ESS Expo 2024 has revealed record-breaking attendance figures from this year’s event. For the first time ESS Expo united five key events for a 360-degree view of the environmental sector, attracting 12,328 visitors – a 10% increase compared to 2023.
The organiser has said that each of the individual shows experienced significant growth in visitor numbers. The Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM) remains the flagship event in the portfolio, welcoming 9,222 attendees – an 18% rise from the previous year. Meanwhile, the Contamination & Land Remediation Expo (CLR) recorded an increase of 36%, bringing in 2,738 visitors and the Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo (EFD) attracted 3,036. The Water & Resource Management Expo (WRM) drew 2,413 attendees, a 32% increase from last year, while the brand-new Air Pollution Control Expo (APC) made an impressive debut with 1,209 visitors.
Over 600 exhibitors from 58 countries joined the two-day event to launch and showcase their latest products, services, and unique solutions.
Providing learning experiences at WRM, Ofwat shared its latest Water Breakthrough Challenge 5 competition aimed to transform the UK water sector. Focusing on education and knowledge, Ofwat shared learnings from two new reports entitled ‘Circularity in Water’ and ‘Supporting Water-Efficient Communities’.
Elite headliners
Speaker sessions, panels, and Q&As were delivered by more than 350 experts across the show’s 17 stages and theatres. Industry giants and government bodies such as Defra, CIWM, ESA, Environment Agency, Suez, Southern Water, Viridor, and Biffa were joined by representatives from the likes of Mott MacDonald, Ecologica, Greyparrot, Auditel, AMCON, and many others. The conversations and sessions addressed some of the most topics concerning net-zero, the circular economy, and biodiversity.
Headlining the Summit Stage on day one was naturalist, TV presenter, and author Chris Packham, who led a session, ‘In Conversation with Chris Packham’, which shared his perspectives on the current state of environmental policies and emphasised the urgent need for proactive action. Packham advocated for the inclusion of diverse role models in the environmental sector, underscoring the importance of representation from various ethnic backgrounds to drive meaningful change and growth. He also highlighted the “significant benefits of a neurodiverse workforce”, noting how diverse thinking styles can “enrich environmental discussions and lead to innovative solutions.”
He encouraged attendees to see themselves as empowered agents of change, urging everyone to “take action and seize opportunities to make a positive impact” amidst the current environmental challenges. Packham also spoke on the critical role of the Green Belt in providing access to green spaces and advocated for a focus on improving farming and forestry practices, which are vital for conservation and wildlife growth.
Also headlining the Summit Theatre was Mike Gunton, Executive Producer and Creative Director for the BBC Studios Natural History Unit and creator of award-winning series such as Africa, Planet Earth 2 and 3, The Green Planet, Dynasties, and Prehistoric Planet. His session on day one, ‘Planet Earth and Beyond: How to Show the Challenges Facing the Natural World and Keep Your Audience Engaged’, delved into the growing narrative around how human activities are reshaping our planet and the profound implications for all its inhabitants. He discussed the art of presenting these complex and urgent environmental issues with authenticity while ensuring how to captivate and inspire audiences.
Green talent
A recurring theme throughout the show was the importance of securing a strong pipeline of green talent to meet future demands. The Summit Theatre welcomed Dr Adam Read MBE, Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer at Suez UK, as the moderator for a panel session, ‘Enabling the Net Zero transition – unleashing green talent through training, mentoring and networks,’ featuring Martin Baxter, Deputy CEO at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and Nathan Cookson, Head of Learning and Development at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). The panel discussed the need for developing skills and new talent across various sectors to achieve the UK’s ambitious climate goals, as well as the challenges and opportunities in creating a workforce capable of leading the transition.
Baxter highlighted that while the government is focused on the power sector’s role in achieving net zero, the need for talent spans far beyond energy: “The next 6-7 years are critical,” he said. When asked about the main barrier to progress, his answer was clear: “skills and capability.” Cookson also shared insights into the talent needs of the waste and refurbishment sectors, estimating that 140,000 people will be needed to fill roles in these industries, and emphasised that it’s not just core jobs in these industries that matter but also the supporting and enabling roles.
The topic of a sustainably skilled workforce was also extensively covered at the dedicated Green Skills & Future Talent Stage, sponsored by Grundon. Andy Harrison, Head of Delivery & Learning at Groundwork, led a session titled, ‘Attracting Talent: Creating Accessible Pathways into the Waste and Resources Sector for Young People’ which discussed the importance of engaging young people in green careers, particularly within the waste and resources sector, and explored lessons from other industries on creating accessible pathways for job seekers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Later, Simon Clark, Science Communicator at Tired Bear Films, along with Chris Isaac from FCC Environment, and Baxter from the IEMA, led a group Q&A session titled ‘Green Skills: How to Encourage More People into Jobs in the Environment Sector’ which enabled attendees to engage with the experts for insights into building a skilled green workforce. Meanwhile, Judy Ling Wong, Honorary President of the Black Environment Network spoke on ‘Worldwide Collaboration and Multiculturalism in the 21st Century.’
The Women in Resource & Sustainability session at the Environment Networking Hub celebrated the contributions of women in the resource, recycling, and waste management sectors. Here, Vicki Hughes, Board Member & Technical Lead at Wood Recyclers’ Association; Claire Shrewsbury, Director of Insights and Innovation at WRAP; Fiona Campbell, Head of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Biffa; Francesca O’Neill, Head of Corporate Engagement at Bankers4NetZero; Gwen Frost, Director at Resource Futures; and Jacqueline O’Donovan OBE, Former Managing Director at O’Donovan Waste Disposal Ltd., discussed overcoming challenges, fostering diversity, and the importance of flexible working arrangements to increase participation.
Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, shared his thoughts: “ESS Expo aims to bring together all sectors of the environmental services industry, with the show representing a different aspect and highlighting how they overlap and complement one another. We are thrilled to have welcomed a record number of attendees this year, many familiar faces, as well as hundreds of new ones. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated – after a collaborative and successful event, we hope you all share in the reassurance that we are moving toward a greener, more sustainable future.”
ESS Expo 2025 will take place from 17 – 18 September 2025 at NEC Birmingham.
