Reflecting on 2024

December 18, 2024

As always, the year has flown by, and as we enter our 27th year of operation, what better time to reflect on the successes of 2024.

It is safe to say that it has been a year of growth! With numerous milestones achieved and celebrations had, keep reading to discover some key highlights from the year...


We started the year off strong with the grand unveiling of our newest office location in the beautiful town of Shrewsbury! Often referred to as the hub of hydrogeology, the move saw a fantastic opportunity to help us strengthen our presence in the Minerals and Agricultural sectors, allowing us to better serve our clients in Wales and the West Midlands. However, none of this would have been possible without the appointment of an expert team to head up our newest location, to which we welcomed two new members in the summer, Andy Tait and Richard Holtham.

Talking of growth, Shrewsbury was not the only office to welcome a new member this year, with our Scottish office having welcomed Sophie Penman at Easter. There's nothing we love more than seeing our team expand and we cannot wait to meet two new members across both our Midlands and Shrewsbury Office very soon!


Aside from expanding our office locations and welcoming new team members, we’ve made significant strides in fostering strong relationships with both longstanding and new clients and partners across our four sectors. From tackling complex permitting challenges to implementing innovative water management strategies, we’ve delivered tailored solutions to industries nationwide. Looking ahead, we’re eager to continue diversifying our services and achieving even greater growth in the new year and beyond.


Staying at the forefront of industry knowledge has been another priority this year. Whether attending key events such as the UK Environmental Law Association Conference (UKELA), exhibiting and speaking at the 23rd EIG Conference, to sponsoring the British Soft Drinks Association’s annual industry lunch (BSDA), we are thrilled to have had so many occasions to help us expand our expertise and strengthen our connections with industry professionals across the country.


Equally important is sharing our knowledge. In September, had the pleasure of hosting our very own Envireau Knowledge event in Scotland: From Source to Spirit, A Distiller's Guide to a Climate Resilient Water Supply. We work extensively within the distilling sector and are aware of the daunting challenges climate change poses. At our first knowledge event focussing exclusively on the distilling and malting industry, we were honoured to provide participants with the essential tools and insights required to enhance the resilience of their water supplies.


As proud as we are of our technical developments and achievements, we also celebrated several milestones and personal achievements throughout the year. From marking milestone birthdays and well-deserved promotions, and charterships, we look forward to witnessing the many more successes to come in 2025!


Dr Phil Ham, our Managing Director, commented:


'2024 has been a testament to our commitment to innovation, resilience, and excellence in water management and consultancy, and one that sets a strong foundation as we step into 2025. Thank you to our clients and partners for continuing to be part of our journey, and to the Envireau Water team, whose talent and dedication knows no bounds. Here's to another successful year ahead!'


In the meantime, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Oh, and if you're keen keen to follow what we get up to in the new year - follow our social media pages to find out more!

Share

By Rachael Plant April 8, 2025
Since December 2024, the Environment Agency (EA) have released a series of flood and coastal erosion risk assessment updates, offering a clearer, more comprehensive picture of both current and future flood risk across England. What makes these updates so important? With approximately 6.3 million properties in England at risk of flooding and 3,500 properties at risk of coastal erosion by 2055, these updates are absolutely critical in order for you to protect and enhance your developments against the threat of climate change and extreme weather events. Whether a commercial or residential development, Envireau Water specialise in flood risk management and sustainable drainage solutions across the UK. By leveraging our technical expertise and deep knowledge of the UK regulatory system, we are known for achieving a positive outcome for even the most complex of challenges. Keep reading to find out what these updates mean for you.
By Rachael Plant March 21, 2025
Climate change is an urgent issue we cannot ignore, and requires the collective action of communities across the globe if the worst effects are to be mitigated. From rising sea levels, extreme weather events to a loss of biodiversity, the potential impacts are widespread. However, this world water day, the focus is rightly on glacial preservation - our planet's largest natural freshwater reservoir. Why is it important? At Envireau Water, we recognise the widespread impact that glacial meltwater has across the whole planet, leading to the escalation of more extreme weather events as a result. Not only does this impact the environment with the disruption of ecosystems and water cycles, but also has a profound impact on society and industries reliant on a stable water supply. As a team of water scientists, we have witnessed first-hand the undeniable impact that flooding and drought events have had on the mineral, agricultural, industrial and development sectors, from failing crops and flooded farmland to a halt in distilling operations and delayed development projects, the ripple effects of these events are felt across communities and businesses alike.
By Rachael Plant March 18, 2025
It is safe to say that Envireau Water have had a long line of success stories over our years of operation across our four sectors of expertise, with permitting and licensing being just one of our many service offerings. So, what has fuelled our success? To get some insight, we turned to our Specialist Water Resources team for their perspective. Penny , can you expand on Envireau Water's success in this area? 'Water is a vital resource across many industries, without which they would not be able to operate effectively. However, this does not come without certain regulatory constraints, which must be abided by. That's where we come in.
Show More
By Rachael Plant April 8, 2025
Since December 2024, the Environment Agency (EA) have released a series of flood and coastal erosion risk assessment updates, offering a clearer, more comprehensive picture of both current and future flood risk across England. What makes these updates so important? With approximately 6.3 million properties in England at risk of flooding and 3,500 properties at risk of coastal erosion by 2055, these updates are absolutely critical in order for you to protect and enhance your developments against the threat of climate change and extreme weather events. Whether a commercial or residential development, Envireau Water specialise in flood risk management and sustainable drainage solutions across the UK. By leveraging our technical expertise and deep knowledge of the UK regulatory system, we are known for achieving a positive outcome for even the most complex of challenges. Keep reading to find out what these updates mean for you.
By Rachael Plant March 21, 2025
Climate change is an urgent issue we cannot ignore, and requires the collective action of communities across the globe if the worst effects are to be mitigated. From rising sea levels, extreme weather events to a loss of biodiversity, the potential impacts are widespread. However, this world water day, the focus is rightly on glacial preservation - our planet's largest natural freshwater reservoir. Why is it important? At Envireau Water, we recognise the widespread impact that glacial meltwater has across the whole planet, leading to the escalation of more extreme weather events as a result. Not only does this impact the environment with the disruption of ecosystems and water cycles, but also has a profound impact on society and industries reliant on a stable water supply. As a team of water scientists, we have witnessed first-hand the undeniable impact that flooding and drought events have had on the mineral, agricultural, industrial and development sectors, from failing crops and flooded farmland to a halt in distilling operations and delayed development projects, the ripple effects of these events are felt across communities and businesses alike.
By Rachael Plant March 18, 2025
It is safe to say that Envireau Water have had a long line of success stories over our years of operation across our four sectors of expertise, with permitting and licensing being just one of our many service offerings. So, what has fuelled our success? To get some insight, we turned to our Specialist Water Resources team for their perspective. Penny , can you expand on Envireau Water's success in this area? 'Water is a vital resource across many industries, without which they would not be able to operate effectively. However, this does not come without certain regulatory constraints, which must be abided by. That's where we come in.
By Rachael Plant March 11, 2025
Achieving nutrient neutrality is a challenging task, and is one that developers all over the country have battled to achieve over the last 5-6 years. In March 2022, Natural England issued a directive to Local Planning Authorities, County Councils, the Environment Agency, the Planning Inspectorate, Natural Resources Wales, and DLUHC stating that, in specific river catchments, developments should not be permitted if the LPA cannot definitively ensure that it will not adversely impact protected environmental sites due to increased levels of nitrate and/or phosphate. While the current approach is efficient, robust, and objective, it can also be slow, costly, and overly complex—leading to potential project delays and increased expenses for housing developers. To address these challenges, the government released the Planning Reform Working Paper in December 2024. This initiative aims to unlock approximately 28,000 homes across seven areas in England that had been stalled due to nutrient neutrality concerns, backed by £47 million from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund.
Show More