With over 80 recommendations in the Cunliffe Report, change is coming. But innovation can’t wait. Here’s how Isle is helping water utilities lead transformation now.

From Reflection to Readiness: Isle’s Role Amid the UK Water Sector Reset

 

The recent release of the Cunliffe Report marks a milestone in the UK water sector—one of the most in-depth reviews the industry has ever seen. With over 80 recommendations and a call for systems change, it presents a strong blueprint for a better, fairer, more resilient water future. But while the vision is clear, the path to implementation remains uncertain.

Timelines for change have yet to be defined, and the full impact of the report is unlikely to be felt for some time. In the meantime, utilities are still expected to deliver, adapt, and innovate in real time.

At Isle, we understand that reality.

The Sector Can’t Wait—And It Won’t

We know the challenges outlined in the Cunliffe Report—asset health, pollution, public trust, affordability—are not future threats. They are here now. And while legislative and regulatory changes are necessarily slow and deliberate (as they should be, to ensure transparency and trust), the demand for innovation is immediate.

AMP8 is in full swing—but AMP9 is already on the horizon. Utilities are navigating short-term pressures while planning long-term transformations. And in that dynamic, cyclical environment, a static approach to innovation won’t work.

We Bring Agile Thinking to a Complex System

At Isle, we recognise that the water sector is in constant transition. The complexity is real. Timelines are tight. The risk is high. And innovation is no longer just the domain of a few individuals in a single team.

Innovation today is multi-stakeholder. It involves strategy teams, operations, procurement, finance, digital leads, and compliance. Transformation only happens when everyone is empowered to implement—not just ideate.

We help make that happen.

Innovation Is the Engine Behind Transformation

Whether referred to as innovation, systems change, or transformation programmes, the intent is the same: to do things differently—and better—so we can deliver more resilient, responsive, and trusted services.

But innovation isn’t just a department or an initiative. It’s a process. And understanding what type of innovation is being pursued is the first step in making it deliverable.

Most water companies are already engaging in multiple innovation types, often without explicitly naming them. These might include:

• Product innovation – introducing new technologies or tools
• Process innovation – streamlining or redesigning workflows
• Business model innovation – rethinking how services are funded or delivered
• Organisational innovation – reshaping teams, structures, or behaviours

Each of these plays a role in transformation—and each requires a different set of success metrics, stakeholders, and pathways to scale.

Clarity First: Know Your Innovation Starting Point

At Isle, we often find that the first barrier to successful innovation is simply this: not everyone is working from the same map.

When teams across strategy, operations, procurement, and digital all understand what kind of innovation is being targeted, they can align efforts, track progress meaningfully, and build momentum across AMP cycles.

This is why we work with utilities to define not just what innovation means, but how it moves:

• From idea to trial
• From trial to implementation
• From one site to full rollout

The result is a clearer internal narrative, more purposeful KPIs, and a shared sense of where innovation efforts are expected to lead.

Innovation Is Not a Bubble—It’s a Roadmap

With the right framing, innovation moves from isolated pilots to embedded systems change. It supports regulatory outcomes, resilience planning, and long-term efficiency—while building confidence across the board, from boardroom to front line.

At Isle, we support this shift through strategic tools like:

• Innovation maturity assessments
• Trial-to-rollout frameworks (like Trial Reservoir)
• Cross-functional innovation governance models

The sector doesn’t need more ideas. It needs ideas that move—confidently, cohesively, and with measurable results.

📩 If you’d like to explore how your teams can align around a shared innovation roadmap, get in touch with us at: [email protected]