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

Welcome to our North Office!

By Rachael Plant • May 15, 2025
Nestled in North Yorkshire, our Aske Office is just outside the lively market town of Richmond. Just a short stroll away, the charmingly converted stables at Aske Estate provide stunning, scenic views, perfect for a lovely lunch time stroll! Keep reading to discover more about our expert team! Phil Ham: Managing Director Phil joined Envireau Water 'officially' in 2010. A Principal Hydrogeologist with over 20 years professional experience working with natural water systems, Phil specialises in water supply development and hydrogeological impact assessments, overseeing projects primarily within the food and drink and industrial sectors. Phil is also a qualified expert witness, having completed the highly acclaimed Cardiff University Law School/Bond Solon expert witness training course.

Hello to Team Scotland!

By Rachael Plant • May 7, 2025
At Envireau Water , all of our locations reflect a hub of innovation and expertise, and we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce our friendly team, starting in Scotland! Having established our Scottish office almost 5 years ago, our team continues to flourish and reflect the growing demand for water resource consultancy throughout Scotland, particularly within the food and drink and minerals sector. Keep reading to find out more about our water experts! Chris Woodhouse : Principal Hydrogeologist Chris joined us in early 2021 and leads our team in Scotland. A Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, Chris has over 13 years of technical experience across a range of areas, from water supply development and dewatering assessments to effluent discharge and flood risk management. Chris oversees projects primarily in the minerals and quarrying and waste and distilling industries and also provides expertise on projects across the UK, primarily in the minerals and waste sectors.

Changes to flood risk guidance in Wales

By Rachael Plant • April 30, 2025
Understanding both current and future flood risk in Wales is essential for helping planners, developers and landowners understand how flood risk is assessed within the planning process, ensuring that new developments are resilient and sustainable. Originally published in 2004, the Welsh Government recently published a significantly revised Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 on 31st March, detailing critical changes to flood risk guidance. What are the key updates? Development types: The classification of development types has been updated and expanded. Categories now include Highly Vulnerable, Less Vulnerable, and Water-Compatible developments. Examples of Highly Vulnerable uses include all residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and emergency services infrastructure. This classification determines where development may be acceptable depending on the level of flood risk.
Show More

Welcome to our North Office!

By Rachael Plant • May 15, 2025
Nestled in North Yorkshire, our Aske Office is just outside the lively market town of Richmond. Just a short stroll away, the charmingly converted stables at Aske Estate provide stunning, scenic views, perfect for a lovely lunch time stroll! Keep reading to discover more about our expert team! Phil Ham: Managing Director Phil joined Envireau Water 'officially' in 2010. A Principal Hydrogeologist with over 20 years professional experience working with natural water systems, Phil specialises in water supply development and hydrogeological impact assessments, overseeing projects primarily within the food and drink and industrial sectors. Phil is also a qualified expert witness, having completed the highly acclaimed Cardiff University Law School/Bond Solon expert witness training course.

Hello to Team Scotland!

By Rachael Plant • May 7, 2025
At Envireau Water , all of our locations reflect a hub of innovation and expertise, and we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce our friendly team, starting in Scotland! Having established our Scottish office almost 5 years ago, our team continues to flourish and reflect the growing demand for water resource consultancy throughout Scotland, particularly within the food and drink and minerals sector. Keep reading to find out more about our water experts! Chris Woodhouse : Principal Hydrogeologist Chris joined us in early 2021 and leads our team in Scotland. A Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, Chris has over 13 years of technical experience across a range of areas, from water supply development and dewatering assessments to effluent discharge and flood risk management. Chris oversees projects primarily in the minerals and quarrying and waste and distilling industries and also provides expertise on projects across the UK, primarily in the minerals and waste sectors.

Changes to flood risk guidance in Wales

By Rachael Plant • April 30, 2025
Understanding both current and future flood risk in Wales is essential for helping planners, developers and landowners understand how flood risk is assessed within the planning process, ensuring that new developments are resilient and sustainable. Originally published in 2004, the Welsh Government recently published a significantly revised Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 on 31st March, detailing critical changes to flood risk guidance. What are the key updates? Development types: The classification of development types has been updated and expanded. Categories now include Highly Vulnerable, Less Vulnerable, and Water-Compatible developments. Examples of Highly Vulnerable uses include all residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and emergency services infrastructure. This classification determines where development may be acceptable depending on the level of flood risk.

Published in Rail Professional: Compliance in the Rail Sector

By Michael Underwood • April 28, 2025
Recently, we were thrilled to team up with Rail Professional to share our insights and expertise on this trade effluent compliance in the Rail Industry, featuring our very own, Michael Underwood! Michael is a Senior Hydrologist at Envireau Water, a specialist water management consultancy. As a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM), Michael has 10 years’ experience in flood risk management and drainage, surface water hydrology, drainage design and river management. He also serves on the committee of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Management (CIWEM) East Midlands Branch.
Show More