Scottish Water Solutions Limited (Solutions) was formed in September 2003 by Scottish Water to manage and deliver some 70% of its Quality & Standards II (Q&S II) Capital Investment Programme 2002-2006, which aimed to improve Scotland’s water quality and wastewater treatment processes. Its creation was in direct response to the Water Industry Commissioner’s request that Scottish Water deliver its total Investment Programme for £0.5bn less than the inherited £2.3bn forecast cost.

In June 2006 Solutions was also awarded a substantial part of Scottish Water’s Q&S III (a) Programme 2006-2010. The total value of this is expected to be about £950m. Solutions’ structure is a joint venture partnership and one of the biggest partnering agreements of its kind, comprising eight partners in total. It brings together considerable experience in delivering efficiencies on water industry programmes of this size and complexity.

This unique and innovative business model – a limited company within a publicly owned organisation – brings global best practices from each partner to the Scottish water industry, particularly in the fields of asset management, engineering, programme management and construction.

Scottish Water is the majority owner with 51% of the shares in Solutions, the balance is shared equally by two consortia; UU GM Limited comprising United Utilities with their construction partners Galliford Try and Morgan Est and Stirling Water Limited led by Veolia Water Outsourcing, after their acquisition of Thames Water Services, with their partners Black & Veatch, KBR and Alfred McAlpine (recently acquired by Carillion).

Solutions has no employees and is operated by seconded staff from Scottish Water and each of the partner companies. All of Solutions’ activity is directed towards supporting Scottish Water deliver its Capital Investment Programme.