Future-Proofing the Water Industry: Skills for AMP8 & Beyond

The workshop will explore the current state of skills and talent within the water industry. This is a particularly relevant topic, as the industry is preparing for its largest investment since privatisation, beginning in March 2025.

Each water company has a finite workforce responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing a wide range of assets throughout their lifecycle. The workshop will focus on the strategies water companies and their partners are implementing to attract, develop, and retain the essential skills needed to meet business demands.

A skill set is a combination of abilities, knowledge, and competencies that individuals acquire through education, on-the-job training, and life experiences. Industry experts will share insights on how they identify, maintain, and future-proof the skills required both now and, in the years ahead. Delegates will also have the opportunity to engage with water company representatives to discuss what "skill set" means to them and assess their current workforce capabilities.

With numerous partnerships established for the AMP8 investment period—bringing together water companies, instrumentation manufacturers, and contractors—it will be interesting to see whether knowledge transfer from suppliers to end users is a key part of the process, particularly given the widespread availability of digital apps and online training videos.

There will be a practical live demonstration of the Imperial carbon capture plant where delegates will learn how Dr. Colin Hale trains the next generation of students with the necessary knowledge and skills so that they equipment when entering the workforce.

Join us at Imperial College London where experts will discuss how the future “Skill Set” within the water industry will look in the future.

AGENDA

09:00 Refreshments & Registration

09:30 Mike Sparrey, ABB: Introduction

09:40 Simon Williams, Thames Water & Dan Tree, South West Water: Addressing the Skills Gap in Operational Technology and ICA

10:10 Siobhan Millen, Severn Trent: Severn Trent Operational Skills for AMP8 : Instrumentation, Control and Automation

10:40 Refreshments & Networking

11:00 Corey Alvey & John Curtis, Anglian Water: Delivery Vs BAU – Balancing resources

11:30 Chris Maddox, Bridges Ltd.: Bridges Approach to Nurturing and Developing Talent

12:00 Daniel Lodge, ABB: Future-Ready Water Industry: ABB's Expertise for AMP8 and Beyond

12:30 Panel Discussion

13:00 Lunch & Networking

14:00 Dr Colin Hale, Imperial College London: Introduction to Imperial College and how ICL use the Carbon Capture Plant to Train the Next Generation

14:30 ABB Carbon Capture Pilot Plant Tours

16:00 Refreshments & Summary

16:30 Close