The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

G20 agrees global action to reduce ocean plastic

20 environment ministers have agreed to adopt a new voluntary framework of actions to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste on a global scale. Environment and energy ministers of the Group of 20 major economies met in Karuizawa (15-16 June), northwest of Tokyo, ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka, western Japan (28-29 June). Read more…

Ofwat calls for views on developing water resources market

Water regulator Ofwat is seeking views from interested parties about the development and implementation of a bilateral market in water resources in England. A bilateral market would allow water resource providers, other than the incumbent water company, to contract directly for the supply of water resources with retailers operating in the business retail market. Read more…

Light appointed new CCWater chair

Ensuring water consumers’ views shape the decisions of water companies, regulators and policymakers and building a more resilient water sector that reflects people’s growing concern for the environment will be among the most pressing priorities for the new chair of the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater). Read more…

Monitoring technology guide launched by British Water

A live guide to drinking water and wastewater monitoring technology and services has been launched by industry trade association British Water. The web-based document includes clear definitions of monitoring components, parameters and the monitoring requirements of different applications, along with direct links to suppliers able to provide suitable equipment. Read more…

Water firms explore new relationship with energy

Delegates at WWT’s Water Industry Energy Conference heard contributions and shared ideas on optimising energy usage and saving costs. Energy managers and leaders from the UK’s water companies met in Birmingham last week for a day of knowledge-sharing and debate on the future of energy use and generation in the UK water sector. Read more…

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

Biffa ups investment in plastic bottle recycling facility to £27.5m

Waste management firm Biffa has announced it will expand the capacity and scope of its new PET plastic bottle recycling facility in County Durham, increasing its total investment to £27.5m, which will take its combined plastics processing capacity to c120,000 tonnes p.a. Read more…

Wessex Water appoints two non-executive directors

Wessex Water has appointed two independent non-executive directors, Kate Mingay and Jim McKenna, to its board. Read more…

National Drought Group agrees support for farmers and wildlife

A National Drought Group (NDG) meeting was convened yesterday (4 June) to review water resources ahead of summer, following a dry winter and spring which has affected river flows and groundwater levels. Read more…

Waitrose unveils package free ‘pick and mix’ trial

A dedicated refillable zone, the UK’s first supermarket frozen ‘pick and mix’ and first borrow-a-box scheme are among a series of ideas being looked at in a unique test from Waitrose & Partners, which has the potential to save thousands of tonnes of unnecessary plastic and packaging. Read more…

Thames Water to build first new sewage works since 2005

Thames Water’s new chief operating officer has announced the company will build its first sewage works since 2005, in Guildford, Surrey. Read more…

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

 The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Buyer registrations jump 16% in February

The latest data and analysis from national estate agent, haart, has revealed that pent-up demand possibly fuelled by the Brexit waiting game has seen buyer registrations jump 16% on the month. Read more…

DfT’s £300m scheme to see disabled access at 73 railway stations improved

The DfT has announced a £300m investment to see disabled access improved at 73 UK rail stations. Read more…

No Deal Interim Environmental “Shadow Body” Announced

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that an interim environmental “shadow body” is in place in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal in place. Read more…

British Water members not keen on water nationalisation

Companies across the water supply chain believe that the Labour Party’s plan to nationalise English water companies would negatively impact their businesses as well as customers, according to a survey by British Water. Read more…

Kier picked for £200m Camberley town centre revamp

The development arm of Kier has been named preferred bidder to deliver the £200m redevelopment of part of Camberley town centre in Surrey. Read more…

 

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

 The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

IKEA and shipping giant CMA CGM to pilot first sustainable marine biofuel

Swedish furniture retailer teams up with shipping giant CMA CGM, GoodShipping Program and Port of Rotterdam to test marine biofuel made from forest residues and waste cooking oil. Read more…

Proposals To Tackle Non-Compliant Products Sold Online

Defra has published proposals to tackle non-compliant products sold through online marketplaces. Read more…

Mott MacDonald, Microsoft team up on smart infrastructure

Mott MacDonald and Microsoft have announced a strategic partnership to deliver smart infrastructure. Read more…

Biffa Acquires Specialist Waste Recycling Limited

Integrated waste management company Biffa has announced that it has today (12 March) acquired Specialist Waste Recycling Limited (‘SWRNewstar’), from a consortium of investors including Angus MacDonald OBE. Read more…

Tony Juniper appointed chair of Natural England

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that Tony Juniper CBE will be the new Chair of Natural England. Read more…

 

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

AquaPea leak system finding success in insurance sector

Innovations company Qinov8 has partnered with Auger, a tech specialist for the insurance industry, on the AquaPea leak repair system for water supply pipes. Read more…

Innovative household leakage technology set to appeal to home insurers

A ‘smart leak defence’ system which protects against water leaks in UK homes and properties is set to launch, with the promise of appealing to home insurers. Read more…

Plastic-Free Paper Cup Inventor Among Female Pioneers Awarded Funding

Pioneering female inventors have been recognised today (8 March) for innovations including a process to make disposable coffee cups waterproof without the need to use plastic. Read more…

Severn Trent begins £6M refurb of 100-year-old boreholes

Severn Trent has started work to refurbish two century-old boreholes in Wolverhampton to ensure customers continue to receive a reliable supply of drinking water in the area. Read more…

Yorkshire Water publishes ethnic pay gap

Yorkshire Water has revealed that its mean ethnic pay gap is 3 per cent and, after becoming one of the first companies in the county to publish, has encouraged others to follow suit. Read more…

 

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

Yorkshire Water awards AMP7 framework contract to AVK

AVK has been awarded a framework contract by Yorkshire Water for the supply of mechanical fittings including tensile-resistant fittings, under-pressure tees, repair fittings and end caps. Read more…

Waste Firms Sign Up To Energy And Utilities “Inclusion Commitment”

CEOs from 32 of the country’s leading energy and utilities employers have launched a sector “Inclusion Commitment” that is a long-term commitment to attract more “diverse and inclusive talent” into their industry. Read more…

Look beyond five-year plans, MP tells water industry

The water industry needs to move beyond the five-year regulatory price review if it is to deliver for customers and the environment, Angela Smith MP told a gathering of over 200 water industry professionals at a British Water networking event. Read more…

Defra Publishes Waste Export Guide For No Deal Brexit Scenario

Defra has today published guide outlining whatUK waste importers and exporters must do to prepare for changes to rules around waste shipments if the UK leaves the EU with no deal on 29 March 2019. Read more…

Thames Water and Network Rail work together to protect environment

An environmentally friendly herbicide is keeping tracks and taps flowing up and down the country thanks to a partnership between water companies and Network Rail. Read more…

 

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Proposals for £39bn investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail to be submitted to government

A business case for up to £39bn of investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) are to be submitted to the government, marking “the region’s single biggest transport intervention” since the industrial revolution. Read more…

Kier pulls off contracts league double

A flurry of contract wins took Kier to pole position for greatest value of orders taken in the opening month of 2019, also keeping the firm at the top of the 12 months rolling league. Read more…

Spurs stadium opening delayed again

Spurs have announced further delays to their late-running £1bn stadium. Read more…

Tideway scoops sustainability award

Tideway, the company delivering the Thames Tideway Tunnel, has been rewarded at the Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019 for its green approach to the use of transport in the project. Read more…

Biffa Gets The Green Light For £15m Durham Plastics Recycling Plant

Biffa has announced it has received planning approval from Durham County Council for a £15m plastics recycling plant near Seaham. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

 

Young civil engineers see tech as solution to skills shortage

Eight in 10 civil engineers believe that a skills shortage is the main challenge for the future of the industry, and 58 per cent of junior civil engineers believe that this challenge could be overcome by adopting new technology. Read more…

EU Proposal Submitted To Restrict “Intentionally Added” Microplastics

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has submitted a restriction proposal for microplastic particles that are intentionally added to mixtures used by consumers or professionals. Read more…

All Build UK contractors miss 30-day payment target again

No Build UK major contractor members are paying their bills within 30-days. Read more…

Is now the best time to buy a property in London?

It’s a gamble. Do I buy now or wait for a further possible drop in prices? Read more…

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as Gatwick Express trains trial due to start

MP Caroline Lucas has revealed that a trial for the Gatwick Express rail link will launch this month following months of reduced services, disruption and the May timetable chaos. Read more…

 

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Partnership aims to secure resilient utility workforce post-Brexit

The Collab Group has announced a new strategic partnership with Energy & Utility Skills that includes access to the latter’s end-point assessment service. Read more…

Construction’s hardest roles to recruit revealed

Industry leaders have drawn-up a list of the construction trades and professions suffering from the severest skills shortages. Read more…

Plans for tram-trains in Manchester unveiled as Grayling and Burnham mull expansion of Metrolink

Proposals for an expansion of Greater Manchester’s (GM) tram network are in the works, Chris Grayling and Andy Burnham have announced, with plans for greater devolved control for the region and the introduction of tram-trains being considered. Read more…

Gross mortgage lending sees steady rise during 2018

The latest figures released by UK Finance have revealed that, against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty throughout 2018, gross mortgage lending in the UK ended the year on a positive note. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

£50m stands approved for Lords cricket ground

The capacity of Lord’s cricket ground is set to increase to 31,000 after planning permission was granted to build new Edrich and Compton stands. Read more…

M&S launches plastic-free fruit and veg trial

Retailer to undertake three month trial to investigate how a switch to plastic-free and loose produce impacts waste levels. Read more…

The Ban on Tenant Fees Will Come Into Effect on 1st June

It feels like it’s been forever since the government announced that it was going to put an end to all the extra fees being charged by landlords and letting agents that somehow, miraculously, make the prospect of renting even more depressing. Read more…

Network Rail & Innovate UK: Ready for the future

As part of its Open for Business programme, Network Rail recently teamed up with Innovate UK to give businesses a chance to win a share of £300,000 for projects that can help automate rail planning. Read more…

Union demands “period dignity” on construction sites

Construction union Unite has launched a campaign to ensure that female workers have period dignity on site. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

Lush To Open “Naked” Plastic-Free Store In Manchester

Lush will launch a “Naked” store in Manchester this week making it first plastic packaging-free cosmetics shop to open in the country. Read more…

New app eases cover crop verification for farmers

Farmers who have committed to grow environmentally friendly cover crops are now able use a new app to quickly verify their work. Read more…

Waitrose Hits Black Plastic Packaging Reduction Target

Waitrose & Partners has hit its target to remove black plastic from hundreds of products as part of its overall aim to eradicate black plastic from all its own-label products. Read more…

Researchers to investigate wastewater algae use

Water and wastewater environmental consultancy Aqua Enviro is to carry out an Innovate UK-funded project to investigate the beneficial use of algae grown as part of a wastewater tertiary treatment process. Read more…

Transient detection helps Scottish Water prevent bursts

Scottish Water says it has prevented 2,000 bursts from happening in 2018 – saving £2M – thanks to its innovative work in detecting and responding to transients. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

BAM Farrans JV wins £120m Great Yarmouth bridge

Norfolk County Council has awarded the contract for Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing to a BAM Farrans joint venture. Read more…

New official wet wipe standard to bolster fatberg fight

The fight against fatbergs has received a boost with the publication of a new official standard identifying which wet wipes can be flushed down toilets safely. Read more…

Engineers able to predict and fix track faults before they develop using new Costain augmented reality tech

Engineers will be able to use augmented reality (AR) to predict failing components and faults on train tracks and in stations after engineering companies, in collaboration with a university, have developed a network of Internet of Things (IoT). Read more…

Abundance closes record £7m investment for Orbital Marine Power project

Green crowd-funding platform Abundance has this week celebrated its largest fund-raise to date, closing a record £7m investment round for Orbital Marine Power. Read more…

Solving the social housing conundrum

David Baybut, head of Real Estate at national law firm Stephensons, discusses the recent plunge in social housing figures and explores how ‘new thinking’ can grow the stock of homes for social rent. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

Senior management changes announced at the Clancy Group

The Clancy Group PLC has announced a series of senior appointments as part of the wider restructure of its management team. Read more…

81% Of UK SMEs Separate Their Waste For Recycling, Survey Finds

81% of SMEs in the UK separate their waste for recycling, according to a new survey. It also found the cost of goods is still more important than environmental impact when it comes to procuring products for 76% of business owners. Read more…

Government investing millions to develop robots to improve roadworks

The Government has announced that new micro robots will be built to repair the UK’s huge underground pipe network in an effort to significantly cut the disruption caused by the 1.5 million road excavations that take place every year. Read more…

Swindon Plans Advanced Plastics Recycling Facility

Partnering with Recycling Technologies and Public Power Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned company of Swindon Borough Council, the Council is working on plans to deliver a “world-leading” advanced Plastics Recycling Facility in Swindon. Read more…

Devon’s largest ever fatberg discovered in Sidmouth sewer

South West Water has discovered its largest ever fatberg in a Sidmouth sewer under The Esplanade. Read more…

Fly-Tipping Duty Of Care Penalties Come Into Force

New financial penalties have come into force this week with an aim of cracking down on fly-tipping. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Read the George Stephenson notebook online:

This Christmas, Network Rail is sharing one of the railway’s most historically important artefacts with the world. Read more…

Six tower plans to change City of London skyline by 2026

Skyline views of the main London City tower cluster have been released assuming six more major consented schemes are built. Read more…

HS2 project part of new East Midlands manufacturing zones scheme

A north Derbyshire HS2 project has been named as one of the locations of the UK’s first manufacturing zones in the East Midlands. Read more…

Yorkshire Water begins project to plant a million trees

Yorkshire Water has announced that it has begun work on its scheme to plant one million trees across its land within 10 years. Read more…

House price growth slows to six year low

The latest figures released from Nationwide have revealed that across the UK, annual house price growth has slowed to its weakest pace since February 2013. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

 The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

£196m Barking rail extension awarded

A joint venture between Morgan Sindall and VolkerFitzpatrick has secured the London Overground rail extension from Barking to the planned 10,000 homes Riverside scheme. Read more…

House builders planning for further growth

Builders are continuing to invest in land as they look to deliver further increases in housing supply, according to a report from HBF and Glenigan. Read more…

Go-ahead for £350m Commonwealth Games village

Contractor Lendlease has got the planning green light to start work on Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games athletes village. Read more…

Rail Ombudsman interview: RTM sits down with CEO Kevin Grix

Both passengers and operators in the rail industry are anxious to see how the new ombudsman will improve the railways following a largely chaotic 2018. What are your key priorities going into 2019? Read more…

Office For Environmental Protection Outlined In Draft Environment Bill

Days after the unveiling of the Resources and Waste Strategy for England, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has published draft clauses on environmental principles and governance to be included in an ambitious, broader Environment Bill set for introduction next year. Read more…

South East Water partners with Centrica Hive to cut leakage

South East Water and smart home technology provider Centrica Hive have announced the first domestic household water supplier partnership to reduce leakage and improve water use understanding. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

Technology to turn wastewater into energy wins £25K funding

A new type of technology that could turn wastewater into energy for households and local communities has secured one of the two top prizes of £25,000 in seed funding at the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards 2018. Read more…

England and Wales performing better than Europe – report

Water companies in England and Wales perform better than their main European counterparts, according to a new report. Read more…

Steele named new Balfour Beatty MD for gas and water

Balfour Beatty has announced the appointment of Matthew Steele as managing director of its gas and water business. Read more…

Gove Unveils Long-Awaited Resources & Waste Strategy For England

Businesses and manufacturers will “pay the full cost” of recycling or disposing of their packaging waste, government says, under its long-awaited strategy for England’s resources and waste, which has been unveiled by the Environment Secretary today (18 December). Read more…

20% still put FOG from cooking down drains – study

One in five consumers still put leftover fat, oil and grease (FOG) from cooking down the kitchen sink or drain, according to a new study for the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater).

Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Hitachi and Spencer Group join forces for £500m Tyne and Wear Metro deal bid

Hitachi and Spencer Group have launched a joint bid to win a £500m contract to build new trains and a maintenance depot for the Tyne and Wear Metro. Read more…

Balfour Beatty delivers 2-3% construction margin goal

Balfour Beatty chief Leo Quinn has achieved his goal of returning the business to industry standard margins by the end of this year. Read more…

London millennial exodus fueling rental growth across UK

Across the UK’s regional hubs, rents are continuing to spiral upwards faster than both London and the UK average, driven by workers continuing to relocate from London amid rising living costs. Read more…

Scottish Water trials use of sniffer dogs to find leaks

Sniffer dogs are being used to help find leaking water mains for the first time in Scotland and have scored a big success with two discoveries in the past few days. Read more…

Infrastructure giant Amey to be sold to private equity firm in new year

Infrastructure giant Amey is expected to be sold to a private equity firm in the new year, according to reports. Read more…

Northumbrian Water agrees ‘second life’ energy storage deal

Northumbrian Water is planning to pilot the use of large-scale battery storage at a number of sites across the North East, Essex and Suffolk. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

Severn Trent saves £750K using drone inspections

Severn Trent has made savings of £750,000 in the last year through the use of drones for more efficient asset inspections, it has been reported. Read more…

England’s 2017 Recycling Figures Show 0.3% Increase

The official England waste from households recycling rate for 2017 was 45.2%, up 0.3 percentage points from 44.9% in 2016, according to the latest figures. Read more…

Yorkshire Water to open up water resources data

With the summer’s unusually dry weather continuing into the winter months, Yorkshire Water has announced it is to become the first water company to regularly publish its full data on the region’s water resources to allow customers to see for themselves how dry weather and increased demand are having an impact. Read more…

LondonEnergy Awarded NLWA Energy Recovery Facility Contract

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) members announced it has awarded LondonEnergy Ltd with a contract to manage the waste collected by the seven north London Boroughs and to operate the replacement Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Edmonton EcoPark. Read more…

Thames deploys hundreds of night-time leak detectors

Hundreds of Thames Water engineers are walking the streets at night to pinpoint leakage from the company’s 20,000-mile water pipe network. Read more…

Thames to help fund £60M green surface water management schemes

Thames Water will partner with stakeholders and local authorities to fund £60 million of surface water management (SWM) schemes including green spaces, removing hard, impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt in areas most at risk of flooding. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Coca-Cola Invests In Supply Of 100% Recycled PET Plastic

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is making a new strategic investment from Loop Industries to purchase a supply of 100% recycled PET (rPET) plastic to accelerate the increased use of recycled materials in the creation of its bottles. Read more…

ISG lands £70m refurb deal for Canary Wharf tower

ISG has been awarded a £70m contract to refurbish the former Canary Wharf offices of the Financial Conduct Authority. Read more…

Severn Trent creates machine learning to help tackle leakage

Severn Trent has started to use machine learning to help transform the way it approaches leaks. Read more…

Network Rail awards first CP6 contracts

Railway specialists Story Contracting and AmcoGiffen have bagged the first major contracts to be let by Network Rail for the CP6 control period from 2019 to 2024. Read more…

Cheaper digital signalling, more exports and better data-sharing: DfT launches the Rail Sector Deal

The government has today announced the new Rail Sector Deal in order to help the government work better with the rail industry, reduce the cost of infrastructure, encourage greater use of digital technologies, and double the UK’s rail industry exports by 2025. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry

 

Wastewater upgrade for Northumberland

Northumbrian Water is investing nearly £4 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment works in Northumberland. Read more…

£60m Funding For “Environmentally-Friendly” Plastic Alternatives

Household food scraps could be transformed into “environmentally-friendly” plastic bags and cups, thanks to up to £60m of new government funding, it has been announced today (5 December). Read more…

Severn Trent creates machine learning to help tackle leakage

Severn Trent has started to use machine learning to help transform the way it approaches leaks. Read more…

Gove Sets Out Proposals For Greener Developments

The government is consulting on mandating biodiversity net gain in development to ensure habitats are protected and enhanced for the future. Read more…

Scottish Water tests innovative wastewater treatment process

Scottish Water experts are testing a new technology that the company believes could “transform the way wastewater is treated”. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

New prompt payment initiative to crackdown on slow paying contractors

A new prompt payment initiative to ensure all Government suppliers and subcontractors benefit from being paid on time has been announced. Read more…

Assurances Needed for a “World Leading” Environment Bill

Stakeholders from business sectors, environmental groups, academics and professional bodies have come together to establish common ground in shaping a world leading Environment Act. Read more…

Experts to discuss optimising networks with smart technology

How can water companies embrace the disruptive transformation of smart technology to revolutionise networks? Senior leaders from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, FCC Aqualia, Yorkshire Water, and other leading organisations, are meeting to share strategic expertise at this year’s Smart Water Networks Conference, taking place on 21st March 2019 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre. Read more…

Go-ahead for £270m Swindon ski and cinema centre

Plans to build a 500,000 sq ft regional leisure scheme in Swindon featuring a big snow centre have been given the thumbs up. Read more…

Bombardier and Hitachi commit to high-speed rail learning programme if HS2 bid is successful

Hitachi and Bombardier are to work closely together in developing a high-speed rail learning programme as part of their joint bid to build trains for HS2. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry

 

Wessex Water to pay record £975k after sewage spills

Wessex Water has offered to pay £975,000 to achieve equivalent environmental benefits following a series of sewage spills in Swanage Bay, Dorset. Read more…

Householders Face £400 Fine For Waste Duty Of Care Failure

Householders face new financial penalties of up to £400 in cases of fly-tipping where they have failed to properly exercise their duty of care, Defra has announced. Read more…

Water Plus and Waterwise partner to improve water efficiency

Water Plus, the UK’s largest water retailer business, has partnered with Waterwise a national independent advisory group to boost water efficiency for consumers and innovation across the UK market. Read more…

Ocean Pollution Campaign Receives £24,000 Boost From Enforcement Undertaking

A campaign aimed at reducing waste pollution in our oceans and on beaches has been given a boost of more than £24,000 after the Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking from a group of companies for failing to comply with waste and recycling regulations. Read more…

WRAS names Hogan as new chairman

The Water Regulation Advisory Scheme (WRAS) has appointed Sean Hogan as its new chairman, replacing Stephen Kay. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Thameslink director appointed as East West Rail’s first CEO

East West Rail has announced its first chief executive as Simon Blanchflower, the programme director for Thameslink. Read more…

Interserve to roll-out £650m debt reduction plan

Interserve chief Debbie White has pledged to unveil plans to tackle the group’s mountain of debt early next year. Read more…

Rail parliamentary roundup: Grayling denies ‘tin ear’ jibes on northern investment, investigation launched into SWR’s ‘Mayhem Monday’

The transport secretary has hit back against claims that the government has underinvested in transport in the north following new analysis from the IPPR this week. Read more…

Yorkshire Water announces £30M Saltend WWTW investment

Yorkshire Water is to invest £30M in its wastewater treatment works in Saltend, Hull to improve the site’s operation. Read more…

My life in rail: Caitlin Gent

For the first in a new series meeting rail staff at different stages of their careers, we sat down with rising rail apprentice Caitlin Gent. Read more…

Major Brands Sign “Waste To Wealth” Commitment

Business in the Community – The Prince’s Responsible Business Network will challenge business to reduce waste or turn “waste into wealth” to prevent catastrophic climate change during at the Waste to Wealth Summit, held today (22 November). Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

 

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry

 

MUS gets water network alliance deal with Welsh Water

Morrison Utility Services (MUS), the UK’s largest dedicated utility service provider and part of M Group Services, has been awarded a new four-year water network alliance contract with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water. Read more…

Tesco And WWF Join Forces To Make Food More Sustainable

Tesco and WWF today announced a ground-breaking, long-term partnership2 with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket by 50%, improving the sustainability of food while ensuring it remains affordable for all. Read more…

South Staffs and Cambridge Water make new board appointments

South Staffs Water has welcomed three new independent non-executive directors to its board. Read more…

Co-op Rolls Out Compostable Carrier Bags In 1,000 Stores

The Co-op has this week rolled out its scheme to offer compostable carrier bags to customers from 1,000 stores across the country, replacing an estimated 60m single-use plastic bags. Read more…

Yorkshire Water announces £30M Saltend WWTW investment

Yorkshire Water is to invest £30M in its wastewater treatment works in Saltend, Hull to improve the site’s operation. Read more…

“Refundable” Levy On All Packaging Recommended In New Report

Policy measures to deliver increased use of post-consumer recycled materials (PCR) in the UK economy are outlined in a new report from Eunomia Research and Consulting, released today (20 November). Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

 

The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Building new city-centre lines instead of using existing network inflates HS2 cost by 15%

HS2’s second phase will cost more compared to similar overseas schemes because it relies on new dedicated high-speed lines into city-centre terminal stations at Manchester and Leeds rather than using the existing conventional railway. Read more…

Nearly 98% of bathing waters pass EA quality standards

The Environment Agency has announced that 97.9 per cent of England’s bathing waters passed standards following tests this year. Read more…

A6 Manchester Airport relief road creates thousands of jobs

Greater Manchester is set to benefit from 5,000 more jobs thanks to a new road improving connections in and around the city to Manchester Airport. Read more…

Industry set to ‘smash’ government target after new build completions see 6.4% year-on-year rise

According to the latest government statistics, new build completions accounted for 195,290 of supply in 2017-18 in the year to April – a rise of 6.4%. Read more…

Wates wins £82m London Haringey tower job

Wates Construction has been appointed by London residential developer Anthology to build a 32-storey tower in Tottenham Hale. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Crossrail chief executive stands down as London Underground boss takes up role

Transport for London announced today that Simon Wright, the chief executive of the £15.4bn project, will step down from the role “as planned,” and on 19 November will be replaced by Mark Wild, who is currently the managing director of London Underground. Read more…

ISG appointed to deliver £200m Waterloo development

ISG is set to transform 135,000 sq ft at the former Waterloo International Eurostar Terminal into a new retail, leisure and cultural development. Read more…

Civils skills shortage worst on record

Civils contractors are warning they now face a serious skills gap with dissatisfaction about finding sufficiently skilled staff in England running at record levels. Read more…

Travertine pavements could cut flooding by 50% – study

Changing the material used in pavements could reduce flooding by 50 percent and purify stormwater at the same time, according to researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong- Liverpool University (XJTLU). Read more…

Colgate Launches Oral Care Products Recycling Solution

Dental hygiene brand Colgate is partnering with TerraCycle to launch the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Programme, a free Nationwide recycling solution for oral care products and packaging in the UK. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

 The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry

Irish Water to upgrade nine water treatment plants in Mayo

Irish Water has announced that it will spend €8.75 million on upgrading nine water treatment plants across County Mayo. Read more…

Unilever & Veolia Sign Collaboration Agreement On Sustainable Packaging

Unilever and Veolia have announced that they have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly work on emerging technologies that will help create a circular economy on plastics across various geographies, starting in India and Indonesia. Read more…

Severn Trent customers offered video calling service to report leaks

Severn Trent is now offering a video calling service that allows its customers to speak ‘face-to-face’ with an engineer when they report a leak. Read more…

United Utilities signs AI deal in UK first

United Utilities has become the first water company in the UK to introduce large-scale artificial intelligence into its operational systems. Read more…

Work begins on Glasgow’s groundbreaking ‘smart canal’

Construction of Europe’s first ever ‘smart canal’ scheme, which will use the 250-year-old Forth & Clyde Canal and 21st century technology to mitigate flood risk as well as enable significant regeneration, is now underway in Glasgow. Read more…

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

The latest news this week in the Built Environment

 

Colmore Tang has won the contract to convert the former Intel Security office building in Slough into a luxury apartment complex for developer SevenCapital.

Work will see the building converted into 58 one and two-bedroom boutique apartments. Read more…

Network Rail supplier spend table revealed

Network’s Rail’s investment in signalling and train control systems saw Siemens Rail Automation unseat Costain as the infrastructure group’s biggest supplier by spend. Read more…

London council picks Countryside for big estate rebuild

The London Borough of Kingston has selected Countryside Properties to redevelop a major housing estate. Read more…

BAM Nuttall wins first stage of £60m Lowestoft bridge

BAM Nuttall has won the contract for the first stage of completing the £60m Lake Lothing Third Crossing in Lowestoft. Read more…

New framework announced for measuring the impact UK rail has on society and sustainability

The RSSB has developed a new framework which can measure the social value of the UK’s railway. Read more…

DERAGGER demonstrates benefits in independent trial

Clearwater Controls’ DERAGGER device cuts energy consumption by up to 80 per cent, significantly reduces maintenance requirements and helps to extend asset life, according to a new independent trial. Read more…

Thames Water publishes environmental, social and governance statement

Thames Water has published its first Environmental, Social and Governance Statement today (25 October) and been recognised for its commitment to sustainability in a global review. Read more…

Browse our latest jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

UU building floating solar farm on Langthwaite Reservoir

United Utilities is building a floating solar farm on the surface of Langthwaite Reservoir. Read more…

Former Kier MD Fletcher to lead Anglian’s @one Alliance

Anglian Water has appointed former Kier MD Paul Fletcher as director of its @one Alliance – a 15-year partnership of engineering and construction partners. Read more…

Anglian gets permission for solar installation at Grafham Water

Grafham Water is to become the latest part of Anglian Water’s carbon neutral journey as the installation of a solar array has been permitted on operational land at the site. Read more…

Nissan Leaf gets green light for vehicle-to-grid use in Germany

Electric car is first to win regulatory approval from German authorities to supply energy from battery back to the grid. Read more…

Aluminium Drink Cans Recycling Hits Record High in Ireland

The official recycling rate for aluminium drink cans consumed in Ireland has jumped from 54% in 2016 to 73% in 2017. Read more…

Uber to introduce clean air fee to all London rides

Uber will charge its customers in London an extra 15p per mile on every trip to help its drivers buy electric cars. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

Register for job alerts here.

Searching for a job can be a daunting prospect; understanding your worth on the job market, navigating job boards, recruiters and social networks can all present barriers to finding the perfect role. But all is not lost, new technology and algorithms on established platforms are all geared to help you find your next role with minimum effort.

So how do you find a job in the technological age?

Here are 3 simple tips to help speed up your job search.

Update your Virtual CV

 

 

Your social media profile can act as a virtual CV, it’s there 24/7 as your own personal advert to the job market. Create a LinkedIn profile or update your existing profile by detailing your relevant skills and experience to maximise your online presence. Share your profile edits to draw attention to your refreshed profile among your followers.

Register for Job Alerts

 

 

Save time with your search by registering for job alerts. By registering with relevant job boards and setting up job alerts, you can receive notifications of new opportunities straight to your inbox. You can be as specific as you want to be, narrowing it down to location, salary, job title or industry. Targeting industry-specific job sites can be a good way of narrowing down the number of jobs sent to you.

Utilise Recruiters

 

 

Good recruiters will have a comprehensive understanding of your market and current opportunities. Engaging recruiters is a quick way of tapping into this knowledge to help you in your search. Even better, they already have a relationship with the hiring managers and can guide you through the process, from interviews and salary negotiation through to offer and onboarding.

You can now choose to show recruiters and hiring managers, who are searching for potential candidates, that you are ‘open to opportunities’ on LinkedIn. This will not be visible to your current company but will alert hiring managers and recruiters that you are open to approaches!

 

Looking for your next career?

Advance TRS is a niche recruitment consultancy specialising in the provision of highly-skilled technical professionals. Since establishing, Advance TRS has grown rapidly and now provides permanent, contract and temporary recruitment solutions to both candidates and clients across a number of key technical sectors, including Rail, Property, Construction, Water and Utilities.

For the latest opportunities visit www.advance-trs.com or speak to one of our team on 01483 361061.

This September, the Advance TRS team marked 7 years of trading in style. Since establishing in 2011, Advance TRS has grown from one man’s idea into a £30 million turnover business, now with 2 office locations and over 35 staff recruiting across 4 key industry sectors.

Group Managing Director Andy Ridout’s unique energy and dedication has inspired and driven the team to place over 2,600 professionals, boasting over 1.5 million hours worked on the railway without serious incident.

In the last year alone, Advance TRS Ltd. have been presented awards including Leadership Team of the Year and Employer of the Year for Surrey. These add to the companies growing awards cupboard, as previous winners of the M3 Growth Hub High Growth Award and Finalists for the UKRIA Recruitment Excellence award.

With plans to more than double the workforce again in the next 3 years, the rapidly growing team shares Andy’s commitment to providing excellent customer service to both candidates and clients alike, finding the best candidates for each role.

Building on more than 150 years of combined industry experience and mobilising the dynamism of new recruits, the team are going from strength to strength.

The company has recently invested in a new Training and Development Director and Head of Facilities Managment to support the senior leadership team, with expansion plans including new recruits and new office locations.

All of this has been achieved whilst maintaining a singular dedication to excellent customer service, epitomized by the company’s Core Values of Quality, Commitment, Integrity, Honesty and Loyalty.

With business development plans firmly rooted in these five principles, Advance TRS aims to continue this pattern of growth whilst maintaining their strong reputation as dependable, effective and honest.

“Advance TRS’ success has been proven that hard work and a dedication to delivering excellent service pays off” Andy explains, reflecting on the last 7 years.

“Now, the team and I are more motivated than ever to continue this sensational track record of growth and are excited for what the future brings.”

If you’re interested in being part of an award-winning team, please contact Neil Wilkie on 01483 361061 or click here to visit our ‘Work for us’ page and apply for one of our current vacancies!