In 2024, Westminster City Council came to the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) with a challenge shared by many local authorities: how do we reduce harmful PM2.5 emissions and improve air quality? Working with IPEC, Westminster explored an often-overlooked source of pollution, identified innovative solutions and commissioned a live trial to test their effectiveness. Join us for our Innovation challenge masterclass where we will share the results of that trial, revealing what worked, the evidence generated and the practical lessons that other local authorities can apply in their own areas.

Air quality remains a significant challenge for local authorities across the UK. While transport emissions are often the focus, Westminster City Council identified an overlooked source of pollution and worked through the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) used a compliant, innovation‑friendly procurement approach to design to explore an innovative solution and run a structured trial. The project demonstrated measurable reductions in PM2.5 emissions and generated valuable evidence that can help other authorities tackle similar challenges.

Join us for the first session in the Innovation Challenge Masterclass series, where we will explore Westminster's experience and the lessons it offers for local authorities looking to address air quality challenges through innovation.

Drawing on the recently published ‘Innovation Challenge Series: How do we solve a problem like… air quality in Westminster’ this session will share practical insights into how Westminster defined the challenge, engaged innovative suppliers, tested solutions in real world environments and generated evidence to support future decision making and long-term procurement.

Masterclass | 10:00am to 10:45am

The first half will provide a practical masterclass covering lessons learned from Westminster's journey. This will include

• Understanding the challenge and defining the problem

• Identifying overlooked sources of air pollution
• Engaging the market to find innovative solutions
• Testing solutions in live environments
• Building evidence to support investment and adoption

Drop-in surgery | 10:45am to 11:30am

The second half will be an interactive surgery designed specifically for local authorities facing similar challenges.

Bring your questions, ideas and challenges to discuss with peers and the IPEC team, including:

• Local air quality priorities
• Barriers to implementation
• Innovation and procurement challenges
• Market engagement approaches
• Opportunities for future pilots and trials

Whether you are at the beginning of your air quality journey or actively exploring solutions, this session will provide practical learning, peer discussion and actionable next steps.

Who should attend?

• Air quality officers
• Environmental health teams
• Sustainability and net zero leads
• Public health teams
• Procurement professionals
• Place and environment teams
• Innovation and transformation leads

Learn from Westminster's experience, discuss your own challenges and discover practical approaches to delivering cleaner air in your community.