Water industry 'Oscars' get underway
October 2010
Firms and organisations planning to enter next year's Water Industry Achievement Awards are being urged to submit their entries as soon as possible.
Tickets have also gone on sale for the awards ceremony and gala dinner on March 29, 2011, at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, which is expected to be one of the highlights of the water sector's calendar.
The awards, now in their fifth year, are organised by sister journals WET News and Water & Wastewater Treatment. Entries are being encouraged for the following categories:
- Partnership Initiative of the Year. Best practice will be recognised for partnerships that produce efficiency gains, safer work sites, clearer tendering and product supply, and more effective buying solutions
- FOG (Fats, Oils & Grease) Reduction Initiative of the Year. This award will recognise those companies whose initiatives have made a real impact in reducing the effects of FOG
- Customer Satisfaction Initiative of the Year. This category is about the action taken by water companies, contractors or sub-contractors, above and beyond their statutory requirements, and capital investment programmes, to ensure customers receive the service they expect
- Carbon Reduction Initiative of the Year. This award will recognise those companies whose initiatives have made a real impact in reducing carbon footprint
- Community Project of the Year. For companies whose community initiatives put the public's wellbeing first and foremost
- Health & Safety Initiative of the Year. This award will recognise exceptional commitment to all-round health and safety by a company or organisation within the industry
- People Initiative of the Year. This award seeks out successful, innovative recruitment, training and staff retention initiatives that all parts of the industry can learn from
- SUDS & Flood Management Initiative of the Year. This category will reward cutting edge solutions or strategies for sustainable drainage and flood management
- Most Innovative New Technology of the Year. This award is for a product or technology that is truly groundbreaking, and has only been available within the past 12 months or less.
- Most Innovative Use of an Existing Technology. This category rewards the most innovative application of an existing product or technology that has been in the market place before February 2010
- Outstanding Individual Contribution to the Water Industry. This award is for an individual who has made an outstanding and important contribution to the industry, helping raise standards, improving the industry's image, or opening up a new area of the market
The winner of one of these categories will walk away with the title Outstanding Innovation 2011. This award, sponsored by water industry regulator Ofwat, recognises outstanding innovation that delivers real benefits for the water industry's consumers
Angela Himus, publisher of WET News and WWT, said: "We know that there's a tremendous amount of innovation and research going on, which is so important if the water industry is to meet the challenges of the future. The awards are the ideal way to celebrate and reward that work." She added: "We're looking forward to going through the entries."
Sponsorship packages are available for firms who would like to promote themselves to the industry. Companies who have already taken advantage of this are Imtech Process and Atkins (co-sponsors for Partnership Initiative of the Year), Asset International (Carbon Reduction Initiative of the Year), Balfour Beatty (Most Innovative New Technology of the Year), and Ofwat (Outstanding Innovation 2011).
Tickets to the WIA awards presentation and gala dinner are available now, with early bird discounts in place for those who book before January 31, 2011.
Any business, organisation or individual interested in entering one of this year's categories or in sponsorship, or who would like tickets to the awards ceremony, should contact Maureen Gaines on 020 8651 7163 or wiaa@fav-house.com