The volunteer-run Pride in the South West Award annually honors individuals dedicated to water advocacy, enriching the lives of people, communities, and the environment in the region.
This Award is now open for nominations in 2025, so please read the below to find out how to apply.
The “Pride in the South West Award” was launched in April 2022 in memory of Dr. Stephen Bird. Stephen was South West Water’s Managing Director, he was born and lived in Plymouth and worked at South West Water since 1992. Prior to which he worked for Welsh Water Authority and the then National Rivers Authority.
Those who knew Stephen will tell you he was passionate about the South West and not just South West Water, his leadership included work across the region’s business and economic interests, he was a board member on the Heart of the South West local enterprise partnership, South West Business Council and Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.
He was also very passionate about people and would always make sure that there was always the right person in the right role. He loved innovation and research as well as establishing training and helped to establish the South Devon University Technical Collage in Newton Abbot.
What we’re looking for
We are looking for those individuals who are passionate about Water and the South West and can show how they deliver meaningful benefits to the people, communities or the environment in the region. We’re dedicated to an inclusive nomination process, so only two requirements must be met for a candidate to be eligible.
Candidates need to be:
- Based within the Institute of Water’s South West Area – Bristol, Cornwall, Devon and across to Bournemouth and up to Swindon.
- Working in and around the UK water sector.
Hot to Apply
This award focuses on the individual, and we want the judges to know three things:
- Why is this candidate exceptional?
- What contributions have they made to the South West?
- How have they delivered these contributions with a passion that sets them apart?
The competition is open until Friday September 2nd 2024, after which our panel of judges will select a winner from the entries.
The Prize
The winner will receive an array of prestigious prizes designed to celebrate and support their achievements, including:
- A complimentary spot at the two day Institute of Water Annual Conference 2025, including a place at the President’s Dinner with the South West Area Committee.
- A cash prize of £200, sponsored by South West Water.
- The honor of keeping the ‘Pride in the South West’ Blue Glass Kanagawa Wave trophy for a year.
To apply, download and complete the nomination form, then email it to Kimberley Dodge, IWater’s South West Area Secretary, at Kimberleydodge@stonbury.co.uk
South West Water has been recognised for excellent customer service at the 2019 UK Customer Satisfaction Awards.
The company won the TLF Research Best Return on Customer Service Investment Award at the prestigious event, held in London this week.
Run by The Institute of Customer Service, the annual awards ceremony celebrates UK customer service achievements across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
The awards were created to showcase those organisations who genuinely place customers at the heart of their business strategy and build a sustainable culture of customer service within their organisation.
South West Water’s Customer Service Director Jo Ecroyd said: “I am really proud that the efforts our people are making to put customers at the heart of everything we do have been recognised in this way.
“We are all privileged to provide essential services that directly impact on the quality of life of the customers and communities we serve. Achieving such a prestigious award demonstrates that our customers really matter to us, that we listen to them and shape our plans around them.
“We will continue to work with our customers to understand their needs and to deliver a range of services that exceeds their expectations.”
In addition to South West Water, another 15 organisations and individuals were recognised for the way in which they have delivered the highest standards in UK customer service over the past year.
Jo Causon, CEO of The Institute of Customer service commented: “Given the challenging external environment, it is more crucial than ever to highlight – and celebrate – those inspirational moments which engage people on an emotional level and positively impact their experience of a brand.
“Our awards showcase the organisations who are achieving those things and setting the standard. I would like to congratulate every one of our winners – and all those who were shortlisted – and commend their ongoing commitment to improving customer service in their organisations.”
Organisations from a variety of sectors were recognised for their achievements at the prestigious awards ceremony. Of the 100 shortlisted organisations and individuals, some were well-known names and brands, whilst others represented small business and the public sector, demonstrating that good customer service is vital to all organisations and industries.
An action-packed programme of environmental events open to staff and members of the public is planned by South West Water this year.
In its 25 Year Environment Plan, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs named 2019 as a Year of Green Action, aimed highlighting the role that people and businesses can play in improving the environment.
The Year of Green Action is designed to build on positive environmental action already taking place, while reaching new audiences and demonstrating the power of collective action across all sections of society.
Monthly activities have been planned by South West Water, together with the rest of the Pennon Group. So far these include conservation management at operational sites, a restoration project in partnership with Dartmoor National Park, volunteer beach cleans across the region and participation in wider initiatives including National Invasives Week and the Big Devon March.
Also during the Year of Green Action, South West Water will be continuing its support for ReFill, by supplying 3,000 stainless steel refillable bottles, free of charge, to Keep Britain Tidy to distribute to community groups in Devon and Cornwall. The ReFill bottles will be sold by communities to plough the proceeds back into good causes in their areas.
As a co-founder of the ReFill revolution, South West Water is also talking to councils in the region to explore how the campaign can be expanded further across the South West, following its UK launch in Bude, Cornwall in 2014.
The company will continue to roll out its award-winning Upstream Thinking programme to restore wetlands and control future water treatment costs, as well as its Downstream Thinking scheme to cut the risk of sewer flooding and overflows. Since 2010, South West Water has worked to improve the water quality at 1,290 farms upstream of drinking water reservoirs and river abstractions. It has also restored 7,997 acres (3,236 hectares) of moorland, culm grass and other semi-nature habitats.
Reducing carbon emissions and generating renewable energy using hydropower, solar panels, biogas and wind power are also a key area of focus for 2019. As part of its ambitious business plan for 2020-25, South West Water is gearing up to spend more than £1billion to improve services, enhance operational resilience and deliver the largest programme of environmental improvements for 15 years.
Environmental Permitting Manager Jenny Lundh is coordinating the company’s programme of Year of Green Action events. She said: “South West Water’s day-to-day activities depend on a healthy natural environment and we want to continue to play our part in protecting it as well as encouraging our customers to do so.
“We’ll be inviting our staff – and customers where we can – to join in, volunteer and learn more about our beautiful environment and what we can all do to improve it.”
Director of Environment Ed Mitchell said: “The health of the natural environment is essential to our business. In every aspect of our operational activity we seek to leave the environment in an improved condition, for example by promoting biodiversity on our sites.
“We already have an active volunteering programme which enables staff to take part in projects such as beach cleans and habitat restorations. During 2019 we’ll be supporting the Year of Green Action and inviting our customers to join us in some of the activities we have planned.”
Events will be publicised on South West Water’s website and social media channels.