The UK Resources Council (UKRC) will, on Monday (12 August), publish its initial proposals for a sector deal between the resources sector and UK Government.
The deal aims to unlock the sector’s full potential as a vital contributor to a circular economy; net zero carbon targets; and the “green-growth” agenda in the UK.
Aligned with the publication of a consultation document, which sets out the council’s work to date, UKRC will also launch an online survey and will invite individuals and organisations from across the resources and associated green-growth sectors to participate, by providing their views and feedback on the content of the consultation document.
These consultation responses will help shape the final proposed deal UKRC intends to put before the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) at the end of the year.
The resources and waste sector currently employs a direct workforce of more than 150,000 people, with an estimated 600,000 or more jobs existing in wider circular economy activities such as reuse, repair, leasing and other related activities
Chair of the UK Resources Council, David Palmer-Jones, said: “The resources and waste sector currently employs a direct workforce of more than 150,000 people, with an estimated 600,000 or more jobs existing in wider circular economy activities such as reuse, repair, leasing and other related activities.
“Through this consultation process, we want to capture a diverse range of these many voices, to create a sector deal that both defines our sector and fully unlocks the potential of all of us to deliver even more for the environment, economy and society in future.
“We would very much welcome the participation of all groups, organisations and individuals who identify as belonging to the resources sector, and we offer the initial thoughts of the council and working groups, through this consultation process, to start the discussion.”
Four key themes
In its consultation document, UKRC sets out its approach to drafting the sector deal – focusing on four key themes – data & design, infrastructure, place (spatial planning) and people.
Each theme was assigned to a dedicated working group, which produced draft commitments on behalf of the sector and corresponding “asks” of Government, in order to deliver the economic, social and environmental benefits through the deal, envisaged by UKRC.
The membership of the UK Resources Council was assembled to include representatives from a broad cross-section of the sector, from organisations responsible for materials design; to the production and end-use of materials; recycling, resource-recovery and logistics; energy-production; and policy and regulation.
The membership of the UK Resources Council was assembled to include representatives from a broad cross-section of the sector
The members of each of the working group were also called upon from across the sector, based on their specific expertise. However, through the consultation process, UKRC says it hopes to bring “many more additional voices” to the process and ultimately build consensus within the sector to adopt the final deal.
Global sustainability services and solutions provider, Anthesis, has been instructed by UKRC to facilitate the working groups and administer the development of the sector deal. The consultancy brings expertise in both waste resources and the circular economy, as well as relevant datasets, to support the Council and the working groups. Anthesis will be responsible for consolidating, analysing and reporting back on the consultation outcomes in due course.
Those who wish to participate in the consultation survey, and/or find out more about the proposed sector deal, will be able to access the consultation documents and survey from 3pm (GMT) on Monday August 12.
The consultation will remain open until 6pm (GMT) on September 26 2019. The document and survey will be available online via the following link:
Dedicated email support will also be provided at sectordealsurvey@anthesisgroup.com.