Water retail market opens

January 17, 2017
Technician reading the water meter to check consumption

There is less than three months to go until the opening of the Water Retail Market when retailers will compete with each to offer customers a better price and service. There could be potential financial benefits and savings for organisations if they were to switch supplier or renegotiate with their current one.


From April 2017, businesses, charities and public sector organisations in England will be able to choose their provider of water and sewerage retail services. By switching or negotiating with the current retail provider, non-household customers could get a better price or a more tailored service. Retail water services include meter reading, billing and handling customer queries.
Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), the independent consumer body for the water industry in England and Wales, is working with organisations like Marches LEP to spread the news. CCWater’s research shows that many businesses may not know about the market when it opens and could miss out.
The benefits to customers will vary. Large businesses may look to retailers for help with consumption management or consolidated billing across multiple sites to simplify administration. Smaller organisations may simply want better customer service from a retailer. More regular bills, for example, could help them guard against unexpected surprises.
Read more about these changes on CCWater’s website here.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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