Sector: Water

By Myrna Rickards
October 6th 2025

Annual Conference 2025 – Mission Possible: Improving the connectedness of major projects Highlight Report

Bookings are now open for this year's Annual Conference. This event is not bookable via our website – please contact sascha.flint@majorprojects.org to secure your place! 

We're excited to announce that this year's Annual Conference will be held at a new venue: Hotel La Tour, Milton Keynes. Member organisations are invited to book one space initially – for either your Main Representative or a nominated colleague (please see note below regarding recommended attendees). Places are limited to one per organisation, subject to availability, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Attendance is included in your membership fee and covers the full conference programme, meals and overnight accommodation, provided by the Major Projects Association. 

Mission Possible: Improving the connectedness of major projects 

In an era of profound public policy reform, where government's strategic priorities are articulated through missions – not departments – how can major projects step up to deliver greater value? This year's Annual Conference will explore how we join up the initiation and delivery of major projects with the UK Government's evolving missions agenda, as laid out in the Prime Minister's Plan for Change. 

Mission-based government promises to tackle society's grand challenges – clean energy, economic growth, health, and net zero – through cross-sector, outcome-focused collaboration. It offers a chance for major projects to contribute in ways that go beyond traditional delivery models and metrics. But to do so effectively, we must rethink how we plan, govern and manage major projects and programmes. We need to better understand the interconnectedness of our major projects – with what we already have, what else is being delivered and other initiatives being planned or considered. 

This conference will delve into what the shift from transactional to portfolio-based project thinking means in practice. From reforms to Green Book with the introduction of place-based business cases, to the formation of mission boards and NISTA, the major projects landscape is being reshaped to enable interconnected, system-wide thinking. How should project sponsors, clients, contractors, advisors, investors and regulators respond? What capabilities will we need? And how do we deliver at mission or portfolio level without losing sight of accountability at project level? With water companies looking to build their own power supply, energy companies looking to build their own desalination plants to secure the water they need, and transport authorities focused more on housing and place-making, it is clear that the days of isolating projects scope to a primary objective are over. How should benefits be valued, measured and shared across a programme portfolio? Perhaps we no longer have, say, transport, energy or water projects but omni-projects that deliver a little bit of everything? 

Through keynote contributions, sector case studies, and interactive syndicate work, the conference will spotlight the systematic shifts required across policy, planning, procurement, and delivery. Delegates will hear insights on how spatial, systems and portfolio approaches can break down silos – both within government and across industry. 

Expect thoughtful contributions from senior leaders and academic experts in systems thinking and project governance. The programme will include real-world perspectives on interconnectivity from energy, transport, water and public services, culminating in collaborative syndicate discussions, where members will co-develop practical recommendations to take forward. 

This is not just a conference about what needs to change – but how we can change. It's an opportunity to shape the future role of major projects in delivering public value and national resilience.

Keynote 

 
James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

James Murray was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 1 September 2025. He previously held the office of Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, having been shadow Financial Secretary for three and a half years before that.

He has served as the Member of Parliament for Ealing North since 2019.

 

 

 Perspectives report: Mission-led major projects 

Ahead of the conference, we're pleased to share our latest perspectives report on Mission-led major projects, exploring how the UK's evolving missions agenda is reshaping the way we govern, plan and deliver. 

The report highlights:

  • How missions shift focus from departments to outcomes. 

  • The role of industry, regulators and government in working together.

  • The changes needed in leadership, accountability and communication. 

Who should attend? 

Those involved in major projects seeking to understand and/or embed systems thinking, collaborative delivery, and strategic alignment into the heart of major projects. We ask Main Reps to consider who would be best from your organisation to attend the conference – both in terms of learning and contribution. Strategic thinkers are ideal! 

Booking your place 

This event is not bookable via the website. For registration, please contact sascha.flint@majorprojects.org.

By Myrna Rickards
September 16th 2025

Enhancing value through project closure Highlight Report

 

Effective closure is about much more than just wrapping up a project’s activities and moving on to the next job. It is a critical phase in the project lifecycle where lasting value can be secured, lessons crystallised, and insights harvested to shape the next wave of projects within a programme.

This virtual seminar brings together leading voices from government and industry to explore how to extract more value from project closure. With a dynamic mix of project case studies, programme over views and expert analysis, this is an opportunity to:

  • Explore what “good closure” looks like across a broad range of major projects.
  • Learn how to turn closure into a value creating step in the project lifecycle.
  • Understanding common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
By Myrna Rickards
July 15th 2025

It’s about time – The role of timing and timescale in major projects Full Report

 

When projects have lifespans that stretch across decades, timing of when to start and how quickly to proceed can be as critical as funding or technical ability. From projects delivered at break speed pace (such as the vaccine taskforce), an asset designed for 100+ years (such as a tidal barrage or tunnels) or projects themselves that are century spanning in construction (such as cathedrals) – the timeline of a major project fundamentally shapes its deliverability, approach, and long-term impact.

This virtual seminar will explore how timing, timescales, and momentum influence project success – and what happens when a project moves too early, too late, or fails to move at all. Understanding how to time and pace a project is crucial. Move too early, and you risk running out of pre-project money before the planets align for project funding, finance and political will. Move too late, and the alignment may have already passed and the momentum may be lost entirely. Is there a better way of understanding when the timing right to get started and to understanding a project’s optimal pace?  

The programme will also explore whether it's time to add a sixth lens to our business cases—a temporal case—to help future projects better articulate timing, longevity, and strategic alignment over the long term. Join us as we explore these very questions.

Taking place after our site visit to Liverpool on Wednesday 18 June (click here for more information), this seminar will build on those insights and reflections to deepen the conversation around strategic timing in project delivery. The event will take place virtually on Tuesday 15 July, with further details and a full programme to be announced soon.

By Myrna Rickards
July 15th 2025

It’s about time – The role of timing and timescale in major projects Highlight Report

When projects have lifespans that stretch across decades, timing of when to start and how quickly to proceed can be as critical as funding or technical ability. From projects delivered at break speed pace (such as the vaccine taskforce), an asset designed for 100+ years (such as a tidal barrage or tunnels) or projects themselves that are century spanning in construction (such as cathedrals) – the timeline of a major project fundamentally shapes its deliverability, approach, and long-term impact.

This virtual seminar will explore how timing, timescales, and momentum influence project success – and what happens when a project moves too early, too late, or fails to move at all. Understanding how to time and pace a project is crucial. Move too early, and you risk running out of pre-project money before the planets align for project funding, finance and political will. Move too late, and the alignment may have already passed and the momentum may be lost entirely. Is there a better way of understanding when the timing right to get started and to understanding a project’s optimal pace?

The programme will also explore whether it’s time to add a sixth lens to our business cases—a temporal case—to help future projects better articulate timing, longevity, and strategic alignment over the long term. Join us as we explore these very questions.

Taking place after our site visit to Liverpool on Wednesday 18 June (click here for more information), this seminar will build on those insights and reflections to deepen the conversation around strategic timing in project delivery. The event will take place virtually on Tuesday 15 July, with further details and a full programme to be announced soon.

By Myrna Rickards
April 30th 2025

Building Green Britain – The projects we need, in a culture that delivers Full Report

 

As Britain moves towards a greener future, the infrastructure we build today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow, but delivering major projects successfully isn’t just about what we construct, it’s about how we do it. This virtual seminar brings together industry leaders, project professionals, and sustainability experts to explore the critical projects driving the green transition and the cultural shifts needed to ensure their success.

Join us on Wednesday 30 April, for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing major projects in the UK. From strategic policy changes and infrastructure investment to practical tools for embedding sustainability, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of project delivery. Through expert talks, interactive discussions, and knowledge-sharing, we’ll examine the big questions: What must change? How do we scale sustainability? And what role can each of us play in making it happen?

Be part of the conversation that will shape Britain’s sustainable future. Register now and join us!

Our Sustainability themed events are open to non-members of the Association. If you are a non-member and would like to attend this event, please contact mpa@majorprojects.org to set up your registration.

By Myrna Rickards
April 30th 2025

Building Green Britain – The projects we need, in a culture that delivers Highlight Report

 

As Britain moves towards a greener future, the infrastructure we build today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow, but delivering major projects successfully isn’t just about what we construct, it’s about how we do it. This virtual seminar brings together industry leaders, project professionals, and sustainability experts to explore the critical projects driving the green transition and the cultural shifts needed to ensure their success.

Join us on Wednesday 30 April, for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing major projects in the UK. From strategic policy changes and infrastructure investment to practical tools for embedding sustainability, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of project delivery. Through expert talks, interactive discussions, and knowledge-sharing, we’ll examine the big questions: What must change? How do we scale sustainability? And what role can each of us play in making it happen?

Be part of the conversation that will shape Britain’s sustainable future. Register now and join us!

Our Sustainability themed events are open to non-members of the Association. If you are a non-member and would like to attend this event, please contact mpa@majorprojects.org to set up your registration.

By Myrna Rickards
November 6th 2024

Do we have the Capability we need for the new types of Major Projects in the pipeline? Highlight Report

The demand for major projects is growing rapidly. Over the next 5 years, a significant uptick in activity is expected in many sectors including civil nuclear, energy distribution, housing retrofit, water supply and renewable power.

Against that backdrop the major projects community needs to be proactive and identify the technical, functional and leadership capacity & capability it needs to deliver successfully.

In this seminar we will explore both the scale of demand for people at all levels to work on major projects, and the new skills and capabilities that we will need to be able to deploy. Attendees will learn more about how this challenge is playing out across different sectors and explore common opportunities and challenges such as climate change, AI, global competition, leadership and the ever longer careers of project professionals.

Chaired by Dr Michele Dix CBE and David Goldstone CBE, other speakers include former Crossrail and future HS2 CEO Mark Wild, Keltbray’s Group Sustainability Director Holly Price, and House of Commons Regeneration and Renewal Programme Commercial Director Andy Haynes. The seminar will be highly interactive, offering plenty of opportunities to explore the challenges and solutions, including a workshop session led by the Association’s Early Career Network.

By Daniel Cojocaru
February 5th 2024

Initiating and Delivering Major Projects in Regulated Industries Full Report

The water sector is gearing up to deliver a multi-billion pound programme of major projects to deliver water supply solutions equivalent to the demand from more than 9 million people.

Chaired by Tideway CEO Andy Mitchell CBE, this seminar will examine the challenges and opportunities of delivering programmes at this scale in a sector that is shaped by economic and environmental regulation and where most asset owners have been focused on operations, maintenance and renewals since privatisation in the 1980s.

Speakers will share insight from their experience of successful delivery in other regulated sectors focusing on areas including funding & finance options, establishing appropriate governance, managing the impact of the 5 year regulatory cycle, building a major project capability and culture, and opportunities for collaboration between asset owners.

Delegates will also hear from RAPID (Regulators Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) the initiative that brings OFWAT, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency about its work with sector stakeholders to facilitate project development. In addition, OFWAT itself will discuss how it intends to evolve its regulatory role to support effective project delivery,

By Daniel Cojocaru
November 7th 2023

Initiating and Delivering Major Projects in Regulated Industries Highlight Report

The water sector is gearing up to deliver a multi-billion pound programme of major projects to deliver water supply solutions equivalent to the demand from more than 9 million people.

Chaired by Tideway CEO Andy Mitchell CBE, this seminar will examine the challenges and opportunities of delivering programmes at this scale in a sector that is shaped by economic and environmental regulation and where most asset owners have been focused on operations, maintenance and renewals since privatisation in the 1980s.

Speakers will share insight from their experience of successful delivery in other regulated sectors focusing on areas including funding & finance options, establishing appropriate governance, managing the impact of the 5 year regulatory cycle, building a major project capability and culture, and opportunities for collaboration between asset owners.

Delegates will also hear from RAPID (Regulators Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) the initiative that brings OFWAT, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency about its work with sector stakeholders to facilitate project development. In addition, OFWAT itself will discuss how it intends to evolve its regulatory role to support effective project delivery,

By Jonathan Norman
March 15th 2022

Reimagining Global Supply Chains Highlight Report

We are living in a world of continuous change – increasingly uncertain and volatile. To address our critical social and environmental needs for a healthy and sustainable future, we all need to take positive action. We also have increasing expectations to deliver project benefits at a faster pace, bringing innovation and while being consistently reliable. Our project libraries are overflowing with policies and guidance and our lives and ways of working being redefined by new technologies and digitisation. For major projects the challenges and questions posed cannot be under-estimated – the operating models we have may not fit our future needs. The client and supplier relationship that delivers capital investment is key, so what do major project leaders need to consider and how can we best redefine our supply chains?

In this seminar we will discuss key themes relating to supply chains including, what are projects seeing as the pandemic comes into its third year? How can we mobilise major projects at pace to address critical needs? How should projects consider geopolitical issues such as protectionism versus free trade? What are the benefits of a global versus local supply chain? How can clients and suppliers best collaborate to achieve Net Zero? Do we need to rethink our contractual models if we want resilient, sustainable and diverse supply chains?

Successful organisations are adapting at pace to deliver projects in this rapidly shifting landscape – reimagining the way they work and operate now and in the future. In this event, we will hear from major project professionals from UK government, academia, client organisations and suppliers who are reshaping supply chain strategies to be ready for the needs of tomorrow’s major projects – aligned to the Association’s three landmark objectives of sustainability, diversity and capability building.

We are delighted to have Ruth Todd, Chief Commercial Officer, HS2 confirmed to chair this event, who, prior to joining HS2 in 2021, led the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force programme to deliver coronavirus vaccines for the UK.

Please note that this will take place as a PHYSICAL EVENT. Should COVID restrictions prevent this from taking place in person, we will make arrangements for the event to be broadcast via ZOOM.