First International Clean Up conference and exhibition wins aclaim

Citation

(2000), "First International Clean Up conference and exhibition wins aclaim", Facilities, Vol. 18 No. 13/14. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2000.06918mac.001

First International Clean Up conference and exhibition wins aclaim

First International Clean Up conference and exhibition wins aclaim

Keywords Environment, Conferences

The first International Clean Up conference and exhibition at GMEX, Manchester 12-13 April 2000, has won the acclaim of exhibitors, delegates and visitors. These include environmental technology companies, property developers, consultants, surveyors, civil engineers and construction companies.

The highly-focused event concentrated on the presentation of new technologies, especially bioremediation, for use in clean-up for land remediation, inland waterways, and emergency response, as well as highlighting regulatory issues, sharing best practice from across the wodd and bringing together suppliers and client companies to further sustainable development.

Around 600 visitors attended the two-day conference and exhibition, which included over 70 companies and organizations. These ranged from regulators and government agencies, such as Environment Agency, English Partnerships and Bio-wise, through to the environmental divisions of major corporations such as BG, AEA Technology, Onyx, Shanks and Biffa, specialist construction companies and contractors, including Morrison Construction, Edmund Nuttall and VHE Construction, and environmental consultants such as Geodelft.

Visitors from countries as far afield as the USA, Japan, Brazil, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, as well as the UK, were full of praise for the high quality of the event. The conference brought together speakers of international renown including Ed Gallagher, chief executive, Environment Agency; Sir Idris Pearce, English Partnerships; John Waters, ERM and Environmental Industries Commission, and many more.

"International Clean Up 2000 was a great place to make contacts for potential new product development and industry partnerships", said Simon Dixon, visiting from British Vita plc. Other visitors echoed Mr Dixon's views. The timeliness of the event and conference content were among the main accolades.

Equipment manufacturers and distributors were present in force at the exhibition. Said Peter Bratt, customer services, Shawcity: "With the increasing redevelopment of brownfield sites comes new health and safety problems for the construction industry. Our unique gas monitoring equipment helps contractors comply with exposure levels in the new contaminated land regime. This exhibition has provided the opportunity to demonstrate these new functions to delegates, visitors and exhibitors of International Clean Up 2000."

Without exception, exhibiting companies were enthusiastic about the quality of the visitors and delegates to the conference and exhibition. Said Dr Steve Jones, BG Technology: "There have been fewer window shoppers than usual. We've been getting better quality enquiries from consultants, contractors, waste management companies, and estates management. The big surprise, despite the marketing, was relatively few local government people. They own the problems and have missed out here."

"A little quieter and smaller than we imagined", said Beverly McKenzie of Biologic Remediation, "but the conference had a really good line-up producing real quality contacts."

"Well targeted delegates allowed us to gain some quality leads and the exhibition provided the opportunity to exchange ideas and information with colleagues in the industry", said Caroline Tomlinson, Onyx UK.

"The first day was quiet with quality. The second day was busy and maintained the same high quality", said Shelley Cockayne, marketing manager, Response Bioremediation Contracting. Ms Cockayne's words were echoed by Jill Warner of insurers, Willis: "A bit slow the first day, but busy thereafter, although delegates really need more time to take in the exhibition."

North West contractor, D. Morgan plc's Mark Jones, said: "It's given us the opportunity to talk to our colleagues in the industry and there's been some valuable contacts too."

Chairman of the advisory panel, Professor Jim Lynch, head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Surrey and co-ordinator of the OECD Programme on Biological Resource Management, summed up: "We have made our mark with the first International Clean Up conference and exhibition. Quality not quantity; content rather than waffle; commercial leads rather than window-shopping. This all bodes well for the event in 2001."

Paul Webster, of SW Events, organizers of International Clean Up, said: "This has been a positive start for the event, which has clearly found a niche in serving the needs of this particular environmental industry sector. We have a sound base to build on for the future and we shall be applying the lessons learnt from this first outing with vigour to ensure the growth and development of the event for next year."

International Clean Up 2001 will be held 4-5 April 2001, at GMEX, Manchester. Further information is available from SW Events. Tel: +44(0)1483 799141; Web site: www.panpres.co.uk