The UK Water Partnership was established in 2015 to provide a strategic vision for the development and growth of the UK water industry. The partnership brings together diverse water industry and related organisations in a single coherent alliance, promoting mutual understanding, cooperation and coordination in order to deliver a reliable supply of safe, clean water while protecting the environment and adapting to changing conditions. This has never been more evident than at the UK Water Industry Summit 2023, which was facilitated by the UKWP and co-hosted by Future Water Association alongside other industry leading organisations British Water, WIF, Spring, and UKWIR.
At the summit, the UK Water Sector came together to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the water industry. The keynote speaker, MP Rebecca Pow (at the time Minister for Environmental Quality) inspired attendees to seize the exciting opportunities within the water sector, fostering positive change and spreading the passion of water experts to the wider public. Cassia Pickard, the FWA Rising Star and a new graduate at Arup who are members of the UKWP, embodied this sentiment as she presented on the future of the water sector.
A series of workshops were hosted during the afternoon of the event on the key challenge areas identified from the presentations given in the morning. The FWA hosted one of these workshops, focusing on the topic of Future Talent and Skills. The outcomes of the workshops fed directly into a Statement of Intent to work together to collaborate on these key challenge areas which all partners, including the FWA and the UKWP, committed to.
Following on from this commitment, the partners have been working together to progress collaboration on the topic of Future Talent and Skills within the sector. Together with WIF, the FWA have drafted the initial proposal for a follow-on workshop that will also bring together participants from each organisation. Crucially, involving the voice of young water professionals themselves.
Additionally, as part of their commitment made at the summit last year, the UKWP are calling upon young professionals from partners and member organisations to organise their 2024 annual event. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact secretariat@theukwaterpartnership.org.
The UK Water Partnership membership consists of a broad range of organisations including academia, private sector companies, research institutes, and public bodies. The relationship of the partnership with other organisations such as FWA is critical for ensuring that the excellent work across the sector is coordinated to drive innovation in order to deliver a reliable supply of safe, clean water while protecting the environment and adapting to changing conditions.
Membership of the UKWP provides a unique position to contribute to the innovative work being done in the sector, to gain exposure and influence, collaboration opportunities, and access to information across public, private, and academic sectors.
If you are interested in finding out more about the UKWP and its relationship with FWA then please contact secretariat@theukwaterpartnership.org