Hear me speak

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
Hear me speak I do quite a lot of public speaking at conferences, seminars, webinars & networking events. I speak mainly about environmental management, but also about business issues. I love sharing my experiences, stories & know how with others - how can I help you with your event?   Hear me speak - coming up I have a number of speaking engagements over the next couple of months, including the following: 25 years of ISO 14001 and what the future holds - webinar with BSI (British Standards Institute) 1 November, 13.00 Twenty-five years after it was first published, ISO 14001 is the world’s most popular environmental standard with nearly 350,000 certifications. This webinar will cover the standard’s impact and look forward to how ISO 14001 is going to help organisations tackle the future challenges of environmental management. I will speak about the role of ISO 14001 in tackling climate change. More info here Counting down to Zero - webinar with the IoD 12 November, 12.30 Hear about the opportunities of embracing...
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Marking 25 years of ISO 14001

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
Marking 25 years of ISO 14001 I am looking forward to speaking at the BSI webinar ‘25 years of ISO 14001 and what the future holds’. Wow, the silver anniversary! ISO 14001 is the world’s most popular environmental standard with nearly 350,000 certifications and it’s been around since 1996…. indeed this is the year I started working in environmental management. As you know I’m a great advocate of ISO 14001 – it provides the best framework for understanding and managing your environmental impacts, risks and opportunities. The webinar will cover the standard’s impact since 1996, but more importantly look forward to how ISO 14001 is going to help organisations tackle the future challenges of environmental management. I am joining a great panel of expert speakers. I will talk about the role of ISO 14001 in tackling climate change – a particularly relevant topic given the widespread interest in Net Zero nowadays. Book now – here is the link. Monday 1st November 1-3pm (UK time).       _____________________ Liked this post? Sign up...
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Celebrating Eshcon’s 15th Anniversary

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
Celebrating Eshcon’s 15th Anniversary Help me celebrate! 15 years ago, I set up Eshcon to develop and deliver my mission – to make environmental management THE business norm. 2006 seems an age ago now. It’s strange to look back and think about how I, and the business, have developed. Eshcon became full-time in 2012, previously working one day per week. I’ve had a rollercoaster of a ride – learning how to set up and run a business (never done that before), developing new services that clients really value, getting out and about to raise the profile of environmental management to a whole new audience. This is no mean feat seeing as most SMEs don’t last more than five years.   Anniversary party? Of course, I wanted to mark the anniversary. Pre Covid, it would be normal for companies to hold a little soirée - inviting clients, colleagues and partners for drinks and canapés. Parties aren’t really my thing, even if we were allowed to meet in person. I...
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How to Plan Environmental Audits

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
How to Plan Environmental Audits I was pleased to share my experiences of environmental auditing again recently on a very well attended IEMA webinar. I was joined by Gillian Gibson (Gibson Training), Ben Goodwin (IEMA) and Matthew Goldberg (National Grid). We are all part of IEMA’s Environmental Auditing Committee, a working group of experts ranging from consultants, in-house auditors and UKAS the organisation that oversees certification bodies. We are reviewing the IEMA Register of Environmental Auditors and prepared briefing papers on the value of environmental auditing. The committee has also developed a series of webinars, some for experienced auditors and others for those new to the industry – the latter, the Environmental Auditing 101 series, examines different elements of auditing and the ISO 14001 standard. This, our most recent webinar, was titled ‘Planning, scoping & resourcing for successful audits’. This was obviously a subject of great interest as we had over 500 people join us. Pitfalls of not planning Why should you prepare for an environmental...
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3 Top Tips on Networking from a GDB Ambassador

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
3 Top Tips on Networking from a GDB Ambassador I recently finished my two terms as the Chair of Gatwick Diamond Business (GDB), the most notable business membership organisation in the region. I was delighted when they invited me to stay connected and become a GDB Ambassador. I have seen the organisation grow, adapt and flourish with new services and membership options, always with networking at its core. Face-to-face or virtual, it’s great to meet other GDB members - useful and interesting people - to discuss their objectives, opportunities and ideal clients. Being a GDB member has been extremely worthwhile both for my business and for me personally. Eshcon thrives on partnerships and recommendations – GDB is the place to be.   GDB Ambassadors I join a group of five other Ambassadors, representing a range of business type, size and sector. We’ve all been members of GDB for many years and see the value of networking, while supporting other members. Back when GDB just did in-person events,...
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Seize the Net Zero Opportunity Webinar

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
Seize the Net Zero Opportunity Webinar In my latest webinar for Gatwick Diamond Business, I teamed up with Zoë Osmond of University of Brighton to show how businesses can Seize the Net Zero Opportunity. I started with an introduction to climate change and #ShowYourStripes, plus the benefits organisations see when embedding the environment into their business practices. Zoë spoke about the Green Growth Platform (delivered nationally now via Clean Growth UK) and the support available to businesses to drive green innovation. Advice, seminars, grants and events – all aimed at driving the local carbon sector. Your Net Zero Journey I finished with Your Net Zero Journey. It can be complex so I’ve distilled it down to a five-stage process, that’ll ensure your journey is straight-forward, achievable and successful. For more details on this, see here. Check out the webinar here on YouTube: My sections are at 0.49 and 33.09 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMPqwGq6j4&t=3s If you’d like green innovation support, check out Clean Growth UK services here.   _____________________ Liked this post? Sign up for the...
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CEnv – My Webinar with SocEnv

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
CEnv - My Webinar with SocEnv I’m really pleased to support the Society of the Environment (SocEnv) campaign to promote the Chartered Environmentalist professional qualification. I am a CEnv and Fellow of IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment). Being CEnv demonstrates a commitment to the environmental industry & leadership to others – clients, partners & other professionals. In my recent webinar with SocEnv, I joined 2 other Chartered Environmentalists to discuss ‘How CEnv has helped me and my career’. SocEnv webinar How CEnv registration has helped me and my career - that's what we asked three Chartered Environmentalists in this special webinar. In this webinar CEnv professionals join us to share their experiences of securing the designation, the opportunities which obtaining the qualification have presented and the positive impacts achieving CEnv has had on their work. Our special guests: Anya Ledwith - Director at Eshcon Ltd. Sophie Harris - Environmental Regulation and Response Manager at Thames Water. Chandra Kripa Dwarakanath - Principal Consultant at Jacobs. My slot starts at...
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My webinars with Sussex Innovation

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
Check out my webinars with Sussex Innovation Over summer I’ve been busy doing webinars. These have been with a variety of organisations, including Gatwick Diamond Business, IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management) and Sussex Innovation (SINC). Check out below the 2 webinars I did with SINC as part of their Survive & Thrive series. I spoke about the benefits of environmental management, my business and the challenges/opportunities of Covid-19.   Sussex Innovation’s Survive & Thrive series - Sustainable Futures We've all seen and heard about the positive impact that lockdown has had on the environment. For many of us it has given us pause for thought about how we can maintain and build upon these sustainable behaviours as we move towards the "next normal", but what does this mean for businesses? This webinar explores how small businesses can seek to reduce their environmental impact, and the benefits of doing so. The panel includes: - Steve Creed (Creed Management Solutions) gives giving an introduction to and the benefits of...
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Chair of GDB – What it means to me

By Anya Ledwith Comment Closed
Chair of GDB – What it means to me After completing my two terms, I recently stepped down as Chair of GDB. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, with ups & downs, some challenges and a lot of enjoyable experiences. I’ve been a member of GDB Gatwick Diamond Business since I first set up my business Eshcon. I knew that networking would be an important part of my business and marketing strategy. I get nearly all of my work through referrals, so having an active network of contacts is really important. People need to know me, like me, trust me. And I use my GDB network for just that. In addition to the paid staff, GDB has an Executive Council made up of members, lead by the Chair and Directors. I first joined the Executive in 2013 and became Chair in 2016. My GDB objectives My objectives when I became Chair were to show strong leadership, of both the Executive and the whole organisation. GDB was...
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Hear me speak

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Hear me speak I do quite a lot of public speaking at conferences, seminars, webinars & networking events. I speak mainly about environmental management, but also about business issues. I love sharing my experiences, stories & know how with others - how can I help you with your event?   Hear me speak - coming up I have a number of speaking engagements over the next couple of months, including the following: Seize the Net Zero Opportunity - webinar with GDB 6 November, 11 am In this Ask the Expert session for GDB Gatwick Diamond Business, Zoë Osmond of the Green Growth Platform and I will explore the opportunities and benefits of embracing low carbon innovation. Book here East Sussex Assembly Annual Conference - The main theme is: Climate change: how can we all adapt to meet the challenges of a changing environment 23 November, 9.00 I will be hosting a series of break-out sessions covering Your Net Zero Journey. More info here   Past events I’ve been busy – here are some of my...
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GDB Diamond Sept 20

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Read my Chairman’s Column in the GDB Diamond My regular column in Diamond – the magazine for Gatwick Diamond Business.   Welcome to my last Chairman’s Column. I stayed on for an extra couple of months during the pandemic until the AGM, postponed until September. It’s been a privilege to be Chair of gdb & I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself, indeed the years have flown by. I’ve seen a lot of change, with new staff coming on board, of course the pandemic, but also now our more formalised, strategic approach for the business. We have developed new services, partnerships with key organisations, learning & development programmes, quality publications, structured membership options & attracted more diverse organisations, in terms of size, sector & location. All these truly demonstrate the great value of gdb membership. With lockdown easing, we now have a great opportunity to change the way we live, work & operate as a nation – to Build Back Better, with greater benefits for society, the environment and economy. I am...
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#IamCEnv

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#IamCEnv - Supporting the SocEnv Campaign #iamCEnv – What does it mean to be a Chartered Environmentalist? I'm really pleased to support the Society of the Environment (SocEnv) campaign to promote the Chartered Environmentalist professional qualification. I am a CEnv and Fellow of IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment). Being CEnv demonstrates a commitment to the environmental industry & leadership to others - clients, partners & other professionals. CEnv SocEnv asked me to share my story - how I developed my career, why to went for CEnv and any tips for others. See here for my short video (be kind, it's my first You Tube video!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=8_8hrH-dB7Y&feature=emb_logo I became CEnv back in 2005. As the environmental industry was still emerging, I wanted to gain the professional qualification to highlight my skills & knowledge, to show that environmental management was a credible and recognised field. I have a mission to make environmental management the business norm. My work on ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems (EMS), SECR carbon reporting & ESOS energy...
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Using ISO 14001 to go Net Zero

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Using ISO 14001 to go Net Zero Net Zero is the new buzzword. With so much more interest in climate change nowadays, from individuals & companies alike, it is not surprising that many businesses are committing to reduce & even neutralise their carbon emissions. The trouble is, most people don’t know where to start. It’s exciting to set the goal, but to achieve it requires a considered approach. Luckily, that’s where ISO 14001 comes in. ISO 14001, the Environmental Management Systems (EMS) standard, offers a formalised framework for identifying your environmental impacts, including climate risks & carbon emissions.   ISO 14001 EMS & Climate Change My latest webinar for IEMA was attended by nearly 200 people. I shared the virtual stage with Marek Bidwell, Nick Blyth of IEMA & also Kirit Patel of DHL Supply Chain, who gave an overview of DHL’s Environmental Management System & approach to risks & opportunities. I spoke about how ISO 14001 can be used to turn climate aspirations into reality. Climate...
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Adapting my business during Covid-19

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Adapting my business during Covid-19 How have businesses adapted during the Covid-19 crisis? Are female entrepreneurs thriving during these difficult times? What changes need to be made to existing business models? I was pleased to discuss these issues in the SINC Female Founders webinar run jointly by with Sussex Innovation Centre & Gatwick Diamond Business, as part of their Survive & Thrive series. I shared the screen with 2 other female founders - Daniela Carl, Deputy Chief Executive of the Regional Studies Association, and Oanh Brophy, head of a circular economy start up. The objective of the session was to introduce our businesses & discuss how we had adapted during the pandemic. Here’s what I covered.   Effective Environmental Management during Covid-19 I shared my story – my why, my business, my services. I started with ‘My Why’ – my love for our beautiful, complex & wonderful world. It’s important to me & what drives my career in environmental management. Indeed, many more people nowadays feel the same. Recent research by...
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Tell me your Environmental Stories

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Tell me your Environmental Stories “Where do your machines go when they die, Daddy?” A talk with his young daughter prompted the MD of medical manufacturing company to start their environmental journey, managing energy, materials & waste – all done through their ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. With the ongoing pandemic, I’m making use of the time I used to spend travelling. Rather than learning a new language or baking sourdough bread, I’m finally getting round to writing my book. It’s all about how, why & when to put in an Environmental Management System.   Do you have environmental stories to share? For my research, I want to speak to businesses, particularly SMEs, who have an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. Why did they get started? How involved is senior management? Did they use a consultant? How long do staff spend each month? What motivates staff to be part of environmental projects? What’s the weirdest thing found in the audit? Anecdotes & stories are really useful, especially when...
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GDB Diamond July 20

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Read my Chairman’s Column in the GDB Diamond My regular column in Diamond – the magazine for GDB Gatwick Diamond Business.   I write this on the day that should have been our AGM, which is now postponed to September because of the Covid-19 disruption. The new AGM is going to be different; it might be in person or done virtually – hopefully we can have a dynamic & engaging session. Either way, this is just another of many examples of adapting to new ways of working. There will be a couple of vacancies on the Executive Council, so please do consider now if you’d like to nominate yourself. It is an interesting & rewarding opportunity to be involved in the running of Gatwick Diamond Business. Voting will be taking place later on in summer. Have you seen the report commissioned by our sister organisation, Gatwick Diamond Ltd, on the impact of Covid-19 in this area? A loss of 12.8% in GVA is expected in 2020. To...
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GDB Diamond May 20

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Read my Chairman’s Column in the GDB Diamond My regular column in Diamond - the magazine for GDB Gatwick Diamond Business.   Firstly, I hope you are all well & managing to get through the initial shock of the Covid-19 lockdown. In these fast-moving times, it is difficult to write a piece which may be rather dated by the time of publication. As I write this, it’s a beautiful sunny Monday morning & I’ve been working from home for I don’t know how many weeks. The gdb Steering Group has been meeting regularly to assess risk & plan budgets & strategy. The first difficult decision was the postpone the Awards, without government guidance at the time we wanted to show leadership. I look forward to the ceremony later in the year & at least the entrants can continue to use the ‘gdb Awards 2020 Finalist’ strapline on their emails! Similarly, we have decided to postpone the AGM until September. This way we can have an engaging &...
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Remote Auditing

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Can Your Environmental Audit be done Remotely? The regular environmental audits are an important part of an Environmental Management System & help to keep an organisation on track in managing its impacts & risks. Usually the audit is done actually on-site, walking around, viewing files, speaking to staff. With many business premises closed down & workers confined to home, you may be concerned about keeping the audit programme up & running. Should you be doing your internal audits? What happens with the annual surveillance visit from the certification body? Rather than everything grinding to a halt, during these challenging times, it’s better to do something & keep up the momentum of your audit programme. Remote audits – which are conducted partially or completely off site, using technology to support the auditor - are now being offered. Who knows, we may find this new way of working may be suitable in the future as well. I can help you prepare for a remote audit.   Logistics &...
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Hear me speak

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Hear me speak (early 2020) I have a number of speaking engagements over the next couple of months, including the following: Sussex Innovation Centre’s Female Founders' Open Morning 27th February, Falmer A networking breakfast & 1:1 mentoring sessions for local business women and budding female entrepreneurs. I’ll be speaking about my business journey. Book here   Open4Business Expo 26th March, South of England Showground, Ardingly I will chair the panel & speak about making environmental management the business norm. Book here   Remote Auditing webinar with IEMA 29th April, 9.30 webinar I’m on the expert panel of the IEMA webinar sharing top tips to get the best from your remote environmental audit. This is one of a series of webinars about adapting to life during the Covid-19 lockdown. Book now       End of each month: Gatwick Diamond Business As Chairman of GDB I make a regular address to the monthly Members’ Meeting, about GDB strategy, direction & key learning points from events.   _____________________ Liked this post? Sign up for the Eshcon Newsletter.  ...
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Hear me speak

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Hear me speak (summer/autumn 2018) I have a number of speaking engagements over the next couple of months, including the following: 7th September: University of Sussex Business School conference Leading Organisations Through Change and Challenge - I will share my experiences of developing the vision for Gatwick Diamond Business & leading it through a significant period of change. Book here   17th October: Sustainable Business conference How to gain commercial benefit by putting the environment into the core of your business. Book here   22nd November: BSI webinar - ISO 14001 & the SDGs This webinar will examine how an ISO 14001 EMS can help your business deliver the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More details soon   I've been busy - here are some of my past events: 10th August: Sustainable Business Partnership breakfast What I learnt about Environmental Management Systems by riding a classic motorcycle over the Himalayas! 10th July: Gatwick Diamond Meet the Buyers seminar Opportunity Knocks: Growth through Innovation. You don't need to radically change your business to innovate; responding to customer's requirements for Environmental Management Systems can be enough....
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