Scottish Water has revealed the seven companies that will form part of a major collaborative venture to overhaul the country's water and wastewater infrastructure, marking the publicly owned utility's largest investment drive in its history.
The partnership, formally named The Enterprise, will operate across a six-year initial delivery period running from 2027 to 2033. It is part of the proposed £8 billion investment outlined in Scottish Water's recently published Business Plan for that period, with the aim of safeguarding water quality, protecting the environment and meeting evolving customer needs.
The seven organisations joining the venture span design and asset delivery functions: Stantec and Aecom will act as primary designers, while M Group Water, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Farrans Limited, WGM Engineering and Ross-Shire Engineering will serve as asset delivery partners.
Rob Mustard, Director of Capital Investment at Scottish Water, described the initiative as a turning point in how the utility approaches infrastructure spending: "The Enterprise is part of the most significant programme of investment and way of working we have ever implemented. It supports our goals of financial sustainability, service excellence, and going beyond net zero, all while contributing to a flourishing Scotland."
Central to the model is a shift away from conventional contracting toward what Scottish Water describes as "advanced partnering", a framework built around shared outcomes rather than transactional relationships, intended to drive innovation and deliver greater value.
Beyond infrastructure, the programme is expected to generate both direct and indirect employment across the supply chain, including opportunities for young people. Social value commitments include 6,000 volunteering days, around 426 educational visits to local communities, and broader engagement throughout the delivery period.
