British Water Appointments Will Enhance Members’ Support
Jun 07, 2021
British Water is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Lewis as new vice chair of its UK Forum, further building on the expert-driven support it offers the water and wastewater supplier community.
Rachel, joint owner and director, IQ Engineers, took up her post in May 2021.
She said: “I am looking forward to working with the British Water team and members and using my experience of growing a business within the industry to support others in the supply chain.
“Innovation is so important to address the challenges the sector is facing but both current practices and technical innovations are underpinned by people and skills. People have always been an important part of the sector and with an ageing workforce, we need to encourage a wider range into the industry to bring new ideas and experiences but also retain existing knowledge.
“SMEs are essential to this and the water industry needs to be supportive of them to ensure a diverse ecosystem of suppliers is retained to help meet the challenges ahead.
British Water’s announcement follows its April 2021 appointments of Mark Coates, strategic industry engagement, Bentley Systems, as chair of the UK Forum and Tom Williams, chief executive, Enebio, as vice chair of the International Forum.
Coates said the three new appointments represent a period of change for the members’ association and the wider water industry: “It is the end of business-as-usual in our sector.
“Over the next five years, Ofwat is calling on water companies to reduce customer bills by 12%. At the same time, according to Ofwat, the sector needs to invest an additional £6 million every day over the next five years, all while striving to deliver a net zero water supply by 2030. This is providing the impetus to drive innovation further and faster. As new chair of the UK Forum, I look forward to working alongside Rachel, as well as with Tom, the British Water team and its members to champion the change our sector needs.”
Williams said: “I have been British Water’s USA export mentor for 10 years and, after a turbulent few years, the sector is now recognising the climate challenge we are facing and working together across the world. With our depth of expertise, amazing SMEs and new technology companies, British Water members are the future for UK international business.”
British Water chief executive Lila Thompson said: “I’d like to congratulate Rachel on her appointment as vice chair of British Water’s UK Forum, as well as Mark Coates and Tom Williams, who took up their posts in April. Their insights and expertise will add huge value to the support we offer our members, as the water sector undergoes a period of exciting transformation.”
British Water’s UK Forum supports members with an interest in the UK municipal and industrial market. The forum meets twice a year to review the water market, hear updates from leading industry figures and identify key challenges to be taken forward by British Water.
The International Forum, which is chaired by Andy Blackhall, managing director, Water Research Centre, enables members to connect with leading players in the global water industry. Services include access to business mentors, market briefings and businesses development meetings with key buyers.
The Technical Forum, which is chaired by Angus Fosten, UK business development director, Partech, coordinates all activities and technical developments affecting the water industry.
More News and Articles
Apr 24, 2024
News
Sustainable drainage solutions: German Start-up transforms urban water management.
Germany boasts a well-established infrastructure for managing rainwater and wastewater, yet many developing countries lack such systems. Addressing this gap, …
Apr 22, 2024
News
HDD tooling that gets the job done
Horizontal directional drilling is a dynamic process that constantly changes and adapts to suit a range of applications across utilities and infrastructure. Operators looking to get the most from their equipment …
Apr 19, 2024
News
WATCH: Overnight with SAERTEX-LINER H20 in São Paulo
Available through Pipe Core, high-quality liner SAERTEX-LINER H20 performed under pressure in São Paulo, Brazil.
Maintaining aging potable water pipe infrastructure is a constant challenge …
Apr 17, 2024
News
Immersive media provides wastewater experience in Denmark
An immersive media experience (IMX) may not be what most people want when they think about industrial wastewater, but that is exactly what visitors can expect when they visit a new installation …
Apr 15, 2024
News
Spotlight on gender diversity at Pipe Core
Since founding in 2008, Pipe Core’s team has grown across all areas of the business and is now in a position where there are more females than males across the organisation. Research published in Harvard …
Apr 12, 2024
News
New Wave of Startups Scale Innovation to Solve Global Water Challenges
Innovators from Around the World Join Xylem’s 2024 Accelerator Program to Deploy Breakthrough Innovations for Utilities and Industrial Users of Water
A new group of startups …
Apr 08, 2024
News
Integrated sustainable electricity and clean drinking water systems
Altitude Water and New Use Energy Solutions have partnered to create integrated, mobile solar-plus-water generation systems that produce sustainable electricity and clean drinking …
Apr 05, 2024
News
How to Evaluate Hydraulic Fracture Risk in HDD Design
The design of horizontal directional drill (HDD) installations often requires an evaluation of the potential for hydraulic fracture of the soil layers through which an HDD passes. Evaluating …
Apr 02, 2024
News
Historic Project Linking Rome and Vatican City Uses Advanced Technology and Local Knowledge to Keep Water Flowing
Relocation of Major Sewer Infrastructure Enables Construction of Pedestrian Link for 35 Million Visitors to the 2025 Jubilee
Water …
Mar 27, 2024
News
USU Study Looks at Water Main Break Rates in the U.S. and Canada
Report Highlights Correlation Between Material and Diameter
Utah State University (USU) has published new research on water main breaks in the United States and Canada, examining …
Mar 26, 2024
News
Update BE-21: New Material in Course and Modules on Trenchless Pipe Installation
Online training on the topic of pipeline installation in civil engineering: Trenchless technology for underground drainage construction can be a resource-efficient, …
Mar 25, 2024
Article
Bacteria as a new weapon in wastewater treatment
In early November, San Diego based startup Aquacycl officially opened its first European office and test center at the Water Campus in Leeuwarden. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) …
Contact
British Water
Lila Thompson
Chief Executive
Unit V103, Vox Studios, 1-45 Durham St
SE11 5JH London
United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 3567 0950