First water company achieves IChemE partnership award

One of the UK’s largest water companies, United Utilities, has been awarded corporate partner status by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).

IChemE grants corporate partner status to organisations that exemplify good practice in the way they support and develop their chemical and process engineers. United Utilities, which provides water and wastewater services to around seven million customers in the North West of England, is the first water company in the world to receive the award.

United Utilities was presented with its bronze Corporate Partnership award by Andy Furlong, IChemE’s director of policy and communication. The award was accepted on behalf of United Utilities by Helen Samuels, director of engineering.

IChemE’s Andy Furlong said: “In the UK we are fortunate to have access to a safe and reliable supply of fresh water, and sustainable solutions for the safe disposal of our wastewater. But it takes a large and skilled workforce to deliver this service, including chemical engineers who use technology to develop sustainable solutions to help people and industry make better use of water and protect the environment.

“Recent history has provided big fluctuations in rainfall in the UK, and around the world, and has resulted in great pressures on water supply. Having the skills and capacity to manage these variations is important and United Utilities is showing excellent leadership with its commitment to the professional development of its chemical engineers. It’s a wise investment which puts United Utilities in a good position to tackle the challenges ahead.

“United Utilities fully deserves its Corporate Partner status – and the public recognition this brings – for its excellent accredited training schemes and professional development of its chemical engineering talent.” 

United Utilities’ engineering director, Helen Samuels, said: “The attraction and development of best in class engineering talent is key to helping us meet the challenges ahead, and to do so within the context of the competing economic priorities that our customers face. 

“These challenges include increasingly stringent regulatory demands, climate change, increases in water usage and an aging asset base. As well as attracting new blood in a competitive market, I’m passionate about developing the skills of our existing engineers ¬– it’s all part of United Utilities’ plan to be a world leader in innovation.”   

Other organisations awarded corporate partnership include BP, Bechtel, Qatargas, Morgan Sindall, Atkins, ADMA, AstraZeneca, Sellafield Ltd, KBR, Larsen and Toubro, Ingen and Costain.