Utility Week

People & Opinion Utility Week community UtILItY WeeK | 23rd - 29th September 2016 | 7 Kelda Group, the parent company of Yorkshire Water, has launched a new non- household retail business, which it has called 'Three Sixty'. Managing director of the new business, Robert Marrill, speaks to Utility Week about the idea behind the name, how the company will stand out in the market, and its plans for the future. Q: How long had Three Sixty been under discussion? A: It has been under development for circa 12 months, about the same time as we decided to go ahead and compete rather than exit. The group went through a significant period of evaluation during 2015 and decided that we could bring something new and different to the market, so Q&A Robert Marrill, managing director, Three Sixty we've chosen to launch that new business – albeit we have been active in the market prior to this. Q: What differentiates the company in the market? A: The start point is the focus on the customers. I know everybody will say that, but it is important for us. We talk about customer needs not only in terms of the cost and the impact on their bottom line, but also about the risk to supply. I think what differentiates us more than anything else – and it is hard to describe in numbers or facts – is the people and our values. Also transparency and honesty. We're very keen that people understand our bills and we'll always admit if we've made a mistake. It is a really exciting time for the market, but it is particularly an exciting time for our business. For us it's about refreshing the market. Without being different for different's sake, it is really important for us that we bring something new and have a different approach. A lot of customers think the water market is complicated. We can cut through that and add value to their businesses. Q: What are the company's next steps and plans for the future? A: It is about growing the business. Key things at the moment are the regulatory side – entering shadow and then, ultimately, market opening – so there's a fair piece around that. We are focused on growth, that's important to us. We secured some large contracts in Scotland, for example BT and Royal Mail Group, this year. But also, we're focused on what we call the 'winning organisation' – which is the people, our culture and our values. That's really key. It is anticipated, as you would expect, that the Yorkshire Water customer base will ultimately transfer to Three Sixty and when due process has happened, that will be formalised. Read the full Q+A online: http://utilityweek.co.uk/ news/qa-robert-marrill- managing-director-three- sixty/1277432#.V9lGXJgrLct Q: Do you have any pressing concerns ahead of market opening? A: I think we could get ourselves hung up on a number of features of the market. My view is that we've got what we've got, we should make it work to the best of our abilities. You won't find us lobbying or shouting from the houses about margins. What you'll find us doing is trying really hard to make the market work and make a contribution to the market. I suspect in time things will need to change, and what you see today and the way it's constructed probably isn't fit forever. There are bound to be teething troubles as we go through shadow and market opening, but until you start playing in it, you don't know what these will be. We're very much about working with the market, rather than shouting about why it won't work – that's not our nature. International development char- ity WaterAid has agreed a new five-year partnership with pump manufacturer Grundfos to tackle the global water crisis. Grundfos will support WaterAid by providing advice on the use and maintenance of its water systems in some of the world's poorest communities. Both organisations will also work together to come up with innovative solutions to ensure the communities in which they work have a lasting supply of clean water. WaterAid and Grundfos will also work together to advocate for universal access to water within the next 14 years, as part of the promise of the new UN Sustainable Development Goals. Water WaterAid joins with Grundfos to tackle crisis WaterAid chief executive Barbara Frost – pictured right with Grundfos chief execu- tive and group president Mads Nipper – said: "This collabora- tion will see more people around the world get clean water in an affordable and sustainable way, through the use of solar-powered systems and other innovative technologies that last."

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