Severn Trent Costain completes pan-GB multi-site switch for First Milk

First Milk has become the first business customer to switch its water supplier for multiple sites across the UK, to Severn Trent Costain.

Six of the UK dairy’s sites across England, Wales and Scotland are now supplied by STC, as well as using the joint venture’s water and wastewater management services.

This is the first switch to take place since the UK government increased the number of non domestic customers eligible to switch in December 2011. It dropped the usage threshold from 50 to five megalitres a year, extending the opportunity to around 26,000 businesses.

Paul Rowe, First Milk manufacturing director, said: “We believe that this new contract with Severn Trent Costain will help us in our quest to meet some of the sustainability targets we have set ourselves as a business, and help prepare us for some of the short and long term challenges facing our industry.”

The competitive retail market is due to be rolled out to all non domestic customers in 2017, subject to legislation.

The joint venture between water company Severn Trent and engineering firm Costain, announced in June, is aiming to lead the charge.

Wayne Earp, managing director of STC, said: “The competitive market is clearly now a reality and will drive innovation in the water industry.”

STC has previously stated its ambition to switch two further multi-site industrial customers by the end of 2012.