Connecting Ideas, People and Perspectives

Yesterday, we welcomed delegates from across the waste and resources sector to Kendal Town Hall for the latest North West Resources Forum meeting.

Michelle Moran, Egniol Consulting

As always, we brought together a deliberately diverse agenda, reflecting the breadth of our sector. We heard updates from the Environment Agency on Digital Waste Tracking, Michelle Moran from Egniol explored the role of landfill and why it still needs to be part of the conversation, Tom Passmore from Dsposal discussed how organisations can make better use of their data, Aaron Francis from Electra shared insights into vehicle repowering and converting used trucks to electric vehicles, and David Smith from Acorn Environmental provided an update on apprenticeship opportunities.

At first glance, these topics may appear unrelated. Attendees might look at an agenda and assume that one or two sessions may not be directly relevant to their role or organisation. What we consistently see, however, is that the most valuable conversations often emerge from the topics people least expect to find useful.

The North West Resources Forum brings together people from the public, private and third sectors, all with different experiences, challenges and perspectives. By covering topics from across the waste and resources landscape, we create opportunities for attendees to make connections between issues, discover new ideas and learn from parts of the sector they may not encounter in their day-to-day work.

Yesterday was a perfect example of how interconnected our industry really is. Whether discussing data, digital systems, skills, infrastructure, vehicle technology or future policy, a common theme ran throughout the day: people.

The importance of attracting new talent, developing skills and creating opportunities for the next generation was evident in multiple discussions. As our sector navigates significant legislative change and increasing complexity, investing in people has never been more important.

Equally important are the networks that bring those people together. One of the things we value most about the North West Resources Forum is the opportunity for healthy debate. No single organisation, business or individual has all the answers. The challenges facing the waste and resources sector are too complex for that, and progress comes from sharing different viewpoints, challenging assumptions and learning from one another's experiences.

Networking is not simply about exchanging information, but about building relationships, sharing ideas and creating opportunities to collaborate. When organisations come together, they gain access to knowledge, insights and solutions that they might not have come to alone.

The conversations that happen over coffee breaks, during question-and-answer sessions and after presentations are often just as valuable as the presentations themselves. Those discussions help spark new ideas, build partnerships and strengthen the collective expertise of our sector.

Thank you to our Friends of the Forum, whose support enables us to continue offering North West Resources Forum meetings free of charge, ensuring that these events remain accessible and beneficial to the widest possible audience across the sector.

As we left Kendal Town Hall yesterday, it was clear that while the topics on the agenda may have been varied, the underlying message was the same: it’s so important to continue bringing people together, sharing knowledge and learning from different perspectives. Thank you to Westmorland and Furness Council for the room.

If your organisation would be interested in becoming a Friend of the NWRF, please get in touch at info@nwrf.org.uk.