Northumbrian Water is opening the innovation floodgates to the whole world with the launch of its new ideas sharing platform ‘Amplify'.
Amplify is a shared space where anybody from across the globe can come together to help solve big problems, pitch new ideas and innovate together.
The website will see the North East Water Company post a series of big real life challenges and then open them up to the rest of the world to try and help solve them.People can suggest ideas, pitch their products, ask questions and interact with other innovators and creators all within the Amplify website.
Each challenge will be owned by an expert from within Northumbrian Water and they will monitor responses, engage with users and pick up and run with the most promising ones.There is potential financial backing and funding to develop and trial the best ideas and anyone can register and take part in the challenges.
Northumbrian Water's Head of Innovation, Angela MacOscar, said:
"We believe whole-heartedly in open innovation. "We love new ideas that will make a difference to our customers' lives and when we find them, we will back them completely."We've seen the benefits of breaking the rules, doing things differently and innovating outside of the box…we even have our own festival dedicated entirely to innovation, so we know our stuff.
"That's why we're so excited about Amplify. The newest tool that will allow us to connect with every innovator and creative mind from across the world and to work together to solve BIG problems."Over the years we've heard from lots of SMEs and inventors who say they struggle to get their ideas off the ground or in front of big companies like Northumbrian Water. This is the perfect opportunity."
I'm calling on all SMEs, inventors, creative thinkers and innovators to get registered for amplify and get involved, now is your chance to help us change the world."
To launch the new platform the water company have posted their first challenge and it is all based around reducing single use plastics.Specifically, how the water company can eliminate the use of plastic bottles when providing emergency water supplies to customers during an interruption. Anyone interested in taking part in the challenge should visit amplifynwg.co.uk and register on the website to join the discussion.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.