Tag: Business Stream

Business Stream awards £50k to water efficiency projects

Scotland’s public bodies receive vital funding from water retailer

ONE of the UK’s largest water retailers has donated £50,000 to public sector organisations throughout Scotland to help fund water efficiency projects.

Edinburgh-based Business Stream set up its annual Public Sector Scotland (PSS) Water Efficiency Fund to help organisations such as local councils, schools and universities deliver environmental and financial savings.

This year, the retailer has awarded funding to Midlothian Council which is looking to generate efficiencies at two of its primary schools. Funding has also been awarded to South Lanarkshire College and Glasgow Kelvin College, both of which are using the money to invest in water saving devices, rainwater harvesting apparatus and water efficiency audits.

Scottish Fire and Rescue has also been awarded funding for a water efficiency audit across nine stations, and East Ayrshire Council and charity body, Glasgow Life, is hoping the investment will improve their urinal flow facilities.

In addition to providing funding, Business Stream will also support the delivery of each project.

Chief Executive of Business Stream, Jo Dow said: “It’s important to us that we do everything we can to help organisations become more water efficient. We’re delighted that our fund is supporting the public sector throughout Scotland to generate environmental and financial savings for the fourth year running.

“Our fund provides an opportunity for forward thinking organisations to implement steps that will directly benefit their bottom line and support their sustainability goals.”

The fund allocation process was overseen by a judging panel comprising of representatives from Business Stream, the Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), public sector bodies and Scottish Procurement.

Sheona McIntyre, Environment Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue, said: “Business Stream’s fund will not only help the Scottish Fire and Rescue service deliver water efficiencies, but also help to further educate our teams on the importance of using water wisely and being conscious of waste water.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded funding.”

Business Stream recently announced it had saved Scotland’s public sector a record £2.85million over the course of the last year, taking total savings over three years to £6.4million. As a result of the retailer’s activities, the sector has also saved more than 1.365 billion litres of water over the past year, equivalent to the volume of 546 Olympic swimming pools.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, with a presence in Worthing, West Sussex and in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Business Stream is guided by its ambitious vision to make a positive difference (MAPD) to its customers, its people, the environment and local communities.

Since launching that vision in 2019, the UK’s second largest water retailer has introduced more than 30 initiatives, several of which have contributed to its latest reduction of 50% in carbon emissions over the past year.

While the company achieved a 25% reduction in 2021-22, the 2022-23 figure, which has been externally verified, is a significant step toward Business Stream becoming net zero by 2030 – well ahead of the Scottish Government’s 2045 target.

In recognition of its efforts to operate as a responsible business, the retailer was awarded a Gold rating by global sustainability assessors, EcoVadis, in November 2022, placing it within the top 5% of companies measured across four key sustainability areas – the environment, sustainable procurement, labour and working conditions and ethics.

Water savings flood in for Scottish public sector

SCOTLAND’S largest water retailer has saved the country’s public sector a record £2.85million over the course of the last year, taking total savings over three years to £6.4million.

Business Stream has supported public sector organisations across the country, including NHS Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government with leak detection, water efficiency and smart monitoring services as part of a three-year contract.

As a result of the retailer’s activities, the sector has also saved more than 1.365 billion litres of water over the past year, equivalent to the volume of 546 Olympic swimming pools.

This in turn has delivered energy savings reducing 574,778 kg of carbon – comparable to removing 438 single passenger flights from Edinburgh to New York.

Jo Dow, Chief Executive of Business Stream, said: “We’re really pleased to have delivered significant savings for Scotland’s public sector again this year.

“Our experience in working with the sector has allowed us to develop a suite of services and solutions that are helping the sector to reduce costs, save time and generate environmental efficiencies. We’re looking forward to delivering further savings in the year ahead”.

Through constantly striving to improve efficiency and service, the 350-strong water retailer has increased public sector savings year-on-year, from £1.4 million in 2021 to £2.2 million in 2022.

As one of the largest water retailers in the UK, Business Stream was awarded the Scottish Government Public Sector Water and Waste Water Framework contract in early 2020. The contract, worth around £200 million over three years, also includes the Scottish Prison Service, universities and colleges and local authorities. In 2022, Business Stream was awarded an additional one-year extension to the contract, which is currently underway.

A spokesperson from the Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate utilities team, said: “Business Stream has continued to work with the public sector to identify water efficiency opportunities.

“This pro-active approach has reduced water consumption and provided financial savings for public sector customers of the Water and Waste Water Framework. Reducing cost and carbon impact is essential for supporting Scotland’s green economic recovery and helping us on our journey to a Net Zero Nation.”

The water retailer recently announced it had delivered £50,000 of funding to six public sector initiatives through its annual Public Sector Scotland (PSS) Water Efficiency Fund.

This year’s successful candidates of the Fund include a Heriot-Watt University initiative to install a water chiller unit to cool, condense and recirculate used water; the installation of modern, electronic low-flow taps at Glasgow Caledonian University; and the fitting of waterless urinals and aerator tap technology at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University.

Jo added: “The Water Efficiency Fund plays a key role in identifying and funding innovative ways to minimise water waste and generate efficiency savings. Our investment in these projects highlights our commitment to supporting Scotland’s public sector.”

Originally created in 2006 to offer best in class water services to businesses in Scotland, Business Stream later acquired the non-household customer base of Southern Water ahead of the planned opening of the English retail water market.

That market change in 2017 paved the way for 1.2 million businesses and public bodies in England to be able to choose their water supplier. In 2019 Business Stream acquired the customer base of its competitors Yorkshire Water Business Services (YWBS) and Three-Sixty, doubling its market share.

Business Stream has its HQ in Edinburgh, as well as a presence in Worthing, West Sussex and in Bradford, West Yorkshire. It is guided by its ambitious vision to make a positive difference to its customers, its people, the environment and local communities.

Since launching that vision in 2019, the retailer has introduced more than 30 initiatives, including a 20% water efficiency pledge to help customers reduce water usage. It has also invested in a tree-planting programme which has delivered an additional 10,000 trees in Scotland.

The savings success comes after Business Stream recently halved its carbon emissions in just one year, exceeding the retailer’s pledge to cut emissions by 20% over the same period.

Ferryhill pupils pour themselves into water efficiency learning

Edinburgh-based water retailer Business Stream partnered with local school, Ferryhill Primary School, on Thursday, 12 May to deliver an interactive water efficiency session and enterprise challenge activity to pupils.

During the day the primary six students at the Drylaw school were taught all about the importance of saving water. They were tasked with designing their own water saving posters and to take on the challenge of becoming water champions for their school.

In addition, the Business Stream volunteers, led by an external expert in enterprise education, James Tindell, also ran an enterprise challenge to help educate the children about the world of work.

The children made origami toy frogs and were then coached to help develop a business plan, create their own brand name and logo, and ‘sell’ their finished products to their peers.

The purpose of the session is to help inspire the children about working in business and teach them new skills such as team building.

Douglas McLaren, Chief Operating Officer at Business Stream said: “We had a brilliant day at Ferryhill Primary School and it was great to see the children’s enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit in action.

“We really enjoyed the opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of saving water for our planet and are looking forward to running more of these sessions in the year ahead”.

Business Stream’s school volunteering programme supports the company’s vision to Make a Positive Difference to local communities and the environment.

Following the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions, the retailer has re-started its school programme and plans to deliver further water efficiency and enterprise challenge sessions to schools in Scotland.

Jack Knott, Primary Six Teacher, Ferryhill Primary School, added: “I’d like to say a big thank you to both Business Stream and James Tindell for running this really exciting volunteering day.

“The pupils were given a fantastic insight into how a business is set up and run, from product design through to selling and making profits. They really developed their teamwork skills and it was great to see them so engaged in the tasks. 

“Given the current importance of tackling climate change, teaching pupils about the importance of saving water was extremely worthwhile. Our eco rep for the school will be taking forward what we have learned with our eco-committee so we can share some key water saving tips with the rest of the school!”

Public sector initiatives benefit from Business Stream’s Water Efficiency Fund

Edinburgh-based water retailer Business Stream has delivered nearly £100,000 of funding to nine public sector initiatives, including two in the capital through its annual Public Sector Scotland (PSS) Water Efficiency Fund.

The fund is part of a commitment made by the company to support public bodies across Scotland to deliver water efficiency projects designed to deliver environmental and financial savings.

One of this year’s successful candidates is Edinburgh Council, which will use the funds to purchase portable flow meters to help proactively manage water use at its sites and help drive a business case for purchasing additional automatic meter reading (AMR) equipment.

The Council will also commission a project to install urinal controls at one of the Local Authority’s secondary schools to help reduce water wastage and increase efficiency.

Edinburgh College also received funding, which it will use to undertake a full water efficiency audit at one of its sites to help identify water conservation solutions to help reduce overall consumption levels.

In addition to providing the funding, Business Stream will also support the delivery of each project.

Chief Executive of Business Stream, Jo Dow said: “As a responsible business, we are passionate about reducing our impact on the environment and helping our customers to do the same. It’s fantastic to be able to offer this fund to public sector bodies that are committed to reducing their water use and generating environmental savings.

“The judging panel members were incredibly impressed with the ingenuity of the applications and we’re now looking forward to supporting these projects to help deliver environmental and, in many cases, financial benefits too.”

A spokesperson from the Scottish Procurement Utilities team added: “Scottish Procurement and Property acknowledges the Business Stream approach to pro-active water management.

“The annual Water Efficiency Fund has identified projects which will deliver water resource savings and education opportunities. The Water Efficiency Fund supports the opportunity to reduce water consumption and provide financial savings for public sector customers of the ‘Water and Waste Water Framework.’”

The fund allocation process was overseen by a judging panel comprising representatives from Business Stream, the Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), public sector bodies and Scottish Procurement.

In 2021, Business Stream announced that it has saved Scotland’s public sector over £1 million in water costs during the first year of its three-year contract. Just under £1.4 million of savings were delivered to the sector through the retailer’s efficiency measures, helping to save 885 million litresof water in the process – the equivalent of 354 Olympic sized swimming pools.