SoLr October 2025 Update

Simon Harth
Oct 23
2 min read

Upcoming CPD Event

Key process and requirement differences between DCO and CPO applications

24 October 2025, 13:00–14:00MS Teams (link in confirmation email)

Careers

Through successful outreach to a group of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Career leaders in 2024, SoLR have now reached Wigan! SoLR Members Jenny Keay and Faye Wiggins from our Careers Committee attended St John Rigby College to talk to Students and Parents about the pathways after college and university they can follow in the Land Referencing sphere. We highlighted the numerous job opportunities across the Land Referencing Industry and engaged with lots of students who could be our next Referencers. In addition to our student outreach the committee talked with more teachers and staff to reach further across the North and expand our SoLR network. We hope to receive our next event invitation very soon!

Land with Certainty Conference 2025

The Society of Land Referencers (SoLR) held its annual Land with Certainty Conference on 18 September at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Over 140 people from across the infrastructure sector came together, including representatives from over 25 organisations.

Organised entirely by volunteers, the day was packed with energy, collaboration, and clear messages about the value of land referencing.

Key takeaways included:

Invest early: Budgeting for land referencing and engagement at the outset pays dividends later. Being there from the beginning helps shape project limits and demonstrate the best outcomes for people and places.
People matter: Public support comes from being on the ground, listening, and building trust. Land referencing is, above all, a human practice.
Collaboration counts: Land, consents, and stakeholder engagement are inseparable. Step out of comfort zones, build cross-disciplinary links, and approach landowners with one clear voice.
Enjoy the process: It’s ok not to know the answer; clients and Land Referencers can (and should) enjoy working things out together.
Innovation with identity: AI is a tool, but people make the difference. The profession should continue raising its profile across the sector, highlighting our expertise and digital innovations.

The day closed with a challenge: take a leap beyond comfort zones and keep showing the difference Land Referencers make.

Thanks go to our sponsors: Ardent, Blackhall & Powis, Mott MacDonald, Pandell SoLR and WSP, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) for hosting us, and all our speakers and member volunteers: