- Northumbrian Water rises to first place, with Southern Water and Northern Ireland Water dropping to joint last.
- Health and safety, quality assurance and environmental policies were the highest scoring areas.
- Innovation scores continue to be low across the sector, despite increased investment.
WD News: British Water’s annual UK Water Company Performance Survey had asked contractors, consultants and suppliers to rate their clients’ performance in 11 areas, including innovation, professionalism, contractual approach and procurement.
The 2022 survey featured streamlined questions and the addition of four water-only companies for the first time. Northumbrian took the first position – up from fifth last year, with Anglian Water in second. Wessex Water saw the biggest fall, moving from the first to eighth position. Northern Ireland dropped to the eleventh position from third last year, with Southern Water dropping from eighth to joint eleventh. Scottish Water and United Utilities remained stable in third and fifth positions respectively.
Reflecting on the high scores of Northumbrian Water and Anglian Water, British Water’s head of programmes Dr Mar Batista commented that both organisations appear to have worked hard to embrace innovation across the business and strive to “get people in a room” through their innovation offerings such as the Northumbrian Innovation Festival and Anglian Water’s Innovation Network.
British Water’s annual survey was first undertaken in early 2003, in response to companies asking for feedback on how they were viewed by the industry supply chain, and how they were seen to compare with others.
Source and image courtesy: British Water
