MWH Global selected as Program Manager for Thames Water ‘Super Alliance’

Thames Water has announced that MWH Global, which has offices based in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the Asia-Pacific, will be the Program Manager participating in its ‘Super Alliance’ of industry-leading organisations. 

The Super Alliance will deliver one of the largest and most varied water infrastructure improvement programs in the UK. The organisations selected are the joint ventures SMB and CVA, MWH and IBM.

The alliance will be delivering a £2 to £3 billion (between AU$3-4.6 billion) program of works developing and enhancing Thames Water’s asset base in the AMP6 regulatory period, which runs between 2015 and 2020. Using its global expertise in the water sector, MWH will help optimise the collective performance of the alliance. Key success outcomes identified for the alliance include continuously improving customer service, providing value for money, delivering a leading health and safety performance and achieving operational efficiency.

The contract will begin in May 2013, heralding the commencement of an early contractor involvement phase designed to allow preparation for the start of the AMP6 delivery and integration of these success outcomes into all planned activity.

The creation of the alliance, two years ahead of the next five-year regulatory period, represents a transformation in Thames Water’s approach. This long-term strategy means that the MWH Program Management team can begin work on the planning challenges immediately.

Lawrence Gosden, Thames Water’s capital delivery director, explained: “We have a significant amount of work to do upgrading our deteriorating infrastructure over the next 25 years and beyond while keeping customers’ bills affordable. If we are to achieve this, a different approach is required. By forming this alliance early, we stand the best possible chance of delivering the safest, most sustainable and most innovative solutions to meet the many complex engineering challenges we face.”

MWH will work with Thames Water and the other alliance partners to help develop the organisation, its culture and its program management processes and systems. The goal is to achieve successful delivery of the AMP6 program and to provide holistic business performance in AMP6 along with future readiness.

Dan McConville, President of MWH Business Solutions, commented, “Thames Water recognises that effective and innovative program management will be key to the success of its alliance. Being appointed Program Manager to its AMP6 Alliance is both an honour and a responsibility.

“MWH is looking forward to working with some of the leading organisations in our industry and playing an integral role as part of the Thames Water team, helping to deliver its most challenging program to date.”