The History of SEEMG
The Solent Energy & Environmental Management Group was established in 1987 by GOSE. This followed from an initiative in 1976 when the first Business Energy Management Groups were established across the UK with funding from the then Department of Energy as the UK emerged from the energy crises of the early 1970’s. The first Group to be set up was in the GOSW area. The primary role of these groups was to provide private and public sector managers with energy management skills.
During the 1980’s support for these groups was devolved to the Regional Government Offices. Support arrangements changed and developed: e.g. GOSW provides secretarial, administrative, and website support for all the local South Western Groups whilst EDF Energy & RDA with administrative assistance from GOSW organizes and funds a major annual exhibition and conference called ENVEC.
In the South East, Charles Ryder, a former Government Energy Advisor, chaired the East Sussex Energy & Environment Management Group (ESEEMG) based in the Gatwick area, and promoted an annual conference and exhibition called EFACTS which was usually held at Lingfield Race Course and was strongly supported by GOSE. The SEEMG worked with GOSE, Charles Ryder and other partners to take the successful EFACTS Event to Portsmouth circa 2001 as a ‘Launch Event’ for the newly incepted H&IOW BEF. The EFACTS Event has not continued following Charles Ryder’s death a few years ago thus reaffirming the need for a knowledgeable and networked ‘champion’ to take such events forward.
The North Hants Energy & Environment Management Group (NHEEMG) used to organize a series of meetings and an annual Conference and Exhibition held in Basingstoke which was supported by GOSE. Both the NHEEMG & the ESEEMG appear to have folded.
GOSE announced the withdrawal of principal support funding to the SEEMG circa 1995. At that time the Group introduced a membership fee which covered hotel meeting room and buffet costs. GOSE continued support by paying for the annual programme printing costs. The advent of email communication led to the ‘more paperless’ office and the demise of a printed programme circa 2002/2003, which had the unfortunate side effect of severing financial support links from GOSE.
The SEEMG is still active with 7 monthly meetings per year during an autumn to spring season. All other Energy Management Groups in the GOSE Region appear to have folded.
The GOSW Region has 4 flourishing sub-regional EEMG’s with a combined membership in excess of 850 members who are all kept informed by GOSW of seminars, conferences and new Government legislation & initiatives. Their annual conference and exhibition, ENVEC, continues to be held in October.