ESS Expo will take place on 11-12 September 2024 at Birmingham’s NEC and brings together Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM), Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo (EFD), Contamination & Land Remediation Expo (CLR), Water Resource Management Expo (WRM), and Air Pollution Control Expo (APC), offering a 360-degree view of the environmental services sector under one roof.
Registration
Admission is free if you register before Midnight on 10 September. You can register free here. Registration will cost £49.99 on-site, so the organisers recommend you secure your free place before then.
Doors will open at 09:30 on both days.
The free-to-attend event will be spread across nearly 50,000m2of indoor space across five halls and an additional 10,000m2of outdoor space.
Directions
Trains
The NEC is right next to Birmingham International Rail Station. You can get to any of the halls quickly and conveniently, without having to step outside.
The NEC entrance is on the right hand side as you exit the station, and is clearly signposted.
Many services run direct to Birmingham International. If yours doesn’t, you can catch a connecting train at Birmingham New Street. There are regular services, and the journey only takes 10-15 minutes. Buses to the NEC can be caught at Birmingham Moor Street and Solihull stations.
Driving
The NEC is in the perfect location for car travel – eight miles east of Birmingham city centre, and at the heart of the UK motorway network.
Postcode: B40 1NT
With 16,500 spaces available there is plenty of room. Follow the electronic signage or directions provided by the traffic team to get you to the right car park area for your event. Once you’ve parked you can either take a free shuttle bus or walk to the halls using signposted footpaths.
Parking
Options for parking can be found here, including an option to book a space in advance.
Agenda
The event will feature 17 dedicated conference theatres and stages, with more than 350 speakers and an expected attendance of more than 12,000. The full agenda and 2024 stages can be found here.
Dr Adam Read MBE, a long-term advocate for green skills planning, will open the expo by exploring what the resource and waste industry should be leveraging to close the short- and medium-term skills gaps and help young talent to excel in the rapidly developing resources sector in the transition towards Net Zero.
The first day will also feature a talk from Planet Earth III’s Mike Gunton, who will explain how his work on the show can be applied to the environmental services sector.
Niki Roach of the Planet Possible Podcast, a series by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management which tells the stories of the people paving the way for positive planetary and societal change, will be in conversation with BBC’s Chris Packham, and promises to be a compelling blend of personal anecdotes, expert insights, and candid discussions on today’s most pressing environmental issues.
During the show’s second day, leaders in waste will convene for a deep dive into the critical issues shaping the sector in 2024 and beyond, and includes Dr Anna Willetts of Gunnercooke, Jenny Harrison of enfinium, John Scanlon of Suez recycling and recovery UK, Maxine Mayhew of Biffa, Neil Grundon of Grundon and Steve Molyneux of Environment Agency.
The day will also feature a panel discussion on how to build a more diverse and inclusive environmental workforce, as well as the annual 35 Under 35 Awards, which celebrate the rising talent in the environmental sector. Both will take place in the Green Skills & Future Talent Stage, sponsored by Grundon.
Live demo
Throughout both days will be timed events in the live demo area and vehicle arena, with all the leading manufacturers on show.
App
The organisers have introduced a new-and-improved event app designed to enable attendees to personalise their experience at the show.
The app is designed for ease of use, and will allow visitors to navigate the show and access crucial information to maximise their time at ESS, including a customisable conference agenda, reminders and push notifications, an interactive map, and the ability to arrange meetings with other attendees, exhibitors, and speakers through the networking feature.
Downloading and using the ESS Event App is simple. If you’re on a computer, scan the QR code below and it will take you through to download.Alternatively, you can download on the Apple App Store here or Google Play for Android devices here. You can also visit your device’s app store and search for “ESS Expo.” After finding it, tap the “Install” button, and the app will be ready for use in just a few moments.
