Over 40 environmental firms are coming together to form a new trade association called the Environmental Industries Association (EIA) which specifically aims to be the voice of the environmental technology and services sector.
The new association, which aims to be the largest environmental trade body in the UK, promises to be run by members for the benefit of members and aims to be a clear voice for the sector and holding government to account. The EIA will be initially chaired by Peter Atchison of PA Geo, who has a wide experience on representing the environmental industry through former and existing roles.
Peter Atchison said “I am very excited to join fellow business leaders in forming this new Association which aims to support our members with lobbying around the key regulatory and policy issues impacting on the environmental and technology sector. My role is simple, to help grow and direct the Association and become a major voice of the sector to Government and our external stakeholders. Indeed we are encouraging Local Councils and public bodies to join EIA for free. This is very much a team effort, directed by Members for the benefit of members.
The Environmental Industries Association will be formally launched along with its new website at the ESS: Environmental Services & Solution Expo (in the Contamination Expo zone) on the 11th September, NEC Birmingham at 1pm followed by a networking drinks reception at 1.30pm
A secondary launch is also being arranged at the AQE/WWEM Exhibition at the NEC on October 9th and 10th 2024.
Sunil Shah, Managing Director of Acclaro Advisory, who also chairs the newly formed Sustainable Buildings Working Group said “I am pleased to support EIA as the level of changes and activity being brought forward by the new Labour Government around the NPPF and planning reforms could have significant impacts on our industry and therefore its important that we collectively speak as one industry to the Government”
Ken Scally, Technical Director at Normec DETS, said he was pleased to support the new industry group and acts as Chair of the newly formed Environmental Testing and Analysis Working Group which will be considering a range of chemical testing of water, soil, food, air and waste”
Jim Mills, Managing Director at Scotswolds Ltd, who chairs the EIA Air Quality Working Group and also acts as EIA’s Scottish representative said “In the UK, air pollution presents the largest environmental risk to public health. According to HM Government the annual mortality rate due to anthropogenic sources of air pollution in the UK is between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths and it's estimated that between 2017 and 2025 the cost to the NHS will be £1.6 billion. EIA Members have the technology, skills and expertise to monitor, model and manage air pollution, helping the government to improve air quality for the benefit of the population.
The EIA sets out to provide a voice, at the highest political level, through lobbying collectively on core environmental and regulatory issues. The association will major on networking across a wide spectrum, meeting clients, regulators and Government officials on all relevant issues.
It is a crucial time for the sector with many realising that environmental issues did not have sufficient detail within the summer’s General Election and within subsequent statements made by the Government. The public and wider industry are also realising that EVs are not the sole answer to everything, and EIA firmly believes in greater investment in Hydrogen and support for clean fuels, such as HVO and biodiesel in the future.
Bruce Woodall, Founder and David Eyres, Chairman of the Fuel Experts Association (FEA) who have signed FEA as an Associate Member said “This is a really exciting movement and long overdue. With a completely new Government we need a strong voice to engage with Ministers and ensure industry views are heard loud and clear. The sector offers huge opportunities for growth in the economy whilst addressing some of the most pressing environmental issues”
Steve Barnes of Gramm Barriers has also joined the EIA Air Quality Working Group and will also act as EIAs Welsh representative expressed that he was very excited to represent EIA across Wales and would ensure member’s voices were heard and that the Government was held to account.
The new association represents the fastest-growing community of large companies and SME’s helping to address the most pressing environmental issues, that society faces. EIA has already established specialist working groups to deal with specific areas. These being: Land Remediation and Groundwater; Climate Change, Air Quality; Environmental Testing and Analysis; and Sustainable Buildings.
Among new members, and those the EIA is hoping to attract as it grows, are technology companies, environmental consultancies, land remediation contractors, laboratories and analysts, legal firms, sustainability specialists, waste and recycling industries, planning consultants, water and energy firms, blue-chips, academia, housing companies, start-ups, students and local authorities.
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