ESS - Envirnmental Services & Solutions Expo
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About this event
ESS – Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo)
ESS – Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo) is a leading UK trade show focused on the circular economy, net-zero transitions, sustainability, and biodiversity. The event brings together environmental services, sustainability solution providers, and decision-makers to share practical innovations, support policy understanding, and connect across the environmental sector.
When & Where
- Date: 16–17 September 2026
- Venue: NEC Birmingham
- City/Country: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Why Attend (Industry Purpose)
ESS Expo positions itself as the “number-one business exchange” for the industry, designed to help organizations source the latest products and services, learn about key policy updates, and discover breakthrough technologies. It is built as a high-impact, sector-wide meeting point where collaboration, innovation, and practical learning help attendees take actionable insights back to their organizations.
Who Shows Up (High-Level Audience)
Based on the event’s published messaging, the show brings together a broad mix of stakeholders across environmental services and solutions, including:
- Councils and government leaders
- Environmental service providers
- Global brands active in sustainability and environmental delivery
- Industry professionals aligned to circular economy, net zero, and environmental outcomes
Expected Attendance & Scale
ESS Expo is promoted as drawing 16,000+ professionals across two high-impact days. The event also states that in 2025 it recorded 15,410 high-level attendees. With the show operating as a single, comprehensive platform for multiple sustainability and environmental themes, it is intended to deliver both business networking and sector visibility.
Key Themes & Exhibition Sectors
ESS Expo covers environmental priorities including the journey to net zero, biodiversity loss, and the circular economy. The event organizes its industry focus across multiple sector areas, including:
- Resource & Waste Management (recycling, resource recovery, circular economy innovation, sustainable waste management)
- Water, Wastewater & Environmental Management (water treatment, environmental protection, compliance)
- Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation (renewable energy, alternative fuels, low-carbon solutions)
- Contamination & Land Remediation (soil, groundwater, and brownfield remediation)
- Geotechnical Engineering & Operations (site investigation, ground engineering, geotechnical solutions)
- Air Quality & Emissions (monitoring, mitigation, emissions control, environmental compliance)
Networking & Featured Initiatives
ESS includes dedicated networking and feature programming to connect the sector beyond the main exhibition floors. One highlighted flagship networking experience is RWM Connect, positioned as an industry “meet after” moment for the resource, energy, waste & recycling ecosystem. RWM Connect is described as taking place on the opening evening of ESS Expo activities on 16 September 2026.
Opening Evening Awards
The event highlights the Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (The EMMAs), scheduled for the opening evening of ESS Expo. These awards bring together water, air quality, and geoenvironmental communities to recognize projects and organizations delivering real-world impact across air, water, and land.
Commercial & Business Exchange Focus
ESS Expo is designed to function as an industry collaboration hub—supporting discovery of suppliers and solutions, enabling conversations around current and upcoming environmental priorities, and helping attendees align technology and services with environmental outcomes. The overall positioning emphasizes tangible progress in sustainability and environmental delivery across the UK and Europe.
Note: This description is based on the official ESS Expo website content provided, including event dates and venue details.
Data sheet
| Event Name | Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo) |
| Event Date | 16–17 September 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | NEC Birmingham |
| City | Birmingham |
| State / Region | England / West Midlands |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Organizer | ESS Expo / event organizer as listed on the official website |
| Official Event Website | ess-expo.co.uk |
| Event Type | Trade show, expo, conference, networking and buyer-supplier marketplace |
| Primary Category | Environment & Waste |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Power & Energy; Industrial Engineering; Logistics & Transportation; Building & Construction; Science & Research |
| Audience Reach | National with meaningful UK-wide and European participation |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Estimated 16,000+ professionals based on official website messaging; 2026 final attendance not yet publicly confirmed |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Moderate. Official 2025 figure cited by organizer; 2026 attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To connect environmental services, waste, water, energy, decarbonisation, remediation, air quality, and sustainability stakeholders for sourcing, policy updates, innovation, and business development. |
Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo) is positioned as a major UK environmental industry gathering focused on circular economy, net-zero transition, sustainability, biodiversity, resource management, water and wastewater, air quality, land remediation, geotechnical engineering, and decarbonisation. The official website presents the 2026 edition as a multi-show platform at NEC Birmingham with dedicated feature areas, live demonstrations, awards, speakers, and networking initiatives.
The event matters because it concentrates decision-makers, public-sector buyers, operators, consultants, and solution providers in one place for procurement, partnership, policy insight, and product discovery. For suppliers serving environmental operations, infrastructure, sustainability, monitoring, and compliance markets, ESS provides strong B2B lead-generation potential and a broad buyer profile spanning councils, utilities, contractors, industrial operators, and service companies.
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local authority and municipal buyers | Councils, boroughs, cities, county authorities | Specify waste, recycling, fleet, environmental monitoring, and remediation needs | High-value buyers for environmental services, equipment, and compliance solutions |
| Waste management operators | Resource recovery, recycling, MRF, transfer station, landfill and collections firms | Operations, fleet, plant, technology, and service procurement | Primary audience for trucks, bins, sorting, processing, analytics, and compliance tools |
| Water and wastewater utilities | Utilities, water companies, environmental service contractors | Procure treatment, monitoring, asset management, and resilience technologies | Strong fit for instrumentation, treatment systems, and service partners |
| Environmental compliance and EHS teams | Industrial groups, utilities, infrastructure operators, manufacturers | Influence monitoring, reporting, assurance, and audit-related purchases | Relevant for air quality, emissions, water quality, and ESG reporting tools |
| Civil engineering and remediation contractors | Ground engineering, remediation, brownfield, infrastructure contractors | Influence subcontracting, equipment, testing, and specialist service procurement | Useful for land, soil, geotechnical, and containment solutions |
| Energy and decarbonisation buyers | Energy developers, facilities operators, industrial decarbonisation teams | Evaluate low-carbon fuels, heat, electrification, and process efficiency offerings | Relevant for renewable, alternative fuel, and emissions reduction vendors |
| Consultants and advisors | Environmental consultants, engineering advisors, policy specialists | Influence specification, vendor selection, and project recommendations | Amplify referrals and project-based opportunities for suppliers |
| Fleet and operations leaders | Waste fleets, municipal fleets, logistics operators, service contractors | Purchase vehicles, telematics, maintenance, and operational equipment | Important for truck, telematics, depot, and maintenance suppliers |
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Birmingham | West Midlands attendees, regional councils, local contractors | High | NEC location supports strong regional footfall and supplier participation |
| Host region: West Midlands / England | Midlands authorities, contractors, utilities, and industrial operators | High | Dense concentration of infrastructure, manufacturing, and public-sector procurement activity |
| Nearby business hubs | London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, Nottingham, Sheffield | Medium to High | Travel-friendly from major UK procurement and operations centres |
| National reach | UK-wide buyers, suppliers, consultants, and policy stakeholders | Very High | The event’s official positioning supports broad UK buyer attendance |
| International reach | European environmental technology providers and cross-border contractors | Moderate | Likely but not formally quantified in current-year public data |
| Relevant trade corridors | UK waste, water, infrastructure, and industrial services supply chains | High | Especially relevant for fleet, monitoring, treatment, and remediation suppliers |
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | Official messaging and the NEC Birmingham location indicate a UK-wide business event with strong national buyer appeal. |
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City Council | Local government buyer | Likely buyer for waste, fleet, environmental monitoring, and sustainability services | birmingham.gov.uk | Head of Procurement, Waste Services Manager, Sustainability Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Coventry City Council | Local government buyer | Relevant for municipal waste, air quality, and decarbonisation projects | coventry.gov.uk | Procurement Manager, Environmental Services Lead, Net Zero Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| West Midlands Combined Authority | Regional public-sector buyer | Infrastructure, sustainability, transport, and regional decarbonisation priorities | wmca.org.uk | Director of Procurement, Programme Manager, Sustainability Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Severn Trent | Water utility buyer | Water and wastewater treatment, asset monitoring, resilience, and environmental compliance | severntrent.com | Procurement Lead, Engineering Manager, Environmental Compliance Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| United Utilities | Water utility buyer | Relevant for treatment, leakage, monitoring, and sustainability solutions | unitedutilities.com | Category Manager, Asset Manager, Water Quality Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Thames Water | Water utility buyer | Large-scale utility procurement in treatment, monitoring, and environmental performance | thameswater.co.uk | Head of Procurement, Capital Projects Director, Environmental Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Veolia UK | Resource and environmental services operator | Potential buyer for fleet, plant, remediation, digital, and service solutions | veolia.co.uk | Procurement Director, Operations Director, Fleet Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Biffa | Waste and resource management operator | Strong fit for recycling, fleet, data, and operational technology suppliers | biffa.co.uk | Strategic Sourcing Manager, Operations Manager, Fleet Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK | Waste management operator | Relevant for materials recovery, service contracts, plant, and environmental technology | suez.co.uk | Procurement Manager, Regional Operations Director, Commercial Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| FCC Environment | Waste and resource management operator | Buyer for processing, operations, and sustainability-related services | fccenvironment.co.uk | Head of Procurement, Site Operations Manager, Business Development Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Procurement Officer | Procurement | C-level | Owns large vendor decisions, frameworks, and sourcing strategy |
| 2 | Director of Procurement | Procurement | Director | Influences preferred suppliers and contract awards |
| 3 | Strategic Sourcing Manager | Sourcing | Manager | Evaluates suppliers, pricing, and total cost of ownership |
| 4 | Category Manager | Procurement / Supply Chain | Manager | Manages environmental services, fleet, or capex categories |
| 5 | Operations Director | Operations | Director | Drives asset, fleet, plant, and service performance needs |
| 6 | Sustainability Director / Net Zero Lead | Sustainability / ESG | Director / Head | Key stakeholder for decarbonisation, circularity, and compliance initiatives |
| 7 | Environmental Compliance Manager | EHS / Compliance | Manager | Needs monitoring, testing, reporting, and audit-ready solutions |
| 8 | Head of Waste Services | Municipal Services | Head / Director | Controls collection, recycling, treatment, and contracts |
| 9 | Water Quality Manager | Water Operations | Manager | Relevant for treatment, instrumentation, and environmental monitoring vendors |
| 10 | Fleet Manager | Fleet / Logistics | Manager | Purchases vehicles, telematics, maintenance, and fuel solutions |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Services | Core industry focus of the expo | Waste, monitoring, compliance, and sustainability services |
| 2 | Renewables & Environment | Strong alignment with net-zero and decarbonisation themes | Low-carbon technologies and environmental programs |
| 3 | Government Administration | Councils and public bodies are a major attendee group | Public-sector procurement and services sourcing |
| 4 | Utilities | Water, wastewater, and energy utility buyers are highly relevant | Treatment, monitoring, compliance, and resilience solutions |
| 5 | Construction | Brownfield, remediation, geotechnical, and infrastructure overlap | Site investigation and remediation services |
| 6 | Civil Engineering | Infrastructure and land remediation attendance is strongly relevant | Ground engineering and environmental works |
| 7 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Relevant for waste collection, fleet, and reverse logistics | Fleet, routing, telematics, and material movement solutions |
| 8 | Machinery | Processing, handling, and site equipment buyer base | Industrial plant, sorting, and treatment systems |
| 9 | Industrial Automation | Sensor, control, and monitoring solutions fit event themes | Monitoring, reporting, and plant automation |
| 10 | Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Instrumentation and monitoring hardware markets are relevant | Measurement, detection, and control equipment |
| 11 | Oil & Energy | Decarbonisation and fuels tracks extend to energy operators | Low-carbon transition and emissions reduction |
| 12 | Facilities Services | Facilities teams manage waste, compliance, and sustainability programs | Integrated FM, waste, and environmental services |
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | 16,000+ professionals | Estimated / organizer-reported | Official website messaging | 2026 final attendance not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Historical attendance | 15,410 high-level attendees in 2025 | Historical / prior-year evidence | Official website content | Useful benchmark for event scale and B2B list-building potential. |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed in the provided official text | Unconfirmed | Official website excerpt | Use the 2026 exhibitor list page when available for verification. |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | Official website excerpt | Likely mixed audience of buyers, specifiers, and operators. |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | Official website excerpt | Agenda and speakers pages are listed but count not supplied in the excerpt. |
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procurement | Source reliable environmental and operational services | Target category owners and framework buyers | Tender support, managed services, supply contracts |
| Technology | Improve visibility, automation, and productivity | Demonstrate operational ROI and data value | Software, sensors, dashboards, telematics |
| Sustainability / Net Zero | Meet emissions and circular economy goals | Position solutions around measurable impact | Decarbonisation, energy efficiency, reporting tools |
| Waste and Resource Management | Recover more material and reduce disposal costs | Show productivity, compliance, and diversion gains | Sorting, recycling, collection, handling systems |
| Water and Wastewater | Improve treatment, quality, and resilience | Engage utility and industrial water teams | Treatment systems, monitoring, service contracts |
| Air Quality & Emissions | Measure and control compliance risks | Open conversations with EHS and operations leaders | Monitoring equipment, analytics, mitigation tools |
| Land Remediation / Brownfield | De-risk contaminated land and redevelopment | Target engineering and development decision-makers | Remediation services, testing, containment |
| Fleet and Logistics | Operate cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable fleets | Connect with fleet and transport managers | Vehicles, telematics, maintenance, fueling |
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event attracts councils, utilities, operators, contractors, and sustainability teams with active buying needs. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Strong mix of directors, heads, managers, and public-sector stakeholders is expected. |
| Data collection potential | High | Official lists, speaker pages, and exhibitor directories can support attendee intelligence and prospecting. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Strong match across public sector, utilities, environmental services, and operations-heavy industries. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | UK-wide targeting is practical, with additional focus on the Midlands and major urban authorities. |
| Best outreach approach | High-touch multichannel | Email, LinkedIn, phone, and event-based invite sequences work well for procurement and operations buyers. |
| Overall lead quality | Very High | One of the stronger UK events for environmental-services and sustainability-led B2B lead generation. |
| Best use case | Attendee list building, exhibitor outreach, and buyer profiling | Best suited to suppliers selling into waste, water, remediation, monitoring, and decarbonisation markets. |
| Limitations / risks | Moderate | Current-year attendee lists are not fully public in the provided text; buyer targeting should combine official lists with Apollo enrichment. |
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Environmental Services; Government Administration; Utilities; Construction; Civil Engineering; Logistics & Supply Chain; Facilities Services; Machinery; Industrial Automation; Renewables & Environment | Build a concentrated buyer universe aligned with the show’s themes |
| Departments | Procurement; Operations; Supply Chain; Sustainability; EHS / Compliance; Engineering; Fleet; Facilities | Find active buyer-side stakeholders |
| Seniority | Manager, Director, VP, Head, C-level | Prioritize decision-makers and budget owners |
| Job titles | Procurement Manager, Category Manager, Head of Waste Services, Sustainability Manager, Environmental Compliance Manager, Operations Director, Fleet Manager, Water Quality Manager, Director of Procurement, Chief Procurement Officer | Target event-relevant roles with purchase influence |
| Geography | United Kingdom; England; West Midlands; London; North West; Yorkshire; Scotland; Wales | Match the event’s core attendance footprint |
| Employee size | 50–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,000+ | Covers both mid-market operators and large public/private buyers |
| Keywords | waste, recycling, environmental compliance, net zero, decarbonisation, air quality, water treatment, wastewater, remediation, brownfield, fleet, sustainability | Increase precision for attendee and account discovery |
| Company type | Public sector, utilities, operator, contractor, service provider, consulting firm | Focus on organizations most likely to buy or influence buying |
| Revenue range | Use mid-market and enterprise ranges where applicable | Prioritize organizations with project and procurement budgets |
Suggested Apollo search logic: (environmental services OR waste OR recycling OR water treatment OR remediation OR air quality OR sustainability OR decarbonisation) AND (procurement OR operations OR supply chain OR sustainability OR EHS OR compliance) AND (manager OR director OR head OR VP OR chief).
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESS Expo Official Website | Official organizer source | Event name, dates, venue, location, scale, themes, audience positioning, feature areas, 2025 attendance reference | Very High |
| NEC Group | Venue source | Venue identity and Birmingham location context | High |
| Official ESS pages for exhibitor list, speaker agenda, and event info | Official event directory / agenda | Confirmed that 2026 exhibitor, speaker, and agenda pages exist even though the provided excerpt does not list names | High |
| Official testimonial / exhibitor success story references on ESS website | Organizer-published participant references | Named organizations appearing on the official site as participant examples | High |
| Official website wording: “15,410 high-level attendees in 2025” | Historical attendance evidence | Provided a credible prior-year benchmark for event scale | Very High |
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Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to ESS - Envirnmental Services & Solutions Expo — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.