We all know life relies on water – so why do we take it for granted? Turn the tap on, water comes out. But just because that’s our experience so far, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed. Keeping our water flowing and improving life through water starts with us. We’re at the source of everyday life.
We couldn’t do what we do without our brilliant people. In our 2023 People Survey, we outperformed the Civil Service benchmarks on all 10 measures. 94% recommend Ofwat as a great place to work. 89% say they do interesting, engaging work. Our score for inclusion and fair treatment is 86%. And 83% agree that they decide how they do their work.
Introduction
We’re Ofwat. We regulate the water sector in England and Wales. Our role is to enable, incentivise and hold companies to account so they provide the best for customers, communities and the environment – now and in the future.
What we do and why it matters
We’re at the source of everyday life, working to:
- Put the environment at the heart of everything we do. Making sure water companies protect and improve the environment, using digital and data innovations.
- Keep water affordable – for everyone.
- Understand customer needs. By talking to household and business customers and carrying out research.
- Tackle challenges using innovative methods, like nature-based solutions or how we can use data better.
- Transform water companies’ performance including on leakage, sewer flooding and customer service, making sure they provide greater public value.
- Oversee billions of pounds of water sector investment across England and Wales through our price reviews.
Awards, Accreditations and Partnerships
Partnership with Carers UK
Ofwat is part of the ‘Employers for Carers’ forum. This means that we benefit from best-in-class knowledge to create an environment which supports our people who are carers. This helps them to feel seen, valued, and to open a dialogue around their caring responsibilities.
Carers’ Passport
The Civil Service introduced the Carers’ Passport to support anyone who has caring responsibilities. This provides an opportunity to reflect on and document your responsibilities as a carer, the impact your caring responsibilities have on your work, and possible reasonable adjustments that may help you successfully work and maintain your caring responsibilities.
Disability Confident
Ofwat is a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions. You can find out more about what this means here.
Investors in People
Ofwat has Investors in People silver accreditation. Investors in People are an independent workplace engagement specialist, focused on ‘making workplaces better’. Working closely with organisations, they measure, improve and recognise workplace engagement and share insights to improve cultures.