Business Stream gears up for English market opening

Business Stream has today applied to Ofwat for a supply licence which would enable it to participate in England’s non-domestic water market when it opens on 3 April next year.

02 June 2016 Reading time: 2min

One of the UK’s largest non-domestic suppliers of water and waste water retail services,Business Stream has today applied to Ofwat for a supply licence which would enable it to participate in England’s non-domestic water market when it opens on 3 April next year.

The move by Business Stream is another significant milestone in its plans to win new customers in England, whilst retaining a healthy market share in Scotland.

From 1 April 2017 around 1.2 million businesses and public bodies in England will be able to choose their water supplier, an option only currently available to the largest users. Competition will encourage water suppliers to offer more benefits to customers such as innovative new services, keener prices and improved service levels.Business Stream’s ambitious plans for growth in England are rooted in its continued commitment to offering excellent customer service as well as helping customers reduce their costs, either through discounts or reduced consumption. 

The Scottish market opened in April 2008. Since then Business Stream’s customers have benefited from more than £133 million in savings.

The opening of the English water market will not be Business Stream’s first foray south of the border. Business Stream has a number of customers based in England, including House of Fraser and Bernard Matthews.

Johanna Dow, chief executive of Business Stream said:

“Business Stream aims to grow a sizeable foothold in England when the market opens in 2017 and we are exploring all options to help us achieve that. Building on our successes in England, we are already engaging with potential customers about the benefits they could realise by switching to Business Stream.

“The opening of the English water market is just one element of our business strategy. Business Stream remains the market leader and supplier of choice in Scotland and our existing customers will remain our key priority. To that end, we are continuing to invest in customer service improvements and offering value for money tailored services.”