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Winners Announced For The 7th WIF Team Challenge
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The judging and awards event for the 7th WIF Team Challenge was held on 24 June. This annual competition brings together early career professionals from British Water members from across the UK water sector to identify and pitch an idea around this year’s challenge:
“What are the emerging trends that will impact the water-energy nexus by 2030?”
Congratulations to the winning team, Team 6, for their excellent presentation: ‘
Alleviating the Pressure of the Water-Energy Nexus on the Agricultural Industry’
and their idea around vertical farming.
Winning Team Members:
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Nehla Farhan,
United Utilities
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Beth Gibb,
Additive Catchments
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Melissa Au,
Gleeds Cost Management
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Hilda Oketona,
Skanska UK
(Pictured above with Anita Payne, Water Industry Forum and Louise Elliott, WSP)
Prizes For The Winning Team Included:
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£100 vouchers
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Lunch with the Water Industry Forum's Board of Directors
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Spot mentoring session with one of our WIF Board of Directors
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A place on the "winners table" at the WIF Annual Dinner in October 2025
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Speaking opportunity at next year's WIF Team Challenge event
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Opportunity to participate in British Water’s Thought Leadership+ interview programme, hosted by Mark Fletcher FREng, Chair of British Water
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Opportunity to participate at the British Water Annual Conference, including exhibitor poseur table stand and complimentary tickets
For a second year, WIF is offering all Team Challenge participants the opportunity to apply for a 12-month term as a Non-Executive Director on WIF’s Board.
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British Water’s Response To The Independent Water Commission’s Interim Report: Review Of The Water Sector (Published 3 June 2025) -
S
hare any points you would like British Water to raise on your behalf. Please refer to BW’s early responses to the Independent Water
Commission
here
and
here
. Access the interim report
here
and send your feedback to
Margret Mwanza
, Programmes Officer- UK, Europe & Africa, by 17.00 on Thursday 3 July 2025.
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UK Forum Chair Election – Cast Your Vote Now -
British Water would like to invite members to vote for the new UK Forum Chair. Find the names of the seven nominees and the full
information
here
. Please submit your votes by 12.00 on Friday 4 July 2025.
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BW Annual Conference 2025 -
BW’s third annual conference will be held on 10 November 2025 in Coventry, supported by Water Company Partner
Severn Trent Water
. Sponsorship is now open, including the exclusive Influence Sponsor package, which offers the chance to help shape the agenda. Contact the
events team
to learn more.
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Call for Partners: Join the UK Pavilion at World Water Week 2025 -
Showcase your organisation and help lead global collaboration in the water sector. Building on 2024’s success, the UK Pavilion returns to Stockholm in August 2025 under the theme ‘Better Connected’ to spotlight UK innovation and partnerships. Don’t miss this opportunity — contact
Margret Mwanza
to get involved.
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WIF Blue Paper:
Infrastructure Planning
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The challenge of securing sufficient water resources to meet growing demand in England and Wales is laid out in the first of a new series of Blue Papers from the
Water Industry Forum (WIF)
. By 2050, England alone will require an additional 5 billion litres of water per day — on top of the 14 billion litres already in use.
The
Infrastructure Planning
paper, authored by Sharon Darcy, chair of the Smart Permitting International Forum and the Linear Infrastructure Planning Panel, highlights the pressing need for strategic coordinated planning if the water sector is to meet that demand.
With the capital programme in England and Wales set to increase significantly in the next 25 years, the sector faces enormous challenges around planning complexities, investment uncertainties and public acceptance. Meanwhile, PR24 Final Determinations included 30 major infrastructure projects, with reservoirs, water recycling and large-scale water transfer schemes all playing a role.
The WIF Blue Paper examines these challenges and presents actionable strategies for overcoming them, including leveraging cross-sector learning, improving public engagement and implementing digital tools for better decision-making.
“Getting planning right is essential to the water sector’s long-term success,”
says Darcy.
“The scale of change required is immense, but with the right policies, collaborative efforts, and public involvement, we can ensure a sustainable water future for England and Wales.”
Tony Conway, Chair of the Water Industry Forum said,
“Effective planning for major infrastructure projects has never been more important, with multiple stakeholder’s dependent on our water and wastewater systems and competing in their own requirements for land and resources.”
“Building on her excellent address to the WIF annual dinner in September, Sharon Darcy has navigated these complexities to give more light to these issues in the first of a new series of WIF Blue Papers. I cannot thank her enough for her time and incredibly valuable insights.”
“The future of water planning must embrace new ways of thinking and integrate advanced technology,”
said Darcy.
“We must build on what we’re learning from other sectors, like energy, to improve our approach to infrastructure development and public engagement.”
Looking ahead, the paper calls for policy reform, enhanced data-sharing and improved procurement practices to help address the multiple challenges and create a more cohesive approach to planning. Ongoing policy and legislative reforms offer an opportunity to reshape how the sector plans for future infrastructure.
“We’re at a pivotal moment for water infrastructure planning,”
concludes Darcy.
“With the right policies, tools, and collaborative efforts, we can create a water-secure future for all.”
Download the WIF Blue Paper now to learn more.
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Sharon
Darcy
also
features
in
British
Water’s
Thought
Leadership+
interview,
where
she
discusses
the
priorities
and
work
of
LIPP,
focusing
on
improving
the
planning
of
linear
infrastructure
projects
through
the
adoption
of
new
tools,
technologies
and
cross-sector
collaboration.
Watch
the
full
interview
now.
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We are honoured to have such dedicated members.
Your commitment and support have shaped our journey and continues to inspire us.
In this section, we’ll celebrate our valued, long-standing members. We remain committed to supporting your success as we work together to shape the future of the sector.
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Welcoming Our New Members
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We are thrilled to welcome our newest members to British Water. Your voice, expertise and contributions will play a key role in shaping our future, and we look forward to supporting your growth and success.
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See Latest BW Members & Industry News
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British Water Events & Meetings
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Anglian Water Site Visit
30 June 2025, 09.00 - 16.00, Rutland Water
Register now the for Anglian Water’s Site Visit at Rutland Water. Suppliers will have the opportunity to gain insights into Anglian Water’s reservoir programme, procurement opportunities, and innovative water treatment technologies.
Learn More
.
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2025 Water & Wastewater Company Performance Survey
Deadline: 17.00, Friday 11 July 2025
Share your thoughts on how water and wastewater companies have performed over the past 12 months. The 2025 Water & Wastewater Company Performance Survey survey is open to both British Water members & non-members. Your input helps inform the regular feedback we provide to key industry stakeholders on behalf of the supply chain.
Learn More
.
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British Water Annual General Meeting (AGM)
24 July 2025, 11.00 - 12.30, Virtual
Join us for the upcoming BW Annual General Meeting. The AGM will provide a unique opportunity to hear a report on British Water's activities over the past year. Your views are important to us, so feel free to
submit questions in advance
or on the day. Open to BW members only.
Learn More
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South East Water Liaison Meeting
8 October 2025, 13.00 - 14.45, Virtual
Join us for an engaging Liaison Meeting with South East Water to hear the latest updates covering the company's structure, capital delivery, asset management approach and procurement strategy.
Learn More
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Pennon Group In-Person Liaison Meeting
29 October 2025, 13.00 - 14.45, Exeter
Register now to attend the British Water In-person Liaison Meeting with Pennon Group. Engage in discussions on the company’s structure, capital delivery plans, sustainability initiatives, and procurement processes. There are only a small number of places available for this visit, so please email
Margret Mwanza
to avoid disappointment.
Learn More
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Welsh Water Liaison Meeting
26 November 2025, 13.00 - 14.45, Virtual
Join us for an insightful Liaison Meeting with Welsh Water. Engage in discussions covering Welsh Water's latest initiatives and strategic priorities, offering a comprehensive overview of their ongoing and future projects.
Learn More
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British Water Focus Groups
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Other Industry Events & Exhibitions
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Lila Thompson, Judge & Attendee At Women In Utilities (WUN) Awards 2025
27 June 2025, Royal Lancaster, London
Join Lila Thompson, CEO, BW, at the awards ceremony, celebrating the contributions of women across the utilities sector, along with the organisations and individuals who champion them. BW is delighted to support this initiative, highlighting progress and advocating for greater representation within the sector.
Learn more
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British Water At Northumbrian Innovation Festival
7 - 10 July 2025, Newcastle upon Tyne
Come and visit us at this year’s festival, focusing on renewal, restoration, and sustainable growth. BW is proud to support this event, which brings together diverse voices to collaborate on innovative solutions to environmental and industry challenges. Learn more about the festival and how to get involved
here
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UK River Summit
8 July 2025, 09.30 – 18.00, London
Gain insights from experts, develop partnerships, and connect with people working in complementary fields—from water management and environmental policy to agriculture and sustainable finance. Organised by The River Summit and Festival charity, the Summit encourages collaboration between industry leaders, environmental NGO’s, policymakers, scientists, the media, artists and the public.
Learn more
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British Water At Stockholm World Water Week
24 - 28 August 2025, Sweden
Come and visit us at the UK Pavilion at World Water Week 2025, a hub for collaboration, events, and networking for organisations within the UK water sector. Under the theme 'Better Connected', the Pavilion fosters global partnerships and promotes sector engagement. To get involved, please contact
Margret Mwanza
.
Learn more
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13th Business Opportunities Fair 2025
16 - 17 September 2025, Manila, Philippines
Gain insights into The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) procurement process, upcoming project pipelines, and business opportunities across the region. This flagship event connects businesses with ADB sector specialists and procurement teams, offering valuable guidance on how companies can bid for and win contracts across infrastructure sectors including water.
Learn more
or register with
Bernice Ermac
from DBT Manila.
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WEFTEC 2025
27 September - 1 October 2025, Chicago, USA
Join the global water community at WEFTEC – the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition & Conference, the
largest event of its kind in North America.
Bringing together utility leaders, innovators, technology providers, and policy shapers, WEFTEC offers access to international insights, technical sessions, and cutting-edge solutions across the water and wastewater landscape.
Learn More
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Vox Studios, Unit V124
1-45 Durham Street
London
SE11 5JH
+44 (0)20 3567 0950
info@britishwater.co.uk
membership@britishwater.co.uk
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