As part of our commitment to engage with young people and future customers, we launched our Young Innovators' Panel in 2019. 

The Young Innovators' Panel gives students the opportunity to put their ideas forward towards a business challenge.

Our latest cohortIn 2025, we welcomed 21 students from sixth forms and colleges across our South Staffs region onto our Young Innovators Panel, selected from a group of over 60 students who applied.

Representatives from Blue Marble Research (one of our research partners) worked with us to design two days of insight and activity, set across June and July, to offer young people an insight into the world of water, and an opportunity to provide feedback on our future business plans for 2025 onwards. 

In our first session, the Young Innovators were taken through how our company operates and were involved in group discussions with subject experts from the business on specific topics, including the water cycle, the services we offer, how water meters work and the environmental challenges we’re facing.

The students were then organised into four teams and briefed to create a social media campaign to promote the benefits of having a water meter installed.

In the second session, each team delivered a pitch presentation to a judging panel made of our senior executives, including managing director Elena Karpathakis.

The judges were blown away by the Young Innovators' ingenuity and presentation skills as the teams delivered a range of pitches, many of which looked at video content, integrating the use of a digital app and AI. 

Feedback from our Young Innovators

"The process was really insightful into the way a water company works and how the business operates in general. It was great to meet such senior people and was very well organised and welcoming."

"It’s been interesting learning about the water industry and working with other students who have different views from mine. It has given me the opportunity to develop certain skills, particularly around communication, listening to others and working together in a group."

What are the benefits of being on the Young Innovators' Panel? 

Being a Young Innovator gives you the opportunity to:

• Influence decisions made by senior management relating to a given task
• See inside the workings of a major business
• Gain first-hand experience presenting ideas to senior directors
  
• Meet and make friends with like-minded sixth-formers from around the region
• Receive a formal reference for use in UCAS or apprenticeship applications
• Gain a reward up to £100 for taking part

The Young Innovators' Panel is due to return to the South Staffs region in 2027.

Useful links