Utilities group opens the taps on £45m of business contracts

Water Plus, a joint venture between two utilities giants, has revealed it has won contracts worth more than £45m in the three months since the opening of the non-domestic water market in England.

The company, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent and employs 400 people, is a joint venture between United Utilities and Severn Trent and has drawn on expertise that were previously based in Warrington and Coventry at the respective head offices.

Sue Amies-King, chief executive of Water Plus, acknowledged that it “is early days” for the new water market but said they “are happy with the levels of activity” seen since the regulations changed in April.

It has also recently secured places on frameworks which will allow it to be a water, wastewater and ancillary services supplier to public sector organisations across the UK.

“We have designed our operation and approach with business customers in mind right from the start,” said Amies-King.

“We are the largest retailer in the market and our scale has allowed us to invest in technology so we can provide what our customers need and to make dealing with water bills straightforward.”

Its place on the Crown Commercial Services framework gives Water Plus access to a potential market worth nearly £1bn in revenue,.