Northumbrian Water Group – Health, Safety and Environment Framework Forum

Constructing Excellence

In 2015 Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) launched their strategic business plan for the next 5 years, and beyond, to support the delivery of projects and improvements to the value of circa £200Mn in capital expenditure (CAPEX) per annum using a collaborative approach.

Northumbrian Water Group’s vision is ‘to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and waste water services’ and has identified their supply chain partners as a key element in the one team approach. Four key principles for CAPEX delivery, were identified as Professional Client, Visibility and Commitment, Engage for Value and Collaborate and Improve. There was an acknowledgement that at the start of this process not all these would align in harmony, but there was a challenge to all partners to fulfill the belief that the promotion of Health and Safety issues, the avoidance or minimalization of accidents or exposure to any hazardous environments is a fundamental requirement for all stakeholders.

This belief lead to the formation of the Health, Safety and Environment Framework Forum. The Forum provides an opportunity for NWG and their partner organisations to engage, collaborate and improve health, safety and environmental performance through the sharing of information, knowledge, experience and best practice on health, safety and environmental matters and to jointly launch new initiatives or innovative proposals.

The details below describe how the Health, Safety and Environment Framework Forum was launched, and how in its first full year it is a best practice example of collaborative working.