• Tackling Poverty: Severn Trent is expanding its programme to help tackle poverty across the East Midlands. The company is calling on East Midlands organisations to join its growing Midlands Employer Alliance,
  aimed at helping marginalised groups re-enter the workforce.
• Job Creation: A new customer contact and training centre in Leicester will open creating over 40 jobs by Christmas. This centre will also support a community
  and school outreach programme designed to boost employment opportunities across the region.
• £1.5 Billion Investment: Over the next five years, Severn Trent will invest more than £1.5 billion to enhance river health, secure future

East Midlands, 13^th September 2024 – Severn Trent has unveiled an ambitious plan to drive economic growth, create jobs, and support communities across the East Midlands.

Speaking at an event held at Foremark Reservoir, the company announced the opening of a new customer contact and training centre in Leicester, which will generate over 40 new jobs by Christmas, with more roles to follow.

This is part of a broader initiative to expand Severn Trent’s Big Boost employment and employability skills programme further in to the East Midlands, designed to increase opportunities and support marginalised groups.

Expanding Opportunities and Supporting Communities

Severn Trent’s new contact centre in Leicester will be a cornerstone of its efforts to combat poverty through employment. The company is partnering with the Leicester Employment Hub and Leicester Job Centre to create supported pathways into work, ensuring that everyone has the chance to succeed.

Severn Trent’s plans were presented to an audience of stakeholders from across the East Midlands, including representatives from local authorities, environmental groups, and the higher education sector.

In a rallying call to local businesses and organisations across the East Midlands, Severn Trent announced the expansion of the Midlands Employer Alliance to the East Midlands. This initiative invites businesses across the region to join forces in creating job opportunities, particularly for those from marginalised communities. By working together, the alliance aims to build a stronger, more inclusive economy.

Neil Morrison, HR Director and Director of Derbyshire for Severn Trent, commented: “Leicester is a vibrant city with incredible diversity and talent, making it the perfect location for our new contact centre. But this isn’t just about creating jobs - it’s about working together to support our communities. By partnering with local businesses and organisations through the expansion of the Midlands Employer Alliance, we can work together to make a real difference in people’s lives.

“We’ve shared our investment plans and welcome support from businesses and groups willing to help us achieve our goals to help those who need it across the wider region.”

Paul Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Nottingham Wildlife Trust, said: “It was a great event and really encouraging to see the level of investment being planned by Severn Trent, particularly for rivers.

“The company has supported Nottingham Wildlife Trust in the past, including helping with the reintroduction of beavers at Idle Valley Nature Reserve, a project we are hugely proud of. In total, we reintroduced eight beavers and they are now thriving and having a positive impact on the site.”

Massive Investment for a Sustainable Future

Severn Trent’s commitment to the East Midlands extends beyond immediate job creation. The company plans to invest £1.3 billion in the region over the next five years to improve river health, secure water supplies for future generations, and enhance customer services.

"This is our biggest-ever investment over a five-year period, bringing positive economic, environmental, and social benefits to the East Midlands for decades to come. Our priority is to address the issues that matter most to our customers, ensuring the best possible service,” Neil added.

Paul Wilkinson commented: “Severn Trent have been a really important partner for us so we hope that continues into the future, particularly with helping to protect and develop vital wildlife habitats and improve biodiversity.”

Alongside widescale improvements to both clean- and wastewater networks and upgrades to treatment works, the investment will support 256 specific projects across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, aimed at reducing storm overflow spills and enhancing network capacity by the equivalent of an additional 259 million litres of water.

• Derbyshire will see a £196 million investment across 119 projects, providing an additional 79 million litres of capacity to improve the region’s waterways 
• In Leicestershire £164 million will be spent on 98 projects, boosting network capacity by 69 million litres 
• Nottinghamshire will receive investment of £174 million which will see 113 projects provide the local network with a further 111 million litres of storage capacity

Severn Trent is already working on 900 interventions set for completion by the end of this year, including 84 in Derbyshire, 62 in Nottinghamshire and 88 in Leicestershire – that have already been delivered, with more to come.

These projects range from new wastewater treatment units to nature-based solutions, all contributing to the company’s goal of eliminating any harm to rivers caused by its storm overflow operations by 2030. 

Neil said: "River health and the environment are top priorities for our customers. Thanks to a £1 billion investment from our shareholders, we’re accelerating our spills reduction programme at a rapid pace, which includes everything from free water butts in flood-prone areas to massive stormwater tanks, which will also help alleviate flooding."

Hanna Luetkemeier, Strategic Employer Engagement Manager at Nottingham Trent University said: “The environment is important to everyone, but particularly to students and graduates today who are extremely environmentally-conscious. Collaborating with employer partners is so important for us, as we aim to strengthen relationships and understand their needs to help them hire our top graduates.”

Commitment to Collaboration and Community

In addition to infrastructure improvements, Severn Trent will provide financial support to 700,000 customers struggling with water bills and expand its efforts to support 100,000 people at risk of water poverty a decade-long program in the East Midlands, building on the recently launched Big Boost for Derby.

The investment will also create thousands of jobs across the region, both directly and through the supply chain. Severn Trent will support 1 in 6 families with their water bills through a £500 million financial aid package.

The company has also pledged to install money-saving smart water meters in a million households, making sure that customers are only paying for the water they use and helping to more quickly detect leaks.

Neil added: “We’re committed to addressing the root cause of water poverty. By supporting 100,000 people at risk of water poverty through training and skills over the next decade, and offering 2,500 new work experience placements to children from deprived areas we're hopeful about making a huge difference to local communities and people’s futures in our communities.”

The final determination on Severn Trent’s investment proposals – which were rated as ‘Outstanding’ by regulator, Ofwat - will be made by the end of the year.