Engagement Premier Award 2012
Sponsored by E.ON
Presented at The Lincoln Centre, London on 20 June 2012 by Sir John Armitt, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Veolia Water UK
Educating today for tomorrow's water sustainability
Sir John Armitt (right) presenting the award to Keith Luxon, Director of HR.
Veolia Water UK has been supplying drinking water to over three million consumers in the South East of England since the late 1980s and, more recently, commercial, water-related services throughout the UK. The company has over 2,000 employees; turnover in 2010/11 was £407 million.
Southeast England has the largest ecological footprint per person of all UK regions, yet receives less rainfall per head than Syria. Classified by the Environment Agency as ‘seriously water stressed’, the area is predicted to become drier by 2025, while its population will grow by 0.5 million to 8.9 million placing enormous strains on water supplies. Moreover, consumers in Veolia Water’s largest supply area bordering London (relatively affluent, growing population) have the highest demand for water in the driest part of the UK. Driving down consumption is essential and one way of achieving this is to influence the next generation of consumers to develop more responsible habits.
Veolia Water began investing in education to promote water efficiency in 1998. A team of trained and experienced teachers based in Bushey started by supporting local schools with a water efficiency programme. The programme has since evolved into a business-critical objective that delivers sustainable water savings.
The Education Service’s approach is to take a business issue (eg saving water, reducing waste), match it with the requirements of the school to teach the National Curriculum syllabuses and make the resulting learning a safe, fun experience for pupils, relating science to everyday life. This cross-curricular approach results in programmes that inspire more responsible behaviour, support the Sustainable Schools initiative and meet corporate objectives. It also makes teachers’ lives easier.
The Education Service’s innovative approach has won numerous awards and industry-wide recognition by demonstrating that environmental education is a business benefit and can be cost-effective. Its reputation was further enhanced in 2010 when members of staff were asked to draft new, industry-wide criteria for meeting water efficiency targets through education.
Benefits of the education programme include:
Water savings of over 430,000 litres per day in 2010/11.
The most cost-effective of all water efficiency measures - 2.55 litres saved per £1 spent.
Sustainability messages delivered to over 170,000 pupils and adults through inreach and outreach programmes.
‘This prestigious award represents the fruits of 11 years on a journey of realising a vision for sustainability that holds education of the next generation of water and environment stewards as a core value of our business.’
Olivier Bret, CEO, Veolia Water UK.
"I was impressed by the enthusiasm, commitment and knowledge of the staff in the Education Centre. Veolia Water has made a valuable investment in children’s education, benefiting children, parents, communities and the environment."
Dr Martin Bigg, BCE Awards Judge.
To find out more about this project, please contact:
Barbara.rowbottom@veoliawater.co.uk
www.veoliawater.co.uk
To see the Veolia Water UK video click here.