Global strategic engineering and environmental consultancy Ricardo has secured multiple new framework agreements with UK water companies  – representing a significant increase in business for its water sector practice.

Since December 2019, Ricardo has secured framework agreements with many of the largest water companies – including Southern Water, United Utilities, Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water, Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and Bristol Water – providing them with consulting support across a range of environmental and water resource planning areas of specialization.

Under the terms of the flexible agreements, the water companies can draw upon a wide range of services, technologies and expertise provided by the UK headquartered company.

Ricardo’s expertise in delivering services under these framework agreements focuses on initiatives and projects including on strategic environmental assessments, terrestrial and aquatic ecology surveys, habitats regulations assessment and water framework directive assessments.

Ricardo has already begun work across a number of the new framework agreements. The company’s experts have been providing support during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain momentum in development of strategic water resource options to help meet the regulatory deadlines. 

Rupert Kruger, Ricardo’s water practice director, commented: 

“The new framework agreements we have secured with the major water sector utility companies – and the resulting opportunities that arise from them – will be a significant contribution to the development of the UK’s water sector over the next five years. This is testament to the depth of expertise of our multidisciplinary team of water industry experts. As a team we are proud of the assistance we can provide to water companies as they strive to improve the strategic resilience of our critical national water infrastructure and ensure that future generations have the water that they need.”