Governance
Our Partners
Our Goal
Without the organisations that support the Group, we could not provide the services we do.
We aim to deliver our services to the highest ethical standards and support others in doing the same, fostering respectful and trusted relationships with all our partners.
Our Customers
Our customers are critical to our success. We continue to engage with them to highlight the importance of our ESG commitments and build strong partnerships that reflect our values.
We support our customers through social tariffs, support schemes and the Priority Services Register (PSR), ensuring individual needs are met.
We’re committed to listening to all voices, especially those from minority communities, through forums like our customer panel and initiatives such as our faith-based water-saving programme.
Our Clients
Our clients expect clear purpose, transparency and accountability, alongside strong environmental and social responsibility. Our ESG policy and actions are designed to meet these expectations and align with industry and societal trends.
We prioritise strong stakeholder engagement and ensure transparency through sustainability reports, audits and measurable targets, while engaging stakeholders on key ESG areas like carbon, waste, energy, water, biodiversity and renewables.
We publish policies on governance, including anti-corruption, diversity, wellbeing and ethical supply chains. Our ESG strategy continues to evolve to meet new challenges and opportunities.
Our Communities
We recognise the challenges of diversity and sector attractiveness and are committed to strong partnerships with education and training providers.
We support local communities and future professionals through career pathways, apprenticeships and graduate programmes. Our ambition is to expand the small programmes for graduates in place across all our businesses to ensure we can reach as many people as possible.
With a focus on STEM skills, we collaborate with organisations like the Pipeline Industries Guild, Institute of Water, Future Water Association and Women in Utilities to provide mentoring and promote careers in our sector.
Our Regulators, Government Departments and Industry Bodies
South Staffordshire Plc is committed to responsible business practices through strong ESG governance, regulatory compliance and transparent reporting. We work closely with Ofwat, the DWI and the Environment Agency, contributing to industry consultations and ensuring full compliance.
Our ESG reporting covers water quality metrics, environmental impact assessments and social responsibility initiatives, supporting our customers, communities and the environment.
Our Supply Chain Partners
Our supply chain is key to driving innovation, efficiency and sustainability.
We pre-qualify suppliers to understand how they work and ensure they share our values, including ethical practices and a commitment to ending modern slavery.
We prioritise local sourcing to support communities and reduce environmental impact and our procurement approach encourages selecting competitive local suppliers.
We also work with partners and academic institutions through Ofwat’s Innovation Fund to develop smart, sustainable technologies.
Our Shareholders
We operate with integrity, building trust with shareholders while delivering sustainable returns. Our zero tolerance for bribery and corruption is supported by a clear programme of policies, education and role modelling from all business leaders.
Robust governance is ensured through internal and external audits, strong risk management and a framework of Group-wide standards. These policies cover fair pay, tax, financial reporting and promote transparency, accountability and consistency across all our businesses.
ESG Strategy 2025
To read our ESG strategy in full, click the button below.