The Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) supports local authorities and public sector organisations to adopt innovative approaches to procurement. By connecting authorities with businesses, technology providers, and sector experts, we identify practical solutions to real-world challenges, test them in live environments, and share lessons for wider adoption.

This two-day workshop is the first in a series designed to address specific challenges faced by local authorities. Participants will explore solutions collaboratively, learn from real-world pilots, and take away insights that can be applied in their own areas.

Workshop focus: clean air from commercial cooking

The first workshop centres on Westminster’s Clean Air Pilot, which is testing air purification technology in commercial kitchens to reduce emissions and improve local air quality.

Participants will:

·       See the technology in action at participating restaurants

·       Hear directly from business operators and project leads

·       Discuss what has worked, what hasn’t, and lessons learned

·       Explore how similar approaches could be applied in other local areas

Westminster clean air pilot: site visit and learning exchange

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit sites taking part in the Clean Air Pilot, gaining practical insights into the trial and its impact. The pilot focuses on reducing PM2.5 emissions, which are linked to serious health risks, and demonstrates how technology can support cleaner, healthier high streets.

During the site visits, participants will:

·       Learn about the aims, design, and early insights from the pilot

·       Observe air purification technology in action

·       Hear directly from participating businesses

·       Discuss lessons learned and potential improvements

·       Consider how similar approaches could be applied elsewhere

Agenda:

Day One: 11 February

Venue: Meeting place to be confirmed

Westminster clean air site visits
12:00 – 16:30 | Westminster site visits

Day Two: 12 February

Venue: Connected Places Catapult, 1 Sekford St. , London, EC1R 0BE

Communities of practice workshop at CPC office
08:30 – 09:00 | Arrival at Connected Places Catapult Offices
09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome and introduction to the day
09:15 – 14:00 | Structured workshop and knowledge sharing

·       Lunch and refreshments provided

·       Sessions will be recorded, and participants are encouraged to take part in short voxpop interviews

Who is this event for:

The workshop is open to local authority representatives, project leads, and public sector stakeholders. Across the two days, participants will engage in:

·       Site visits to see innovation in action

·       Structured discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions

·       Exploration of practical lessons, including successes and challenges

Expression of Interest

This workshop is being offered as an Expression of Interest (EOI) to help us manage participation and ensure a balanced geographical spread across local authorities. We have limited capacity and can only accommodate 15 local authorities for this pilot.

Submitting an EOI does not guarantee a place, but it allows us to understand the interest from different areas, ensure a diverse mix of participants, and select attendees who will benefit most from the workshop and contribute effectively to discussions. Successful applicants will be notified in advance of the event.