Legislation that will protect and enhance our environment for future generations has now passed into UK law.

Through the Act, we will clean up the country’s air, restore natural habitats, increase biodiversity, reduce waste and make better use of our resources.

It will halt the decline in species by 2030, require new developments to improve or create habitats for nature, and tackle deforestation overseas.

It will help us transition to a more circular economy, incentivising people to recycle more, encouraging businesses to create sustainable packaging, making household recycling easier and stopping the export of polluting plastic waste to developing countries.

These changes will be driven by new legally binding environmental targets, and enforced by a new, independent Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) which will hold government and public bodies to account on their environmental obligations.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

The Environment Act will deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth.

It will halt the decline of species by 2030, clean up our air and protect the health of our rivers, reform the way in which we deal with waste and tackle deforestation overseas.

We are setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.

The Environment Act includes a new legally binding target on species abundance for 2030, which will help to reverse declines of iconic British species like the hedgehog, red squirrel and water vole.

The UK will now be able to go further than ever before to clamp down on illegal deforestation and protect rainforests, through a package of measures will ensure that greater resilience, traceability and sustainability are built into the UK’s supply chains.

The Act will crack down on water companies that discharge sewage into rivers, waterways and coastlines. It will see a duty enshrined in law to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows. New duties will also require the government to publish a plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows by September 2022 and report to Parliament on the progress towards implementing the plan.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

It is imperative that we step up action to boost nature recovery if we are to tackle the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.

This landmark Act will give us more of the tools and the momentum we need to really put nature on the road to recovery during this decade, enabling us to have more, better, bigger and connected areas of natural habitats, bringing a range of practical benefits and permitting more people to enjoy the wonders of the natural world, while improving wider environmental quality at the same time.

We will work across Government, industry and society to help make it happen. The creation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies will be key in helping us to build a Nature Recovery Network across the country, backed by other measures in the new Act, including mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain for built development and a healthier freshwater environment.

Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

We need strong laws, investment by the private sector and clear, well-funded regulation to protect the environment. Without this, we will not see the progress we all want.

The new legal targets for water in the Environment Act today will help wider efforts to tackle pollution, reduce demand for water and secure clean and plentiful water for all.

It is good to see these laws pass as we work to protect the natural world, help people to stay safe from flooding and support communities, businesses and government to make the country more resilient to climate shocks.

Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:

As the government’s leading forestry experts, the Forestry Commission supports the new measures included in the Environment Act which gives our woodlands much needed protection, so we can ensure they live on and continue to bring benefits to people, nature and climate.

We are excited about new measures that will improve Forestry Commission’s enforcement powers to help us further protect England’s woodlands from illegal felling, including our most precious ancient woodlands.

Increasing tree planting now is an important step towards creating a more wooded country, and we look forward to working closely with the government as they consider a long-term tree target, which could be introduced through the new powers in the Environment Act.

Work on implementing Environment Act policies is well underway. We have started work on developing legally binding environmental targets, and launched consultations on the deposit return schemes for drinks containers, extended producer responsibility for packaging and consistent recycling collections which will transform the way we deal with our rubbish.

We have also published a draft Principles Policy Statement which will put protecting the environment at the heart of future policy.

The Office for Environmental Protection was set up in an interim, non-statutory form in July, providing independent oversight of the Government’s environmental progress and accelerating the foundation of the full body. The OEP will formally commence its statutory functions shortly.

Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the OEP said:

The Environment Act is a cornerstone of the government’s ambitions to tackle ever more pressing environmental issues.

I am delighted that the Act creates the independent Office for Environmental Protection, and gives us the tools for our job – to protect and improve the environment by holding government and public authorities to account. We are well underway with establishing a functionally independent, fully operational OEP from early in the new year.

There has never been a more crucial time for us all to work to protect and improve our environment. The OEP will play its full part.

The Environment Act has become law during the UK’s hosting of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, during which the UK has brought the world together to secure ambitious commitments to tackle climate change.

Nick Molho, Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group, said:

The passage of the Environment Act into law marks a major milestone for the UK, particularly as it hosts the important COP26 climate summit. Having a framework which supports nature restoration and looks at the whole of the environment – including land as well as sea – is a key step forward in efforts to reverse the decline of nature.

Businesses have long supported an ambitious and robust Environment Act, and having legally binding long-term targets will play a significant role in making continuous improvements to the natural environment.

Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:

Becoming the first country with a legal target to halt wildlife decline by 2030 is a world-leading innovation and testament to the huge public and parliamentary demand to improve our state of nature.

Now there’s no time to lose for action. 2030 is an ecological heartbeat away, so the whole of Whitehall must work together on a scientifically sound plan to meet this “net zero for nature”, so that England can lead the way ahead of next year’s global nature negotiations.

Further information

The Environment Act will deliver:

• Long-term targets to improve air quality, biodiversity, water, and waste reduction and resource efficiency
• A target on ambient PM2.5 concentrations, the most harmful pollutant to human health
• A target to halt the decline of nature by 2030
• Environmental Improvement Plans, including interim targets
• A cycle of environmental monitoring and reporting
• Environmental Principles embedded in domestic policy making
• Office for Environmental Protection to uphold environmental law

WASTE & RECYCLING

• Extend producer responsibility to make producers pay for 100% of cost of disposal of products, starting with plastic packaging
• A deposit Return Scheme for single use drinks containers
• Charges for single use plastics
• Greater consistency in recycling collections in England
• Electronic waste tracking to monitor waste movements and tackle fly-tipping
• Tackle waste crime
• Power to introduce new resource efficiency information (labelling on the recyclability and durability of products)
• Regulate shipment of hazardous waste
• Ban or restrict export of waste to non-OECD countries

CLEAN AIR

• Require Local Authorities to tackle air quality
• Simplify enforcement within smoke control areas

NATURE

• Strengthened biodiversity duty
• Biodiversity net gain to ensure developments deliver at least 10% increase in biodiversity
• Local Nature Recovery Strategies to support a Nature Recovery Network
• Duty upon Local Authorities to consult on street tree felling
• Strengthen woodland protection enforcement measures
• Conservation Covenants
• Protected Site Strategies and Species Conservation Strategies to support the design and delivery of strategic approaches to deliver better outcomes for nature
• Prohibit larger UK businesses from using commodities associated with wide-scale deforestation
• Requires regulated businesses to establish a system of due diligence for each regulated commodity used in their supply chain, requires regulated businesses to report on their due diligence, introduces a due diligence enforcement system

WATER

• Effective collaboration between water companies through statutory water management plans
• Drainage and sewerage management planning a statutory duty
• Minimise damage water abstraction may cause on environment
• Modernise the process for modifying water and sewerage company licence conditions

By Paul Snowen, Head of operations

COP26 is the 2021 United Nations climate change conference.

For nearly three decades the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits – called COPs – which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority.

This year will be the 26th annual summit – giving it the name COP26. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow.

CATCH signed up to the SME Climate Change Commitment through the UK Business Climate Hub in March this year and are making considerable steps to achieving our commitment – to half our greenhouse gas emission by 2030 and to achieve NetZero  by 2050.   We have committed to working with a technology company who will be assisting with a benchmarking exercise and pulling together a step by step plan to achieve our goals and those of our contractor members.

Our next steps:

– To measure and estimate our current greenhouse gas emissions.

– To set short and medium term targets for our emission reductions in line with our commitment

– To develop a plan to achieve our emission reduction targets

– To start to take concrete action to reduce our key emission sources and move toward the net zero target date.

– Encourage other SMEs to do the same!

Our Energy:

We are reviewing our utilities across the site – capturing data from our Electricity, Gas and water usage –  all of which contributes to our carbon footprint.

We will be benchmarking this for the whole site and then setting a plan to reduce this overtime.

In addition to this, we are working with a local provider to develop a proposal for installing solar power on our roof space.

Plus we this year we have committed to the installation of Electric Vehicle charging points.

WASTE

We have started to record the waste we send to landfill and recycle centres. And have negotiated a new contract with our waste carrier starting this year to help us to be able to achieve a reduction in the amount we send to landfill.

We have also purchased recycling bins which we have been distributed in the offices For General waste( grey bin) Paper waste (blue bin) and mixed recycling (Green Bin).    

Our people

A new way of workings – post pandemic, our staff members, on a rota basis are able to work from home reducing our transport emissions. Plus our staff members have adapted and increased the use of MS teams, from hybrid network events to meetings to our Concom Auditors offering greater flexibility by conducting Audits remotely without the need to go onto our clients site.

We ae also looking at future initiatives such as a Green electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme and a CATCH volunteers to develop nature and environmental projects and activities to offset carbon.

For further information on our plans you can contact Paul on paul.snowden@catchuk.org

CATCH is an ever expanding, people centric business, and we are looking for a positive, driven person to join our team as a Concom Auditor.

The Concom Scheme is directed by the Client-led Steering Committee comprising of 20+ Chemical, Process and Energy company clients located in the Yorkshire and Humber regions to assess the capability, competence and suitability of contractors who undertake work on their sites.

You would be joining an established Concom Team which presently comprises of another auditor and a coordinator, and work with us to achieve our goals.

Key Role Responsibilities 

• Lead and undertake audits on our client-nominated Concom Contractor Members largely based in the Yorkshire & Humber regions
• Produce and communicate the completed audit report and supporting documentation to both contractor and clients
• Give guidance & provide support to contractors regarding any potential improvements
• Feedback audit findings at the monthly Concom Client Forum

The successful applicant will possess excellent communication and organisational skills together with a good understanding of IT systems.  Because of the nature of the audit scheme, it will likely be that you have a proven background and experience in a heavy-industry environment (possibly top-tier COMAH) and auditing.  You will be self-motivated, able to work independently and enjoy working in a team to produce high quality results.  The position will include travel to contractor’s sites and may include long distances and overnight stays, so a full clean driving license is a requisite. Online and remote audits are possible.

The job is a Part Time position, 3-days per week (not including weekends), 08:00 – 16:00.  A competitive salary will be offered, and additional benefits will be included, following the successful completion of a probationary period.

Please see below for more information or for an informal discussion please contact paul.snowden@catchuk.org or 01469 552825

Closing date – 17^th November 21

Interview date – 23rd November 21

For a company application form please contact:

jasmine.greenhalgh@catchuk.org

www.catchuk.org        

Concom is a project within HCF CATCH Limited                           

CATCH is an ever expanding, people centric business, and we are looking for a positive, driven person to join our team as a Facilities Team Leader.

Reporting to the Head of Operations.

Key responsibilities: –

• Supervise the cleaning supervisor and Caretaker
• Maintain, monitor and continually improve HSE performance of the CATCH site
• Maintain safe systems of work in the operational areas
• Carry out site inductions
• Carry out safety inspections and safety audits – deliver toolbox talks as and when required
• Manage contractors on site and monitor quality of work
• Maintain facility, plant and Catch equipment in working order, to meet the client’s needs
• Ensure regulatory compliance is maintained for all necessary equipment
• Support, mentor and supervise all apprentices and clients whilst on site.
• Control access to process plant and site via issuing work permits/signing in process
• Liaise with external bodies when required
• Provide First Aid and emergency cover for the site
• Assist other Catch personnel with their duties as required, to ensure customer relations
• Key holder and out of hours contact
• Be flexible in their hours to for holiday cover and sickness

The role is based at the CATCH Head Office in Stallingborough. The role is full time working Monday – Friday 08:00 – 16:30 and the salary will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Closing date for applications: 17^th November 21

Interviews will be carried out on: 25^th November 21

For more information or an informal discussion please contact paul.snowden@catchuk.org or on 01469 552825

For a company application form please contact:

jasmine.greenhalgh@catchuk.org

www.catchuk.org

I work with the CATCH Skills team to coordinate training courses and assign the relevant trainers to the courses. I work closely with the commercial team to ensure we are meeting the demand of training. Customer service is priority in my role, looking after customers on the phone and assisting delegates on site. Big part of my role is to lead on the CATCH Skills marketing, coordinating the activity on site.

I always learn something new which makes coming into work enjoyable every day. My favourite part of my job is the variety, each day can bring me very different tasks. To develop I hope to improve on my leadership skills so I can progress even further in my career.

In 10 years time I hope to of progressed into a supervisory role within CATCH. If I could give my 13 year old self some advice it would be to go with the flow as everything works out how it should in the end!

My role consists of day-to-day general HR and administration, organising room hire and meetings, and to organise company events. I also work towards meeting the BSI ISO 9001 accreditation. Additionally, I tend to do a bit of everything around the office. It is always in my best interest to make sure customers are happy with the advice and support they receive, whether this be face to face, by email or phone. I will always try my best to help them achieve the outcome they were looking for.

Every morning I am driven and motivated when I walk into work, I always want the best from every working day. I would say my favourite thing about my job is working with such an amazing team, we all support each other wherever we can, even if we are not in the same department, we will always pull together to make sure the job is done correctly. I find that working in business support you are always faced with different challenges, but I enjoy this as it helps me stay motivated.

I want to continue to improve my confidence, since starting at CATCH I have seen a huge difference and I think that working here has really brought me on. I was so shy when I first started and now you can’t shut me up! I am currently signed up to the CIPD Foundation Level in People Practice which is going to help me learn to act with confidence, perform effectively, drive change, and help me progress in my career. I am looking forward to bringing what I learn into the business. In 10 years’ time I hope that I will still be working at CATCH in more of a management role or senior role.

My advice to my 15-year-old self would be to worry less, spend less time worrying about what could go wrong and think more positively about what could go right!