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Facilitating climate change

Our Utility Services sector hosted a successful climate change adaptation and awareness workshop in partnership with key customer, South West Water (SWW).

The event brought together operational teams and individuals from May Gurney, SWW, Wessex Water, Western Power and the Environment Agency to discuss the implications of climate change in our private and business lives.

The workshop also looked at climate change from a risk management perspective, and how we might manage the risk by keeping options open to deliver benefits whatever the extent of climate change. Delegates were also invited to consider a series of 'adaptation strategies' to help alleviate or lessen the impact of climate change.

The workshop included presentations by Tom Macagno, May Gurney’s sustainability manager, and Martin Ross, SWW’s environmental manager, who said: “It was a very useful day with added value derived from the range of client, consultant and contractor organisations that were represented. This gave a wide ranging set of perspectives of climate led impacts and risks. We improved our understanding of the size of the challenge and identified actions we should be taking, both for our businesses and personally.”

Stephen Bird, SWW’s operational director, said: “The workshop was an excellent collaboration between SWW and May Gurney, exploring some of the aspects of climate change and their associated risks that will continue to impact on both of our businesses. There are important operational issues which we will need to address in order for us to work even more effectively together as we move towards a low carbon future.”

Gavin Scarr Hall, Utility Services’ managing director, said: “Climate change is very high on our agenda and our clients’ agendas, particularly those in the water sector. We are pleased to be able to use our knowledge from across the business to act as facilitator to build understanding and develop joint delivery plans.”

Alan Burgess, SWW’s energy manager, added: “Thank you to Tom and Martin for providing the excellent presentations and scene setting – good, thought provoking stuff. There was a real bonus through getting the various companies together in the one room to talk jointly about these sustainability issues.”