In the third episode of season 2, host Natasha Wiseman is joined by guests from EU Skills, United Unities and Xylem UK & Ireland to discuss the ”monumental” workforce challenge in the water sector, including skills gaps, recruitment strategies, diversity, and the next generation of talent. 

Guest 1: Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) 

About EU Skills: A membership body of 70 companies (including all UK water utilities) representing a combined turnover of over £120 billion. They manage a register of 300,000+ safety-qualified workers. 

Key discussion points: 

• A significant portion of the frontline workforce is approaching retirement. 

• The £104 billion investment for AMP8 (Asset Management Period 8) requires new skills in procurement, contract management, cyber security, and large-scale infrastructure (e.g., reservoirs). 

• The workforce will soon span five generations, with ”Gen Alpha” (born 2010+) already entering work experience.  

Guest 2: Adrienne McFarland, People Director at United Utilities 

About United Utilities: A FTSE 100 business, responsible for water and wastewater services, delivering 1.8 billion litres of water every day to more than 3 million homes and businesses in the North West 

Key discussion points: 

• Critical skills needed in the water sector include engineering, construction, and quantity surveying; environmental skills, land management, and planning, as well as digital, AI, and data analytics. 

• United Utilities has doubled its intake of graduates and apprentices. 

• Regarding ‘knowledge transfer’ UU have a focus on ”Flexible Retirement” (allowing veterans to work 2-3 days a week) and maintaining an active alumni network to mentor new hires. 

• Highlighting programmes for Armed Forces veterans (who make up 5% of applicants) and ex-offenders. 

Guest 3/4/5: Perminder Atwal (HR Business Partner, Xylem), Amina Anverdeen (Sales Representative), and Ed Ellis (Graduate Chemist). 

About Xylem UK & Ireland: Xylem is a leading global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. Xylem connects diverse capabilities and innovative technologies to provide tailored solutions across the entire water cycle. 

Key discussion points: 

Perminder: 

• The water industry often lacks visibility or suffers from negative press –leading to recruitment challenges.  

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is critical. Perminder discusses the challenges of ensuring DEI in the water sector and dives into her DEI podcast Beneath the Surface – which aims to to make the ”unseen seen.” 

• Amina:  Challenges misconceptions that the role is purely technical; it is equally about problem-solving and commercial communication. 

• Ed: Stresses the immediate human impact of working in the water sector- for example, working on net-zero goals and public health is a primary driver for young professionals interested in working in this sector. 

Key episode takeaways: 

• The water sector faces significant skills and capacity challenges. 

• An ageing workforce is a critical issue in the water industry. 

• Diversity and inclusion are vital for building a resilient workforce. 

• Recruitment strategies must evolve to attract new talent. 

• The sector needs to move from a ”crisis” narrative to an ”opportunity” narrative, highlighting the 50,000+ new jobs being created. 

• Mid-career professionals should focus on their want to contribute to social value; technical skills can often be taught if the passion for the environment is present.