SoLR December 2025 Update

Simon Harth
5 days ago
7 min read

What a busy year 2025 has been! In this newsletter, you’ll hear from our Committee Chairs about what has been happening across the Society, as well as their plans for the future. I hope you find this as exciting and inspiring as I do.

The Society continues to grow, but to build on this momentum we need greater support from our volunteers. We must strengthen our impact beyond our immediate community, establishing SoLR as the leading voice for the industry and the go-to authority on all aspects of land referencing. This year’s conference highlighted the wide-ranging influence of our discipline throughout the project lifecycle, as well as the diverse roles and stakeholders we work alongside. We now need to build on these relationships to drive SoLR forward.

If you’re not already involved, I encourage you to get in touch. Whether you can deliver a short lunchtime webinar or presentation, write an article or blog for our website, or host a breakfast event at your offices, we are an open and inclusive Society focused on strengthening the industry. We welcome all ideas and suggestions for events and activities.

As we move into 2026, with the Planning and Infrastructure Act now in place, it is an exciting time to be part of the land referencing industry. I look forward to seeing you at one of our events in the New Year.

All the best,

Mark Aanensen

Chair

HMLR Advisory Group

As we approach the end of 2025, we wanted to share an update on the idea behind the SoLR HMLR Advisory Group and the initial steps we’ve taken to establish it with the aim of growing and delivering real impact in 2026.

Over the last quarter we have:

Drafted the Terms of Reference to define our purpose and scope
Engaged with our key contacts at HMLR - Pam White and Lynne Nicholson
Brought together a committed group of members to shape the journey ahead

In early January to we will hold our kick off meeting to:

Share our vision and objectives
Review and agree the Terms of Reference
Set priorities for the year ahead
Establish our meeting cadence and format – Teams and Face to Face

Thank you to the members who have already supported and we welcome any new interest, we’re excited to build on this foundation and make meaningful progress together in 2026.

Tim Donoyou & Jennifer Butterfill | HMLR Advisory Group Chairs

Standards & Ethics

2025 was a busy year for this Committee with work proceeding on the Standards, with a view to hopefully publishing a first draft of the ‘conceptual’ standards in 2026, in time for the next annual conference. It is hoped that we shall then be able to move on to the ‘jurisdictional’ standards applicable in the various parts of the UK and Ireland. This year we also saw the Committee, on behalf of SoLR, respond to a number of industry consultations. Thanks to all on the Committee for their participation.

Ashley Parry Jones | Standards & Ethics Sub-committee Chair

Careers

The SoLR Careers Committee has had another productive year!

We started strong with several spotlight videos covering career advice, stakeholder relationships, PR aspects of land referencing, and the synergies between land referencers and legal teams. We’ve received lots of wonderful feedback, and the committee would like to thank everyone who contributed to these videos. We’re also looking for future individuals to spotlight whether in video or written form. If you’re interested in creating content or helping with video editing, please reach out to one of the committee members.

The committee has continued to promote land referencing to university and sixth-form students at careers fairs, reinforcing our commitment to attracting new talent into the industry. To support this, we’ve adapted the careers section of the website into a job vacancy board to encourage more people to join the industry while also supporting career progression. We have big plans for 2026 so watch this space and get in touch if you’d like to be involved!

Ben Ellis | Careers Sub-committee Chair

Professional Engagement

The Professional Engagement Committee has enjoyed the challenge of organising CPD events this year, including a variety of interesting webinars that we hope you found valuable. A particular highlight was the successful delivery of our second Land with Certainty conference, which brought together a diverse group of industry professionals for an insightful and engaging day.

I'd like to extend special thanks to our committee members Sam McAleese, Lynn Alderson, Matt Fox, Sukhi Somal and Alex Crow for their hard work in helping us achieve our objectives this year.

Looking ahead, our focus will be on continuing to deliver CPD events, with the aim of hosting at least one in-person session next year, alongside another fantastic SoLR Conference, so watch this space!

The Professional Engagement Committee is always keen to welcome new faces to help drive forward our collective goals for SoLR. If you’re interested in volunteering your time and joining the committee, please get in contact.

Sarah Joss | Professional Engagement Sub-committee Chair

Community

Clean Air Day and litter picking week 2025

In June, SoLR members proudly joined thousands across the UK to celebrate Clean Air Day 2025, the nation’s largest campaign dedicated to tackling air pollution and promoting healthier environments. Led by the environmental charity Global Action Plan, Clean Air Day has grown since its launch in 2017 into a powerful movement for change.

This year’s theme focused on empowering communities to take local action and advocate for cleaner air, particularly in areas most affected by pollution. In true SoLR spirit, our amazing volunteers rolled up their sleeves and stepped out into the sunshine for community litter picks, one at Cave Hill in Belfast and another in Birmingham city centre. Equipped with gloves and bags, the team worked together to improve local spaces, reduce pollution, and raise awareness about the link between litter, air quality, and public health. Why it matters: Air pollution is linked to serious health issues, including asthma, heart disease, and even premature death. By removing litter and reducing pollutants, we’re not just tidying up, we’re actively contributing to a cleaner, safer atmosphere for the communities we serve.

Land with Certainty Conference 2025

On the 18 September 2025 our Community Sub-committee booked the venue for the London Evening Networking event, at the Tattershall Castle, which is moored alongside Victoria Embankment. The evening followed on from an extremely successful conference to allow those who attended to network, engage and speak to other SoLR members.

Climbing Kilimanjaro: An Unforgettable Challenge on the Lemosho Route for Birmingham children’s hospital | Community committee member Aidan Wilkes

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most incredible. Over eight days, our team tackled the Lemosho Route, slowly making our way from dense rainforest to the icy summit of Africa’s highest mountain. The first few days felt like a dream, walking through lush greenery, spotting monkeys in the trees, and soaking in the excitement of what lay ahead. But as we climbed higher, the air thinned, the temperature dropped, and every step became more of a challenge. The rocky paths, steep inclines, and long days on our feet pushed us to our limits. By summit night, exhaustion had set in. In the freezing darkness, we trudged forward, one slow step at a time, battling the cold and the altitude. We had set off at 11pm that night. It felt impossible at times, but we kept each other going. After 8 hours of intense hiking, the sun rose and we reached the top at 7:20am that morning. The feeling? Pure relief, pride, and awe. The climb tested us physically and mentally in ways we never expected but thought of helping the kids at BCH really helped us power through. Standing at the summit, looking out over the world, it was all worth it. Kilimanjaro is more than just a mountain, it’s a journey that changes you! To date we have now raised over £190,000 for the charity which in itself is achievement on par with climbing the mountain!

What is planned for 2026?

We appreciate that the events havent been as busy in 2025 but that is mainly down to us setting up a calendar packed 2026 for all of our members. Please see what we have planned already for next year below:

Land with Certainty Conference
Returning in 2026, this flagship event will continue to deliver valuable insights, updates, and best practices in land referencing, policy, and innovation.
Summer Socials & Networking EventsWe’ll be back with more opportunities to connect exploring fresh venues and creative formats to make networking even more enjoyable and inclusive.
World Food WeekCelebrating global cuisines and cultural diversity, this popular event will return in 2026 with even more flavours and experiences to enjoy.
Clean Air WeekOur commitment to environmental health continues as we raise awareness about air quality and promote sustainable practices.
Monthly Podcast SeriesLaunched in 2025with the spotlight series we are thinking of continuing into 2026, and expanding this into our proposed podcast series. This will feature expert interviews, industry insights, and updates on SoLR initiatives.
Litter Picking WeekWe’ll keep making a difference in local communities by reducing pollution and improving shared spaces.
Volunteer Guest SpeakersExpect inspiring talks from professionals in fields like archaeology, ecology, and beyond—bringing fresh perspectives to our work.
Mental Health Awareness WeekSupporting the well-being of our members remains a priority, with resources and discussions to promote mental health.
CPD & Career Development SessionsIn 2026, we’ll expand our professional development offering with tailored CPD sessions and career-focused discussions.
Charity Challenges (New for 2026!)We’re excited to introduce charity events such as a Dragon Boat Race or tackling the Three Peaks Challenge in England—fantastic opportunities to raise funds, build team spirit, and make a positive impact.

From everyone at the Community Sub-committee we would like to thank you all for attending the events that we organise and for your continued support and engagement with some amazing ideas. We would also like to add if any of the above appeals to you please reach out and we would love to get some fresh ideas, thoughts and members for our committee.

Josh Brown | Community Sub-committee Chair