Water Plus

Water Plus is a British business water retail services provider headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent. The company was created as a 50/50 joint venture between United Utilities and Severn Trent after the Competition and Markets Authority approved the arrangement in May 2016. It received an Ofwat licence in September 2016 to provide water supply and sewerage retail services. The business was established to operate in the deregulated non-household water markets of Great Britain. England’s business water market opened to competition on 1 April 2017, allowing eligible commercial customers to choose their water and wastewater retailer rather than relying on a regional incumbent for retail services. Scotland’s business water market had already been opened to competition on 1 April 2008, providing an earlier operating environment for comparable commercial water retail activity. Water Plus focuses on business customers rather than household consumers. Its role is principally retail and customer-facing: supplying and billing commercial users for water and wastewater services, managing accounts, and supporting customers with service and consumption-related matters. The underlying physical water and sewerage networks remain associated with regional infrastructure operators, while Water Plus competes in the retail relationship with other licensed providers. The company became one of the largest business water retailers in England. The available reference material states that it employs approximately 500 people and serves more than 366,000 business customers. Those figures describe the scale reported in the source material and are not treated here as a current independently verified total. Water Plus’s corporate identity is closely linked to the two large UK water companies that established it. United Utilities operates principally in the North West of England, while Severn Trent operates across parts of central England and Wales. Their joint venture gave Water Plus access to sector expertise and a platform from which to compete nationally in the newly liberalised business market. The company’s principal strategic challenge is typical of regulated utility retail businesses: maintaining reliable customer service, managing billing and account complexity, and demonstrating value to commercial customers in a market where switching is possible. Leadership changed in 2018. Sue Amies-King, who had served as the company’s first chief executive from March 2016, was replaced by Andy Hughes, formerly of Severn Trent Water. This change represented an early transition from the company’s formation and market-launch phase to its next stage of operation. Public reference material supplied for this entry does not provide enough information to establish later leadership, ownership, financial performance, product-level branding, or a current official website with certainty.

Water Plus was formed during the expansion of competition in the United Kingdom’s business water sector. Its immediate corporate origins lie in a 50/50 joint venture between United Utilities and Severn Trent. The Competition and Markets Authority approved the venture in May 2016, after which the company proceeded toward regulatory authorisation and commercial operation. The business received an Ofwat licence in September 2016 covering water supply and sewerage retail services. This regulatory approval was important because Water Plus was not established as a conventional regional water infrastructure monopoly. Instead, it was designed as a retailer serving non-household customers in markets where businesses could choose among licensed suppliers. The physical delivery of water and removal of wastewater continued to depend on the wider regulated network system, while Water Plus managed the commercial relationship with its customers. Water Plus was established in preparation for the opening of England’s business water market on 1 April 2017. The reform allowed eligible commercial users in England to select their water and wastewater retailer. Scotland had opened its business water market earlier, on 1 April 2008, so Water Plus was also positioned to participate in that more mature competitive environment. Its scope therefore extended beyond the geographic territories traditionally associated with its two parent companies. The company’s headquarters are in Stoke-on-Trent. Reference material describes a workforce of about 500 employees and a customer base exceeding 366,000 businesses, making Water Plus the largest business water retailer in England at the time described. These figures indicate a substantial national retail operation, although the supplied sources do not establish the date or continuing accuracy of each figure. Leadership during the formation and launch period was provided by Sue Amies-King, who became the company’s first chief executive in March 2016. In June 2018, Water Plus announced that Andy Hughes would replace her. Hughes had previously worked for Severn Trent Water, linking the new leadership to one of the venture’s founding shareholders and to established expertise in the water sector. The available reference material provides limited detail about later developments, financial results, consumer or regulatory disputes, product innovations, and subsequent corporate ownership. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest for the company’s creation, regulatory licensing, entry into competitive business water markets, operating scale, and early leadership transition.

• 2018

  Chief executive transition

  [1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Andy Hughes replaced founding chief executive Sue Amies-King.

• 2017

  England’s business water market opens

  [1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Water Plus began serving the deregulated English business water market when competition opened on 1 April.

• 2016

  Joint venture formation approved

  [1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The Competition and Markets Authority approved the creation of Water Plus as an equal joint venture between United Utilities and Severn Trent.

• 2016

  Ofwat retail licence granted

  [1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Water Plus obtained an Ofwat licence in September to provide water supply and sewerage retail services.

A large business-focused water and wastewater retailer competing in the deregulated UK non-household water market.

• Water utility retail · 2017

  Business water supply retail services

  Water Plus supplies retail water services to commercial and other non-household customers in competitive UK business water markets. The offering concerns the customer account and retail relationship rather than ownership of the regional physical water network. Typical functions include account administration, service support, and coordination of water-related charges for business premises.

• Wastewater utility retail · 2017

  Business wastewater and sewerage retail services

  The company also provides retail services for business wastewater and sewerage requirements. This includes managing the commercial relationship associated with wastewater services and billing for eligible non-household customers. The service operates within the regulated water and sewerage framework and depends on the underlying network infrastructure of relevant operators.

• 2018

  Change chief executiveOther

  Background

  Following the company’s formation and early market-launch period, Water Plus changed its top executive leadership.

  Action taken

  Andy Hughes, formerly of Severn Trent Water, replaced first chief executive Sue Amies-King.

  Aftermath

  The leadership change marked a transition to the company’s next operating phase; the supplied sources do not document its later consequences.

  Source

• 2017

  Enter England’s deregulated business water marketStrategy

  Background

  England opened its non-household water market to retail competition on 1 April 2017.

  Action taken

  Water Plus began operating as a licensed business water and wastewater retailer for eligible commercial customers.

  Aftermath

  The company developed a national business-focused retail operation and was described in the reference material as England’s largest business water retailer.

  Source

• 2016

  Create an equal joint venture between United Utilities and Severn TrentM&A

  Background

  The venture was created to establish a significant retail competitor ahead of the opening of England’s business water market.

  Action taken

  United Utilities and Severn Trent formed Water Plus on a 50/50 basis after Competition and Markets Authority approval.

  Aftermath

  The new company obtained regulatory authorisation and prepared to serve business customers in England and Scotland.

  Source

• 2018

  Andy Hughes replaces Sue Amies-King as chief executive[1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Water Plus announced a leadership transition in which Andy Hughes, formerly of Severn Trent Water, succeeded the company’s first chief executive, Sue Amies-King.

• 2016

  Competition authorities approve the Water Plus joint venture[1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  The Competition and Markets Authority approved the formation of Water Plus as a 50/50 joint venture between United Utilities and Severn Trent.

• 2016

  Water Plus receives business water retail licensing[1]Water Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  Water Plus was licensed by Ofwat in September 2016 to provide water supply and sewerage retail services.

1. 1Water Plusen.wikipedia.org