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example, 3D models were show- cased to the local community on a 'BIM Bus' in collaboration with a client. "That led to additional input on what the walkways needed to look like and for the access to be improved," Standring says. "It was a heavily recreational, trafficked area so allowing the customer the input into the finished product is great. "Particularly with streetworks, that visualisation is really helping with the customer engagement. Previously the first thing the cus- tomer was practically faced with was disruption. Now we can show them the options we reviewed and that what we did was the best way we could do it. Having customers seeing how we've arrived at deci- sions visually is so powerful." The digital approach ties in with the growing shift towards greater collaboration across the sector, and Project 13 could take that idea forward significantly. The Institution of Civil Engi- neers (ICE) launched Project 13 last year as a blueprint for improving the operating model. An industry- led movement to improve the way high performance infrastructure is delivered, it promotes enter- prises characterised by "sophisti- cated, maturing and typically longer-term relationships between owners, investors, integrators, advisors and suppliers". MWH Treatment, Mott Mac- Donald and Stantec are co-hosting an event on Project 13 at ICE on 7 May to raise awareness in the water industry, and Standring says: "We think it could really help the water sector with its constant NEED TO KNOW • As a result of the acquisition of water construction and engineering firm Biwater in 2010, MWH can trace its origins back to 1820 • Stantec completed the acquisition of MWH Global in May 2016 and signed an agreement to sell its construction division, MWH Constructors, to funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management in October 2018, with the new company using the Slayden and MWH Constructors brands in the US and MWH Treatment in the UK • MWH Treatment has more than 300 discipline engineers working across civils, process, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation, which are part of the 800 process intelligent professionals and 100 multi-trade, direct workforce and leakage teams efficiency challenges. "It's not one-size-fits-all and that's the point of the conference. There are some real nuggets in there that I think could create some real efficiencies in the sector." Collaboration is important to MWH Treatment, and the majority of its current framework contracts involve partnerships: the @one A l l i a n ce f o r A ngl i a n Wa te r, Advance for United Utilities, ESD for Scottish Water, CMDP for Southern Water and SMB for Thames Water. "We worked on the water sec- tor's first ever partnered project in wwtonline.co.uk | APRIL 2019 WET NEWS 11 1999 and the first ever partnered programme in 2003, and it's prob- ably fair to say that we're currently the sector's most partnered com- pany," Bresnan says. "To be able to claim that, you truly do need to be a collaborative organisation at heart. "We're working with some of the major contractors and having real, mature relationships. Having a real, meaningful collaborative instinct at the centre of your cul- ture is really important." All five of those partnership contracts contain options to extend through AMP7 and he adds: "At the end of the day, our to 1820 and, while the company is making plans to celebrate next year's double centenary with its clients and suppliers, the focus remains on ensuring it is primed for the future. "We are a truly integrated design-and-build process contrac- tor and there are not many of them around," Bresnan says. "That's something that sees us being at the heart of many of the frame- works in the UK water industry. "It's worth saying that the rea- son we've been around 200 years is because, working in one indus- try, you're continually looking at the sector's challenges and chang- ing the shape of your company offering so that we continue to add value to clients, customers and the industry as a whole." plan in terms of growth is to retain all our frameworks and to build sustainably through key selective opportunities." Standring says the company will be looking at opportunities in major capital projects that go to the wider market competitively, such as thermal hydrolysis plants. "We specialise in higher-end technology and process projects, so that's where we'll grow when competitive opportunities come out, particularly around water treatment, bioresources and tech- n o l o g i e s i nv o l v e d i n r e u s e schemes," he says. MWH has history dating back www.teekaycouplings.com tel: +44 (0)1494 679500 PLASTICS TANKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES Designed to BS EN 12573 & DVS 2205, our new range of large, helically wound, Thermoplastic Tanks complement our extensive existing product ranges. FOR MORE DETAILS Tel + 44 (0) 1 366 389 600 Email:sales@forbesgroup.co.uk www.forbesgroup.co.uk MWH Treatment's Digital Delivery Toolbox has reshaped the way demanding projects are delivered

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