The coordinators of the UK’s largest resource efficiency and waste management event, RWM in partnership with CIWM, announced yesterday (May 2) that they will be setting up a series of focus groups to help determine the event’s future direction. The focus groups, chaired by Barry Dennis, Director General of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), will meet several times a year and will be made up of senior representatives of the resource efficiency and waste management sector.
Until two years ago, the Resource and Waste Management (RWM) exhibition and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management‘s (CIWM) Futuresource show (run in partnership with ESA) were entirely separate. In 2010, however, CIWM and ESA reacted to market feedback by merging the two to create one event dedicated to resource and waste management. The combined exhibition has become the UK’s largest event in the sector; over 700 exhibitors and 14,000 visitors are expected at the 2012 event, along with around 100 expert speakers.
“We were pleased, but not complacent about the feedback from the first combined exhibition last year”, said RWM Managing Director Alison Jackson. “Going forward, as well as continuing to work closely with the industry’s professional body CIWM, we would like more input from the industry and our customers to drive the event forward and truly compete on an international basis. The UK deserves a world-class event. We are delighted that Barry Dennis has agreed to chair this group and given his refreshing no-nonsense style, I expect the meetings to be direct and thought provoking.”
Barry Dennis echoed Alison’s sentiment: “This is a very welcome initiative and I am delighted to be asked to chair the RWM Focus Group. By engaging with the industry in this way, we can ensure that the event continues to deliver the right platform to showcase this important and growing sector in the future.”
The next RWM will take place from 11-13 September at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. This show will display the latest products and services from the sector and will offer many free seminar sessions, as well as being a potentially important networking opportunity for attendees.
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