There’s a moment when I’m asked what I do, when I debate whether it is safer to say I work in HR or a water company – both can illicit quite strong reactions. More people than ever have a view about the water industry, whether that’s, concerns about pollution, lack of investment, bills, or dividends. Some of it is valid. Some of it, in my opinion, simply isn’t true.
But I understand the frustration. We’re a privatised monopoly providing an essential service. People can’t choose their water provider so there is a brighter spotlight on us than many private companies. There’s a perception that we’re only interested in profits and dividends, and because we’re not a public service that everything else comes second to that.
I can’t speak for the whole industry, but I can speak for Severn Trent. And what I’ve seen in my eight years here is a workforce, at every level, that genuinely cares. Across the company there’s a pride and a quiet determination to do the right thing, even when it doesn’t make the headlines. Engagement is high, turnover is low, and discretionary effort is through the roof. We work around the clock to serve our communities every single day of the year come rain or shine, but we don’t think that’s enough.
Read more:
- Sky-high bills and sewage at its worst in over a century: What is the future of British water?
- Privatised greed has poisoned our rivers – it’s time to take our water back
- The River Severn is drowning in tonnes of chicken muck. The High Court just threw it a lifeline
Two years ago, around the time of the height of the cost of living crisis, we made a commitment to help 100,000 people across the Midlands tackle the root causes of poverty. We knew there was a risk that people would claim we were trying to obfuscate or that it was social washing – but the alternative was to do nothing, which may be safer but benefits no one in the end.
As a regional monopoly we have a privileged position. And that privilege gives us a responsibility, not just to the environment, but to those living where we operate. To be blunt, the reason we can do this and is because of the organisation we are. The fact we’re replumbing the Midlands means new jobs in our communities and it means we can be a force of good to help others because of the scale of investment we’re making.