Clients have named Enviros the best consultancy in four categories in the 2009 Edie Awards for Environmental Excellence after being shortlisted for all nine consultancy awards.

• Best Consultancy for Climate Change and Renewables 
• Best Consultancy for Waste and Recycling
• Best Consultancy for Due Diligence
• Best Consultancy for Water and Wastewater.

 

Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has acquired Enviros, a multi-disciplinary sustainability, environmental and health and safety consultancy in the UK.

Enviros has leading capabilities in climate change and renewables, compliance management, health and safety, sustainable development, and waste and resource management. The firm works across many industries in both the public and private sectors.

Since 1996 SKM has completed 57 mergers and acquisitions which have been central to the firm’s strategy to grow with its clients and deliver the world’s leading skills locally.

SKM Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Paul Dougas said: “The synergies are powerful and obvious. Our growth continues to be driven by the expansion of our clients’ needs and operations. We remain in a perfect storm of economic, social and environmental challenges. Helping our clients meet those challenges and making the most of the opportunities they represent is part of our DNA.

“The fact is that Europe leads the world in sustainability, climate change and environment, and Enviros is a leading firm in this space. This expands our strategic consulting capability which we already export globally through our virtual teaming approach and many centres of excellence.”

Peter Portlock, Enviros Managing Director said: “I am delighted that Enviros has joined the SKM Group. Business needs and cultures are perfectly aligned with this transaction. The Enviros mission to ‘help our clients do business today and have the world they want tomorrow’ fits perfectly with SKM’s business, culture and values.”

Recent feedback from SKM clients indicated that almost half think that climate change is a significant short-term risk, with this concern increasing to seven in ten when a 10 year time frame is considered. This acquisition is an immediate response to client need and expands SKM’s capabilities, with Enviros people bringing great skills in sustainable development, climate change and strategic consulting generally, and bolstering the firm’s European presence.

More about Sinclair Knight Merz: SKM is a leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, founded in 1964. Its purpose is to deliver a positive and enduring impact on the world. With 6,500 people in offices across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia, it serves clients in the Buildings & Infrastructure, Power & Energy, Mining & Metals and Water & Environment sectors. SKM has been operating in the UK since 1997 and employs 350 people across eight offices in the UK and Middle East. Website: www.skmconsulting.com

More about Enviros: Enviros has more than 35 years experience in providing sustainability, environmental and health and safety solutions for clients. It employs 450 people in 13 offices in the UK and Ireland, with one office in mainland Europe (Prague). Website: www.enviros.com

It is aimed at both public and private sector waste practitioners and has received strong support to a high level in the Government. It delivers a strong message about UK policy, promoting sustainable design, resource efficiency and reducing climate change.

The guidance covers a wide variety of waste facilities, from small community and municipal sites such as compost units on estates, to larger sites such as Combined Heat and Power facilities. The aim of the guidelines is to outline key design principles, the design process, best practice in design and how best for waste professionals to consult the public.

Although the final decision for waste facilities will ultimately lie with the local authority this guidance should assist with providing the tools for both the public and private sector waste management professionals to make the best decision at every stage in the design process.

For further information about the guidance or to obtain a free copy of the guide visit Defra’s website.

The CIWEM-CMS Environmental Management Conference will be upon us very soon!

Here is so more information about it for all Wasters!

Delivery of the current environmental and sustainability agenda is fast changing and complex.

This timely and cost effective briefing by leaders from Government and the industry will cover key elements of the current agenda, including:

• The Environmental Liability Directive

• An update on SEA – Strategic Environmental Assessment

• The Planning White Paper and proposed Independent Planning Commission

• Sustainability methodologies

• Sustainable communities and environmental management

• The complexity of work in the sector – future demands

The programme for the conference, including the booking form, may be downloaded here. The conference is only two weeks away so BOOK NOW! You can book and pay online with a credit card at

www.coastms.co.uk or pay by credit card over the phone, BACSs, cheque etc; we issue invoices and receipts. Tel: +441531 890415 .

If any of you planned to join us, but have not yet booked there were just a few seats left this afternoon! Hurry, and you may still be lucky!!

The final itinerary is now also available at the Safari Web Site/Blog at:-

www.leachatesafari.com

This is a rare opportunity to see 6 operating Envrios designed biological leachate treatment plants, and one methane stripping plant, and in most cases their operators will be present to show us around.

You will also see a leachate treatability trial in operation.

This opportunity is unlikely to be repeated for a few years. It was more than 5 years ago that Enviros held the last Safari.

There will be plenty of opportunities to exchange notes on the subject of leachate treatment on the coach as well with leachate treatment plant designers, operators, technicians, council waste officers, students, and even some UK Environment Agency staff present.

International safari attendees are also flying in from Sweden, Ireland and Spain for the tour.

The cost is just £225 plus VAT for two days, including a dinner on the first night.

Visit www.leachatesafari.com for more information. Download the Safari Leaflet for more information, and both Subscribe and Register your details online. (Advance payment is required.)

Alfred McAlpine is one of the fastest growing support services organisations in the UK. They develop, finance, design, build, manage and maintain the buildings and infrastructure that enable individuals and organisations across the UK and Ireland to go about their business. Enviros will be joining Alfred McAlpine Business Services, Alfred McAlpine’s fastest growing business stream which provides facilities management and associated services to many of the country’s leading organisations.

Since the acquisition of its Health and Safety business in 2003, Alfred McAlpine Business Services has had a strategic objective to expand its consultancy offering into the environmental sector and Enviros was its first choice because of its reputation and people.

Alfred McAlpine Business Services recognises that Enviros has a strong name within the market and it will continue to trade as a separate brand with the same management team

If you would like to know more about Alfred McAlpine please go to www.alfredmcalpineplc.com for Alfred McAlpine’s press release on the acquisition go to http://www.alfredmcalpineplc.com/press/releases/

For further information contact Nigel Clark, Marketing Director, Enviros Consulting

Enviros has again been appointed to the Defra framework contract for Direct Consultancy Support (DCS) as part of the Waste Implementation Programme (WIP). One of the objectives of WIP is to bring about the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) from landfill, working to meet the requirements of Article Five of the EU Landfill Directive. The programme aims to provide support and empowerment to local authorities in their role as waste collection and disposal authorities. This is set against a context of the Gershon report into local authority efficiencies through which a target of £300million of efficiency savings has been promoted.

WIP aims to assist local authorities by providing access to: specialist consultants; examples of best practice; agencies and community groups; and tools, guidance or models. The intention is to help them increase their knowledge and understanding of waste management opportunities and the procurement of services whilst also encouraging the implementation of new technology.  In addition, it aims to motivate the sector to make the necessary behavioural change to more sustainable waste management activities and practices. 

The purpose of Defra’s support is to provide guidance in:

• Waste planning
• Strategy
• Procurement
• Waste composition analysis
• Identification of other organisations that provide additional support to local authorities.

Defra’s Local Authority Support Unit (LASU) resources this support through a core of industry specialists, including Enviros, employed on a call-off basis. These specialists work with Council Members and officers, liaising with support organisations including all the WIP work streams and Defra Waste Strategy Division.  This ensures effective and efficient achievement of government targets; joint working; and Gershon efficiencies.

The programme is divided into two tranches. Projects for Tranche 1 were identified in April this year and projects for Tranche 2 are currently being invited.  Timescales for this are detailed below.

Further information, background documents, application forms and guidance can be obtained at:
http://lasupport.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=ViewArticle&ArticleID=237
Enviros’ knowledge of WIP and its strategy, aims, and objectives is based on close support to both the providers and the recipients of WIP funding initiatives since 2003. Enviros has provided technical and specialist assistance to local authorities to enable them to satisfy both regulatory and policy requirements in terms of sustainable waste and environmental management and the achievement of international, national and local government objectives and targets.

We recommend that you must be there. It is biennial so miss it next year and you’ll have to wait 2 years.

CALL FOR PAPERS ENDS 30th OCTOBER!!!

The Waster has an idea for his paper – if he stops posting to this blog for long enough, he might even get it sumitted by the deadline. How about you?

We are pleased to report that once again Enviros Consulting comes out well in the 2006 edie.net environmental consultancy survey, outperforming many of its larger rivals. In the key questions of awareness, size and reputation Enviros is ranked consistently in the top 3 with clients; Enviros is also recognised as being a great place to work by consultants.

See the full news item at Environmental Consultancy www.enviros.com

Enviros also needs more staff. Especially in the fields of Climate Change, and Bioenergy. Would you be interested? See http://www.enviros.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=13.1&Id=81 .