What is SiLC?

The Specialist in Land Condition Register comprises senior experienced professionals in the field of land condition and brownfield regeneration. It is strictly independent and to be placed on the register individuals need to undergo a rigorous written exam and interview process. Essentially it is a peer review and assessment process to assure the quality and competence of the people who pass. It represents the professional pinnacle within the industry.

SiLCs are currently the only people recognised as "Suitably Qualified Persons" under the National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS). This is a scheme which was set up by the National Brownfield Forum and is widely recognised by the Government, the Environment Agency and an increasing number of Local Authorities. The NQMS recognises professionals qualified to verify expert reports on land condition as part of planning applications and other regulatory processes.

Overall SiLCs represent the highest level of expertise a Chartered professional can achieve within the land condition and brownfield regeneration field. We believe it confers a certain amount of prestige and should help to drive business to the individuals who achieve SiLC status.

SiLC is also engaged in mentoring of professionals with a view to supporting their progression through the industry from graduate level to Chartership and ultimately to SiLC.

Do you wish to be recognised at the highest level as an expert in land condition, contaminated land assessment, remediation, and brownfield regeneration?

IEMA is a supporting member of the Specialist in Land Condition Register (SILC) that recognises the highest calibre of senior practitioners within the industry. Its members can also achieve Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) status under the government recognised National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS) and are uniquely qualified to verify land condition reports associated with planning applications and other regulatory processes. For more information click here.

The benefits of being a SiLC include professional recognition that you are at the pinnacle of your profession. You are permitted to use it to promote your practice. As an SQP you will also be able to undertake work that non-registered people cannot. Click here to watch SiLCs explain why they get excited about contaminated land, why they came into the profession and why they became a SiLC.

To become a SiLC you must be Chartered and will need to undergo an exam and interview process. The exam is set by the SiLC Professional and Technical Panel (PTP) and the interview is conducted by a panel of two assessors and an observer - all of which are SiLCs.

There is also a mentoring scheme (SiLC Affiliate Scheme) for those who would like support for their professional development to becoming chartered initially and then applying for SiLC in the longer term. To download The SiLC Affiliate Scheme Leaflet click here. This programme assists new graduates, as well as those with more experience, to work towards full membership and chartered status of a professional body with guidance from a professional body advisor, and then progress towards SiLC/SQP registration with the assistance of a SiLC mentor. The aim is to provide an integrated process for those on the scheme utilising the National Brownfield Skills Framework. For someone to be able to join the scheme it is necessary for them to be a graduate member or full member of one of the qualifying professional bodies. To watch a short video on the SiLC Affiliate Scheme click here.

To find out more please visit www.silc.org.uk where you can obtain details of the SiLC Affiliate Scheme, Introduction Days, the exam process, the NQMS and the role of an SQP.




Delivering on Climate Resilient and Sustainable Brownfield Development – SiLC launch Climate Change & Sustainability Group

The SiLC Register has launched the Climate Change & Sustainability Sub-group to embed sustainability and climate resilience into the development of not just post-industrial brownfield land, but wider development. The intent is to raise awareness and foster the skills necessary to transform our approach to the development of this land. This offers benefits in delivering improved soil health, biodiversity, and climate change and extreme weather events mitigation.

Specialists in Land Condition (SiLCs) have a pivotal role to play, not just in reducing the emissions arising from brownfield land regeneration and embedding sustainability/net zero, but also in restoring the ecosystem services we collectively rely on to deliver fresh water, capture carbon, prevent flooding and grow crops. Key to this is understanding land condition, and how it contributes to delivering nature-based solutions. Solutions that reduce, for instance, the risk of flooding, sequester carbon, provide green spaces and produce renewable energy such as ground source heat.

Working with SiLC’s constituent professional institutions, the Sub-group will leverage the expertise and experience across the brownfield development community and beyond to build the capacity of SiLCs to embed sustainable development practices into how brownfield sites are managed. It is being led by co-chairs Claire Dickinson and Mark Hill.

It is clear, following Climate COP27 and Biodiversity COP15, that both crises pose a systemic risk that affects every aspect of our lives, from extreme weather effects to food security and even the investments that underpin our pensions. Mitigating and adapting to climate change is a societal endeavour that poses both generation-defining challenges and huge opportunities. Continuing with business as usual is no longer an option.

Claire Dickinson emphasised that ‘this Sub-group embodies the SiLC commitment to advancing knowledge and practice for the benefit of the environment and society. Join us on our journey contributing to the UK’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, enhancing biodiversity, tackling climate change and creating a clean growth circular economy ’.

SiLCs are experts in risk assessment and land condition. They represent a multidiscipline profession that promotes the highest standards of professional competence in these fields. They actively contribute to advances in sustainable remediation practices, guidance, standards, regulation and reducing direct and indirect emissions.

If you are a registered SiLC and would like to get involved or represent a body that would be interested in working with the SiLC Sub-group, please e-mail the chairs using: [email protected]. Please join us for our first webinar by registering at Maximising Natural Capital Benefits for Brownfield and Sustainable Development.


Introduction days


SiLC Introduction Days are open to all those who are considering applying to become a SiLC. They will provide an overview of the SiLC scheme, information on the assessment process and an opportunity to meet peers and discuss your application with SiLC Assessors. The examination now embraces the requirements of the NQMS, subject to success in the SiLC exam and at the professional interview becoming a SiLC will automatically result in becoming an SQP.

Delegates who attend will receive a £70 discount off their application fee.

SiLC Introduction Day dates:

  • 4th July 2023
  • 10th October 2023

If you cannot attend the specified dates (above) please email us [email protected] to be placed on a mailing list which will alert you when an SiLC Introduction Day has been arranged elsewhere. Your email will not be shared or used for anything other than for Introduction Day information.

SiLC Introduction Day fees for 2023 are:

  • Private Sector: £199.50 + VAT Total: £239.40
  • Public Sector: £147 + VAT Total: £176.40

AGENDA

09:30 – 09:45 Welcome and Introductions
09:45 – 10:00 Introduction to SiLC and its importance in promoting standards, demonstrating competence, and supporting better regulation
10:00 – 10:40 The road to SiLC & SQP registration
10:40 – 10:50 Break
10:50 – 11:05 The Code of Practice
11:05 – 11:20 The NQMS and SQP
11:20 – 11:30 The exam. Examples of questions and answer guidelines
11:30 – 11:45 Questions raised by delegates
11:45 – 12:15 Break
12:15 – 13:00 Data assessment and lessons learnt from past exams (optional)

To book, please download the Introduction Day booking form and send through to [email protected]


AGS Ground Risk Conference

The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS), which is an institution of SiLC, are organising a live conference in November which may be of interest.

Ground Risk Conference: Are you Managing Risks or Taking Risks? is a full day, CPD event which is taking place on 22nd November at One Great George Street in London. The conference has been collectively organised by AGS Geotechnical and Contaminated Land Working Groups.

The event aims to explore the management of risk across a variety of subjects, including updates to piling through layered ground guidance, underpinning and Cone Penetration Testing. They will also explore topics often not considered such as cognitive bias and learn about changes in environmental legislation and policy.

Speakers confirmed to date include:

  • Nicola Harries, Technical Director at CL:AIRE who will provide an overview of the National Brownfield Forum industry review circulated across the brownfield sector.
  • Jon Palmer, Technical Director at HKA Global who’s presentation will focus on Groundworks Litigation & Contracts.
  • Stephen Tromans KC at 39 Essex Chambers, who will look at the new challenges, opportunities, but most of all risks facing practitioners.
  • Steve Wilson, Technical Director at The Environmental Protection Group and Amy Juden, Associate at The Environmental Protection Group whose presentation will look at the piling risk assessment for contaminated sites.
  • Alex Lee, AGS Chair Elect and Principal at HKA who’s will focus on bias in the delivery of geo-environmental assessments.

Tickets are priced at £160 for AGS Members and £230 for non-AGS Members (ex VAT).

A limited number of student, Local Authority and Environmental Agency places are available for £95 (ex VAT). To secure a ticket at this rate, please email [email protected]

Full details on the event and confirmed speakers to date can be found HERE.


National Brownfield Forum 2023/2024 Sector Review

The National Brownfield Forum 2023/2024 Sector Review is now available for your input. The aim of the review is to understand the barriers and opportunities that face brownfield development in the UK so your input to a series of short questions would be greatly appreciated. The survey has been prepared by members of the National Brownfield Forum and has had input from regulators and industry to try and definitively capture people's honest and open views about the barriers and opportunities that are faced in their day to day activities.

The survey is available to access here https://forms.office.com/e/7sg10Hf8ev and will only take approximately 20 minutes to complete. It consists of 4 themes:

Theme 1 - Understanding the barriers to brownfield development (7 mins)

Theme 2 - Unlocking the financial barriers to brownfield (4 mins)

Theme 3 - Regulatory matters (7 mins)

Theme 4 - Workforce and skills shortage (4 mins)

It is available until 29th September 2023



Maximising Natural Capital Benefits for Brownfield and Sustainable Development

27 September 2023 11.00am - 1.00pm (2 hours duration).

This webinar will explore how government seeks to support the reframing of nature in terms of the value to people and the economy to create sustainable development. Speakers will discuss how, by taking a ‘natural capital’ approach to decision making, development can maximise eco goods and services to get more from our land. From the simple concept of delivering the ‘right land use in the right place’ to the more complex considerations of achieving and maintaining biodiversity or environmental net gain post-development. Attendees will hear, through case study examples, about how organisations are already implementing this approach and the resulting benefits achieved.

The event will be chaired by Mark Hill (Climate & Sustainability – Lead at The Pensions Regulator), and we have the following presentations confirmed so far, with more to be announced in due course:

  • 'What is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and how does it apply to brownfield and remediation sites?' by Jon Davies (Director at RSK Wilding and Nature Positive)
  • 'The Role of Land in Delivering Scotland’s Fourth National Planning Framework' by David Stewart (Policy and Practice Lead at Scottish Land Commission)
  • 'Remediation and Sustainable Growth Tool – Development of Natural Capital Metrics for Land Remediation' by Yolande Macklin (Jacobs) and Darren Beriro (British Geological Survey).

Tickets for this webinar are £30 including VAT. Attendees can register and find out more about the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/e7qv2hKE