About Us

Facing the challenge

The UK water industry faces a series of major challenges in both the short term,

eg. leakage reduction, private sewer transfer, AMP5 efficiencies, etc.

and in the long term,

eg. energy & carbon reduction, increased demand, water scarcity, increased flooding, ageing assets, impact of climate change, etc.

These challenges require innovative solutions.

Innovative solutions through supply chain engagement

The Water Industry Forum (WIF) is an independent, not-for-profit business network which brings the whole of the UK water industry together to tackle the big challenges faced by the industry in the short, medium and long term.

We do this by using the knowledge, experience and engagement of WIF’s extensive network of industry suppliers and other stakeholders. This in turn creates opportunities for WIF’s members to grow and exploit the solutions to these challenges in both UK and overseas markets

Connecting problems to problem solvers

Our aim is to:

1. understand the specific needs of water companies, their tier 1 framework partners and other key industry stakeholders with regards to the challenges they face.

2. develop new approaches with them to:

i clearly specify their individual challenges

ii incentivise suppliers, research organisations and other industry stakeholders to participate

3. generate stakeholder activity that delivers the innovative solutions required

4. provide a platform for water companies, their partners and key stakeholders to work on cross-industry challenges

5. provide a web based “information exchange” which supports the above.

Our History

The Water Industry Forum (WIF) was originally set up under contract in 2007 by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency. Its primary purpose was to promote economic growth amongst the high numbers of water industry suppliers based in the Yorkshire & Humber region. Yorkshire Chemical Focus Ltd took over the contract for WIF in February 2009.

Following the end of the Yorkshire Forward contract in March 2011, WIF was transformed into a self-funding independent business network for the whole of the UK water industry. On 1^st October 2011 WIF formerly separated from its parent (Yorkshire Chemical Focus Ltd) to become Water Industry Forum Ltd - a completely separate, independent, not-for-profit company.

Why Water Industry Forum?

Since WIF was re-launched in Oct 2009, it has quickly developed a track record for:

- identifying the specific needs of water companies

- developing new approaches to the challenges faced by water companies

- engaging with suppliers, research organisations and other industry stakeholders

- gaining a 90% good or excellent satisfaction rating for initiatives and events to date

- generating immediate and long term benefits for water companies and Tier 1 suppliers

- delivering commercial opportunities for the supply chain

- developing a rapidly growing UK wide supply chain network.

Our membership categories

Water Company Partner	Open to all water companies
Industry Partner	Open to all tier 1 suppliers plus other key industry stakeholders
Full Member	Open to all suppliers of water & waste water products & services
Associate Membership (free)	Open to all suppliers of water & waste water products & services