The UK government has launched the Water Skills Strategic Group, a new expert forum designed to ensure the water sector has the skilled workforce required to deliver unprecedented levels of investment and reform. Co-chaired by Defra and Energy & Utility Skills, the group held its first meeting on 13 November 2025.
The group has been established to help the sector deliver £104 billion in planned investment, the largest package since privatisation. This investment is expected to create over 30,000 jobs, support the construction of 1.5 million new homes, and accelerate efforts to restore rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
Membership includes senior representatives from Defra, Energy & Utility Skills, Water UK, British Water, the Institute of Water, CIWEM, the Future Water Association, major water companies across England and Wales, supply chain contractors and key government departments. The group’s term runs until March 2030 to align with AMP8.
The Group will ensure the water sector has the skills needed to deliver major infrastructure projects, including nine new reservoirs, nine large-scale water transfer schemes, and measures to reduce leakage from water pipes. This will require a wide range of roles, such as bioresources technicians, hydraulics specialists, engineers, construction workers and surveyors.
Its work will also focus on identifying where skills are needed most, improving the sector’s attractiveness to new, diverse talent, and ensuring the right training and qualifications are in place. A framework to measure progress will support consistent, coordinated action across the sector.
Defra also established the Water Delivery Taskforce, which brings together Government, regulators, and water industry representatives, to ensure water companies complete their planned investments on time and on budget - providing value for money for customers.
The government will fast-track key recommendations from the Independent Water Commission and publish a White Paper later this year, setting out further measures to attract investment, accelerate infrastructure delivery and restore public confidence in the sector.
