At Ofwat, our work is about shared responsibility — to protect people and the environment. We work to secure safe and resilient water supplies for future generations. Sometimes, that means having difficult conversations. But we take ownership of our actions and we’ve got integrity — if we say we’re going to do something, you can believe we’ll do it. We’re a small organisation with big ambitions — we’re always open to learning new ideas and better ways of doing things. We respect and value everybody’s perspective, background, identity, and lived experience – and support each other’s wellbeing.
Our SAILOR values sum us up. They drive our behaviour, connect our culture and bring us together as a community.
Our Framework for Success supplements our values, setting out the attributes that lead to success at Ofwat. We use this framework in our interviews. For our people, it’s a tool to help them assess their strength and areas for development to support their career development. These attributes set out our expectations at different grades for how we develop ourselves, others, and Ofwat.
Discover our Framework for Success
Hybrid Working
Hybrid working empowers our people to manage their own time, fostering a healthy work-life balance and boosting health and wellbeing while maintaining productivity. Ofwat’s people work flexibly with the opportunity to do some work at home and some in our conveniently located offices.
Each of our teams have developed a team charter which agrees how they’ll work in the most effective way – when in-person collaboration will lead to better outcomes, and when they can choose to work remotely if preferred.
Wellbeing
We work with our wellbeing in mind. We’re always sharing ideas to support each other’s wellbeing and checking in on each other. These are the little things that we do every day to look after our wellbeing. We also conduct regular wellbeing surveys. These give us a temperature check to understand how people are feeling and spotlight the wellbeing support Ofwat provides.
A core element of our culture is trust – this means that we create and foster a safe space where we feel comfortable being ourselves. Where we don’t feel restricted or unable to speak up. And where we always feel supported.
Everybody has access to the Employee Assistance programme which offers free counselling sessions, financial wellness and more. We’ve trained 15 Mental Health First Aiders to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues, so they can effectively guide a person towards the right mental health support. And everyone receives the premium version of the Headspace app for free, which helps people create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you.
I’m at the source of everyday life
Cheryl Steventon, Interim Director in Major Projects
We sat down with Cheryl to discuss the impact of her work, work-life balance, and why she’s still with us after almost 19 years!
You’ve been with us for a long time. What keeps you at Ofwat?
I’m really proud of working here. I stay working at Ofwat mainly because of the breadth of work you get to do. We’re a small organisation so everybody mucks in and gets involved with different things. You can work on different projects – either as a sideways move or to further your career and get a promotion. There’s always something new to learn. I’ve been here nearly 19 years now and there are still new things to learn. I think that’s the thing that motivates me.
What’s your work-life balance like?
I’m a working mum with five children. Being able to work from home and in the office, interacting with others, it’s never been a barrier. It’s great for work-life balance. I think Ofwat’s approach to diversity and inclusion helps women particularly but also colleagues from a range of different backgrounds. Everyone is treated equally.
How does your work make an impact?
The impact of my work is quite close to my heart because it’s something that impacts everyone in England and Wales. It’s not just for this generation, but future generations as well. As a mum, it’s very important to make sure that we’re protecting the environment for this generation and the next, and we’re also moving the industry on. The water companies need to make a certain amount of profit, but they also need to consider their customers and really deliver better value for whatever it is that they are given.
At Ofwat, we’ll make sure your work-life balance works for you. Come and work at the source of everyday life.
James Jenkins, Principal, Environment and Climate Change
We sat down with James to discuss why he joined Ofwat, the best parts of his job and how Ofwat supports him.
Why did you decide to join Ofwat?
I’m driven to want to make a difference to how people use the environment and how the environment can be protected. I’ve always been interested in the water environment. Being able to play a part in that is hugely inspiring. Then at the same time, getting to work with colleagues who also care about that. It drives you to want to deliver.
As a child, I used to play in rivers and waterways. I saw the consequences of them being polluted. Then, as an adult, I realised you can do a job that helps change that – that’s morally what’s driven me to join Ofwat and help to play my part, as part of a wider collective, to make that difference. It’s really inspiring and what motivates me.
What’s the best part of your job?
Getting to work in an area that I love dearly which is the environment and climate change. Climate change is obviously one of the biggest – if not the biggest – challenges facing society at the moment. Being part of a wider organisation that is truly committed to that, to making a difference to the lives of water consumers, to the lens of climate change, and making sure that the industry is in a position to deliver effectively and efficiently in that space, it’s a huge privilege and an honour to do that. For me, it’s hugely rewarding. It puts me in my element of what I love to do and I’m able to give my best and bring my best to work.
How does Ofwat support you?
Ofwat supports me on a daily basis. I feel like I can be myself at work. I work compressed hours, which I find hugely important for my mental health and wellbeing. It allows me then to give my all at work.
Finally, why should people join us?
If you want to make a difference and have an impact, Ofwat is for you. If you’re someone that thrives on collaborating with others and you respond well to feedback that’s expressed in a positive way, it’s only going to bring out the best in you and you’re going to give your best and you’re going to do better – it’s a unique culture that they’ve managed to create here. It’s very nurturing, very encouraging, there are always opportunities to develop yourself and to learn. Your requests for learning are always met with an open mindset, and they do their very best to support you. They make time available, or they’ll fund other learning opportunities. It’s a really positive, supportive environment to work in.
At Ofwat, you’ll find a role that’s packed with purpose and comes with huge impact. Come and work at the source of everyday life.
Nahila Chowdhury, Data Graduate
We sat down with Nahila to discuss our culture and what life’s like for grads at Ofwat.
What’s the culture like at Ofwat?
The culture is one of the best things about working here. If you’ve heard of Ofwat before you might’ve heard about the culture – it’s a great place to learn, share ideas and challenge ideas. It’s a great space to build yourself professionally, but also as a person. It’s one of the main reasons I like coming into work to see my teammates. They’re a big inspiration for me and they display so many qualities that I wish to have later on. It’s a great place to learn.
It’s easy to be my authentic self just because the culture of this place is amazing. As a new graduate, you’re given responsibility right from the start, which can be daunting at first, but then you realize it’s a way to build character and learn with these challenges that help you grow. I have become so much more confident as a speaker. I have more trust in my ability to carry out tasks and I can see a stark difference in the way I show empathy to people.
How does Ofwat support you as a graduate?
When I ask questions, I always get a satisfactory answer. It’s more of a dialogue than a one-word answer or a one-way conversation. It makes me feel more engaged and makes me want to come up with new ideas and ask more questions. It’s a great way for me to learn and challenge ideas and I get supported through that. It’s a very safe space for me to grow.
I also have a great work-life balance. I work from home when I need space and focus time, then come into the office to collaborate. It’s the best of both worlds.
As a grad at Ofwat, you’ll be given all the support you need to start a rewarding career that comes with huge impact. Come and work at the source of everyday life.