About us

About The Environment Practice

Read about us
Read case studies
View our contact details

The Environment Practice is a multi-disciplinary consultancy offering a wide range of services and training. We are based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, however we have worked in over 30 countries from Europe to Asia and North America.

Environmental Management System Building and Implementation
Insitu Cleaning Services 2004

The Environment Practice was hired by Insitu Cleaning Services to build an Environmental Management System to ISO14001 standards.

Insitu Cleaning Services is a contract cleaning company that operates nationally with contracts throughout the UK. Contracts vary in size form a single cleaner present on the client’s premises for an hour a day to large contracts involving permanent presence of large teams of cleaners and equipment. Clients include shopping centres, nursing homes, and large offices of national companies. Insitu’s main activity is the provision of traditional cleaning services

The Environment Practice conducted an Environmental Review of Insitu and identified what was needed to build and implement an EMS to ISO14001. Following the Environmental Review The Environment Practice provided support and guidance to the designated Environmental Management Representative in charge of the EMS for Insitu. Guidance included, but was not limited to:

• Identification and evaluation of significant environmental aspects
• Identification of applicable environmental legislation and recommendations for actions required to ensure compliance
• Preparation of an environmental policy
• Completion of all documentation and procedures
• Implantation of the EMS including a programme for continual improvement

Environment Practice Consultants provided support and guidance in line with a scheduled programme of works. This included regular site visits as well as e-mail and telephone support.

After the EMS was completed one of our Lead Auditors conducted a ‘pre-certification audit’. Insitu now operate an EMS that is self declared to the standard of ISO 14001 and have the added assurance of a full system audit against this standard by a qualified and independent third party.

Feedback from the Client
" Considering I new very little about Environmental Management Systems, the assistance, guidance and professional expertise I received from the Environment Practice in setting up an EMS was excellent. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this company to any organisation or individual looking to acquire the same system."

Description
Hayle Harbour Development – ING Real Estate Developments (UK) Ltd. (2004-05)
The Environment Practice is providing ecological expertise to a project to re-develop harbour facilities and build recreational, residential and tourist facilities in the town and port of Hayle, Cornwall.

The estuary and coast around the harbour is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), comprising a complex of mud flats, dunes and tidal waters which supports thousands of migratory wading birds and wildfowl, significant fish populations and rare flora. The Practice is coordinating long-term field surveys to establish the extent and distribution of birds’ key feeding and roosting grounds, so allowing us to advise on measures required to minimise disturbance to birds during construction work and harbour operation (eg. marina management, dredging and sluicing). We are also working with engineers, architects, English Nature, the RSPB and the Environment Agency to ensure building layout, design and landscaping maintains protected plant species within local dune grassland habitats.

The results of ecological studies will be incorporated into Environmental Statements for the project, to be submitted both for an outline planning application and Harbour Revision Order to permit harbour works.

Description
The Environment Practice identified a lack of professional environmental training available to individuals employed within the construction sector in the Northeast. We aimed to provide training that would aid construction companies in improving environmental performance and also increase the negative environmental image of the sector. Funded by European Social Fund, and in conjunction with a myriad of organizations the BRICS project was established to provide FREE environmental training to the construction sector in the form of an NVQ.

Environmental Management NVQ level 4
The course is designed to provide individuals with the environmental knowledge and skills necessary to improve the environmental performance of their organisation. The course also provides a basis for the implementation and maintenance of an environmental management system (e.g. to ISO 14001 or EMAS). (There is, however, no requirement to develop a system that is fully compliant with a recognised standard unless desired).

Currently
Since the beginning of the project in autumn 2004, BRICS project has enrolled approximately 70 candidates from 37 construction companies in the Northeast.

What others think of the BRICS project?
‘CITB-Construction Skills welcomes the development of this formal environmental management qualification that will assist in the delivery of sustainable development and a more environmentally friendly construction agenda as well as contributing to the personal career development of employees and employers in our region.’
Simon Murray, Regional Strategic Adviser, CITB-Construction Skills North East and Cumbria.