Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) – Managing Compliance

Environmental permits are a core legal requirement for a wide range of industrial and commercial activities in the UK. Understanding how to manage Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) obligations is critical for compliance, risk mitigation, and the effective operation of environmental management systems. This course provides a practical guide to the EPR regime—including when permits are needed, how to apply for and vary them, understanding permit conditions, and ensuring ongoing compliance.

Course Format

Virtual Course – These courses are run using the Zoom platform as a fully interactive course, just as our live courses are. We have had great feedback from delegates on these courses.

Course Description

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 bring together permitting requirements covering regulated facilities such as installations, waste operations, mobile plant, water discharge and groundwater activities, radioactive substances activities and other specified activities. Whether a permit is required depends on the nature and scale of the activity and whether an exemption or exclusion applies.

While the Regs primarily relate to England and Wales, the course references equivalent legislation that relates to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For organisations operating under an environmental permit, obtaining the permit is only the beginning. The operator must understand what the permit authorises, comply with its conditions, maintain suitable management arrangements and records, monitor performance and identify when operational or organisational changes may require the permit to be varied.

This one-day course provides a practical introduction to the Environmental Permitting Regulations and the management of environmental permit compliance.

It explains how to determine whether an activity requires a permit, the difference between standard rules and bespoke permits, how the application and variation processes operate and how permit conditions translate into day-to-day operational responsibilities.

The course also considers regulatory inspections and compliance assessment, dealing with non-compliance, enforcement risks and the integration of environmental permitting responsibilities into an ISO 14001 environmental management system.

Why this course is important

Operating a regulated facility without the required environmental permit, or failing to comply with permit conditions, can result in regulatory intervention, enforcement action and significant disruption to an organisation's operations.

The Environmental Permitting Regulations require regulated facilities to operate under the authority of an environmental permit unless an applicable exemption or exclusion applies. The Regulations also provide regulators with enforcement powers including enforcement notices and suspension notices, as well as offences and penalties for breaches.

Compliance therefore cannot normally be managed simply by keeping a copy of the permit on file. Organisations need to translate permit conditions into responsibilities, procedures, inspection regimes, monitoring programmes and records that can demonstrate compliance in practice.

Changes also need careful management. Introducing new processes, increasing capacity, changing waste types, modifying equipment or altering emissions can affect the permitted activity and may require regulatory review or a permit variation before the change is implemented.

The Environment Agency's current guidance confirms that standard rules and bespoke permits are used for activities such as waste operations, with the appropriate route depending on the activity and whether it can meet the applicable standard rules.

This course helps delegates understand not only the permitting process, but how to establish an effective system for maintaining compliance throughout the life of a permit.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for those responsible for environmental permits, regulated activities or environmental compliance, including:

• Environmental managers and advisers
• Environmental compliance managers
• HSE and HSEQ managers
• EHS professionals
• Facilities and estates managers
• Operations and production managers
• Process and engineering managers
• Waste and recycling managers
• Site managers
• Compliance managers
• Project managers responsible for changes to permitted activities
• Technical managers
• Sustainability professionals with environmental compliance responsibilities
• ISO 14001 environmental management system coordinators
• Environmental consultants
• Those taking responsibility for a permitted site or regulated activity

The course is particularly relevant to organisations that already hold an environmental permit, are considering activities that may require one, or need to strengthen arrangements for demonstrating ongoing permit compliance.

No previous specialist permitting knowledge is required, although delegates who already work with environmental permits will also benefit from the practical compliance-management approach.

Testimonials

I thought this was an excellent course and would recommend this to other colleagues.

- UK Parliament

This was a very informative course. The trainer presented it very well and ensured interaction within the group.

- Lloyds of London

A very interesting and informative day, excellent presenter, and good to meet a diverse range of other attendees.

- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Really good training. Thank you!

- Brother UK

Excellent course. Very informative, thought provoking and relevant.

- West Hertfordshire Hospitals

Well paced and delivered great stuff.

- Boeing Distribution Services

Breakout sessions using realistic examples. Engaging and knowledgeable trainer.

- Wessex Water

The interactive sessions created space for open dialogue, the sharing of experiences, and collaborative problem‑solving, which helped reinforce key messages in a practical and engaging way.

- Medical Research Council

I thought this was an excellent course and would recommend this to other colleagues.

- UK Parliament

This was a very informative course. The trainer presented it very well and ensured interaction within the group.

- Lloyds of London

A very interesting and informative day, excellent presenter, and good to meet a diverse range of other attendees.

- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Really good training. Thank you!

- Brother UK

Excellent course. Very informative, thought provoking and relevant.

- West Hertfordshire Hospitals

Well paced and delivered great stuff.

- Boeing Distribution Services

Breakout sessions using realistic examples. Engaging and knowledgeable trainer.

- Wessex Water

The interactive sessions created space for open dialogue, the sharing of experiences, and collaborative problem‑solving, which helped reinforce key messages in a practical and engaging way.

- Medical Research Council