British Water Members' Handbook 2017 2017 Edition | Page 34

MESSAGE FROM THE TECHNICA L
FORUM CHAIR M A N
Innovation, Networking & Collaboration –
improving membership services to grow
businesses
As the leading trade association in the Water
Sector, British Water has recognised that members
want ever improving member services to facilitate
business growth and development. Consequently,
it has reviewed its strategy and has developed a
progressive Business Plan which will be implemented
over the next three years. Strong themes in the plan
are Innovation, Networking and Collaboration. I am
a strong advocate that these are key requirements
to grow one’s business, and so it is a pleasure to be
elected as the chair for the Technical Forum and drive
these topics forward.
Many members will know me as a former executive of
British Water when I managed the Technical Forum from
2010-2013. This was a role I greatly enjoyed and I believe
it has given me the experience of working closely with
members to understand their needs and interests.
Since I left, I have been an active member on the Focus
Groups and am looking forward to working with Marta
Perez and the rest of the team at British Water.
The Technical Forum, working closely with the
UK and International Forums, monitors industry
regulations, standards and technical issues, informs
the members where appropriate and coordinates
members’ views in order to:
• to support, protect and develop their businesses
• to represent their interests to regulators, customers,
public and Government
• and to promote good and safe practice in the industry
The main platforms in the Technical Forum for
addressing ongoing technical issues within the
industry are covered by the Focus Groups which are
forums for members to meet, discuss the issues and
react accordingly under the brand of British Water.
Data and Analytics and Network Management are
two such focus groups. Other technical issues are
addressed by representation on stakeholder forums,
such as BIM4Water.
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Looking forward through 2017 we are working on our
action plans to grow our services to members, grow
British Water and most importantly help our members
grow their businesses. This brings me back to
Innovation, Networking and Collaboration. In my first
year at British Water, the executive team developed
the Innovation Exchanges which opened the doors to
water utilities and enabled members to shop window
their offers in front of customers. This worked for
many members. However, getting a green light has
not always led to the take up of technologies and so,
further work has started to make this happen and
improve the take up.
The team at British Water will be looking to organise
more networking and collaboration events and the
Technical Forum will play a role in this by horizon
scanning and seeking new markets where water and
wastewater opportunities exist.
The executive team at British Water is small and as a
trade association it relies on member participation,
I urge you to go to the British Water website and
identify activities where you could contribute as a
member. Also, feel free to contact the executive or
myself and discuss any ideas or contributions you
would like to make.
Ian Bernard
Chair of the British Water Technical Forum
www.britishwater.co.uk