[Week 1] Where to begin?

Plato’s postulation is Twain’s truth: it’s all about getting shit started. Perhaps Seneca is better placed to articulate where I find myself at the start of my PhD exploring environmental regulations for the UK. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end” said the stoic, and finding myself at the end of my masters’ study sprinting straight into a doctorate is somewhat of a surprise. I have just completed a thesis around my work with Manchester City Council (MCC) on their latest Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for 2025-2030. This work saw 200 events in the city analysed over two years, drawing together multiple CO₂e and behavioural reporting studies. The findings were used to establish policy recommendations and investment priorities for the council. The outputs also included CO₂e/attendee information, emissions modelling, data support for electrification for eight parks in the city through the MCC power scheme and a new role within the council’s event team.

This is not the only ‘beginnings end’ at which I find myself. Earlier this year saw publication of the Green Events Code of Practice report following a national pilot with ten local authorities to test scaled implementation of progressive environmental regulations. This work has now expanded to a second phase where nearly 30 local authorities will be testing the code throughout 2026, working with UK events sector body LIVE to establish a green transition plan for the sector. My contribution to the pilot has been as project co-lead, working directly with local authorities and event organisers having devised a self-assessment toolkit that has been central to unifying state and sector in addressing shared environmental challenges.

During this time, I have also written a chapter on environmental regulations for Contemporary Issues in Events (ed. Brown T., Drakeley C.) which examines existing voluntary standards frameworks and the environmental certification and membership market. Through a combination of literature reviews, interviews and data analysis the chapter presented a framework for cooperation between academic, civic and commercial sectors as a foundation for policy change. Having been an academic for nearly 20 years I am no stranger to writing, the only issue is I find it immensely boring. This has become more of a challenge lately, largely due to my recent choices in both study and employment, so the concept of a PhD (no matter how dreamy) seems ill considered given my growing distain for tapping out thoughts into words. I concede there is immense value in writing and without it I certainly wouldn’t have had much of a career. I console myself in the hope that these serialised entries will bring some more depth, and dare I say joy, to proceedings. At least it isn’t marking.

What I am most looking forward to is the actions that will accompany these words and getting to bring all this experience to bear for the benefit of Liverpool and its cultural communities and events ecosystem. My background is rooted in action research and community-based practices and I am infinitely grateful to have the chance to bring my experience and knowledge to a city I know and love.