Investment Plan - a plan that will help encourage investment in the natural environment to secure financial and social returns. The plan has been developed as a result of the Mayor's Green Summit and is a key priority identified as part of the Greater Manchester 5 Year Environment Plan. The development of innovative finance models to support natural capital investment is a key aim of the Greater Manchester Urban Pioneer programme, one of four Pioneers identified as part of the Governments 25 Year Environment Plan.
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Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
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Roundtable Feedback
Each roundtable facilitator will share the key learning points from their table discussion with the audience.
- Session 7: Digital Innovation
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Harnessing the Potential of New Digital Innovation to Genuinely Improve the Environmental Consultancy Service Offering Whilst Managing the Impact on Human Resources
- Identifying which technology or digital innovation to invest in, when, and developing strategies for harnessing the full potential of new technology
- Exploiting the use of new digital tools and technology to improve productivity, support informed decision-making and maximise outputs:
- what is the impact of technology and digitalisation on how we work?
- how can it be used most effectively to add value and improve our service offering?
- Assessing the impact of technology and greater digitalisation on staff:
- effectively up-skilling the current workforce and recruiting new consultants
- finding an appropriate balance between human and digital interaction
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Closing Remarks from the Chair
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Close of Summit followed by a Networking Drinks Reception