Northumbrian Water named one of UK’s best in Britain’s Most Admired Companies Study

Northumbrian Water is celebrating a major national success after being named the UK’s top organisation for Capacity to Innovate in the respected Britain’s Most Admired Companies study, the first time the company has reached the number one spot.

This recognition puts Northumbrian Water ahead of some of the UK’s most forward‑thinking organisations across energy, technology and other major industries. The result reflects both the strength of the company’s ideas and the tangible impact its innovations are already having for customers, communities, the environment and future resilience.

Northumbrian Water was also ranked second nationally among all water companies, making it the highest‑ranked English water company in this year’s study. The assessment looks across a broad range of areas including innovation, environmental leadership, customer focus and financial performance. The ranking is widely seen as one of the most trusted measures of corporate reputation in the UK.

Louise Hunter, Director of Customer and Corporate Services, said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised in this way. Innovation is at the heart of how we work, and this shows that the creativity and passion of our people is being noticed on a national stage. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about what’s still to come.”

Northumbrian Water’s innovation work continues to attract attention from across the sector. DEFRA’s recent Water White Paper highlighted the company’s Pipebot Patrol technology as a standout example of practical, high‑impact innovation shaping the future of water management.

Recently recognised and featured on BBC’s ‘The One Show’, Pipebot Patrol is a revolutionary sewer robot that inspects pipework and raises blockage alerts before flooding occurs and has been deployed to a live network for the first time.

Led by Northumbrian Water, Pipebot Patrol is a £1.8 million project, funded by the Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge and is the first autonomous sewer robot of its kind in the world.

To find out more about Northumbrian Water and their ambition to lead in innovation, go to Innovation.

ENDS