Yorkshire Water CEO outlines efficient future
YORKSHIRE Water’s new chief executive today said the utility was “ambitious” for further growth and to keep customers’ bills down as it embarks on a major investment programme but denied that last winter’s cold snap would have a detrimental effect on the company’s 2010 financial results.
Speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com at Yorkshire Water’s Clarence Dock offices in Leeds, Mr Flint said it was the aim of Yorkshire Water’s £3.5bn investment programme, which includes plans to improve drinking water and sewage works and repair and replace ageing infrastructure, to make its operations more efficient to enable customers’ bills to stay low.
Mr Flint believes Yorkshire Water can keep its bills as low as possible for customers, despite a warning from water company Severn Trent yesterday that climbing debts within the industry will lead to a 27% hike in customer bills by 2030.
He said he believed the company had an important part to play in the regeneration of the region’s waterside landscape and as a job creator.
Mr Flint, who stepped up to become chief executive from chief operating officer earlier this month, said he was keen to build on the work of previous chief executive Kevin Whiteman to make Yorkshire Water’s estate more accessible to the public as the utility embarks on an investment programme which he believes will contribute £6bn to the economy over the next five years.
But he said it was important for whichever Government which comes to power following the forthcoming General Election to “be open for dialogue” with Yorkshire Water and other water companies to ensure that “uncertainty” within the market was avoided, which could cause problems when trying to secure further cash for investment.
Yorkshire Water and its parent company Kelda was bought by a consortium of blue chip infrastructure funds in 2008.
Mr Flint, who has worked for Yorkshire Water for 18 years, told TheBusinessDesk.com: “Yorkshire Water is a really efficient, customer orientated business. However, there are even more steps to come from us to become even more customer orientated and I think we’re mindful of the role we play which is providing more than just water and environmental services.
“It’s also about – for both myself and the company – the regeneration of the regional economy.
“We’re not complacent. We know we have to keep improving and the next five years is all about emphasising that.
“We’re very ambitious and we want to continue being the best water company there is.”
Mr Flint, who said Yorkshire Water expected to recruit more staff as the investment programme progressed, claimed that research complied by the University of Leeds has shown that for every £1 Yorkshire Water spends, almost £1 of wealth is generated in the local economy.
Yorkshire Water, which reported pre-tax profits for the year ended September 30 of £116m, is investing £1.9bn in infrastructure and £1.5bn in operating expenditure over the next five years.
Major projects include spending £8m in Leeds to replace or repair Victorian pipes, £110m to help improve bathing water quality on Yorkshire’s East Coast and further investment to prevent flooding and leakages.
Yorkshire Water recently relocated 500 staff to Livingstone House in Leeds and Mr Flint said the investment was an indicator of the company’s commitment to the region.
He added that Yorkshire Water had “coped well” with the long winter conditions and that previous investment in infrastructure meant costs related to problems had been limited.
RICHARD Flint started work at Yorkshire Water 18 years ago as a data inputter.
Mr Flint has worked his way up the business and, following 18 months as chief operating officer, he became chief executive replacing Kevin Whiteman on April 1.
Mr Whiteman has subsequently become chairman of the business.
Mr Flint said his move to chief executive marked the completion of the biggest reorganisation of the water business in its history.
Mr Flint was born in Liverpool but admits he’s become “an adopted Yorkshireman” after spending the majority of his career in the region.
He said: “I’m passionate about the services and reputation of the business.”
Mr Flint, who is keen for Yorkshire Water to continue making its facilities – such as a visitor centre at Esholt sewerage works – open to the public, was previously leader of Business in the Community for Bradford and a member of the Water UK Council.
