Standard content for Members only

To continue reading this article, please login to your Utility Week account, Start 14 day trial or Become a member.

If your organisation already has a corporate membership and you haven’t activated it simply follow the register link below. Check here.

Become a member

Start 14 day trial

Login Register

Election must not become a ‘distraction’

“We’ve got a business to run and we must focus on that,” says Business Stream boss

The election must not become a distraction from delivering service for customers, Business Stream chief executive Jo Dow has warned.

When asked about how the general election next week will impact water retailers, Dow told Utility Week: “My own view on it is that we just continue what we always do. We’ve got a business to run and we must focus on running that and delivering service for our customers.

“There is so much uncertainty at the moment in the political environment – both in the UK and in Europe. We can’t afford to have it as a distraction, we must continue to do what we do and do it well.”

She said Business Stream is “continuing to focus on its growth aspirations”. “We’ve got two incumbent customer bases – one in Scotland and one in Southern’s former region. Our focus there is on retention, so making sure that we provide those customers with a great customer experience and good propositions so that we can hold onto them.”

She added that the firm has acquired a lot of new business since the market opened, and that its focus with those customers is making sure that they are onboarded well and given “a great experience from the outset”.

“We are also continuing to look for other opportunities for acquisition and partnership that are more strategic,” she said. “We’re exploring opportunities.”

Business Stream has been frank about the fact that it is “extremely growth-focussed”. The company has already forged two notable partnerships with Utilitywise and Veolia, which will allow it to offer its customers a multi-utility service and a “holistic” approach to water resource management.