Background
ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) is the distribution and transmission network operator responsible for electricity supply to homes and businesses throughout Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Shropshire.
As SPEN is responsible for installing and maintaining the network, including overhead lines, underground cables and associated infrastructure, its routine maintenance work and new infrastructure projects have the potential to impact on the environment. Therefore, SPEN instructed RSK Biocensus to produce ecological training and awareness resources.
Scope of services
RSK Biocensus experts developed training and awareness resources for SPEN on ecological issues and wildlife legislation, in the form of PowerPoints, which cover details of:
- key environmental international conventions and directives
- wildlife law in Scotland, England and Wales
- protected species licensing
- designated sites
- information on protected habitats and species
- the ecological impact assessment process
- information on ecological survey and mitigation constraints and windows.
The training includes case studies and workshops in which SPEN staff can work through examples of projects and their constraints. It is delivered as online webinars to a range of relevant SPEN staff with both environmental and non-environmental expertise.
The training gives SPEN staff a better understanding of environmental risks relating to their work and enables them to be more efficient in identifying ecological issues in advance, thus reducing delays in SPEN’s works programmes.