United Utilities Innovation Lab hunts for innovative businesses for third programme
by Startacus Admin
United Utilities, the North West England water firm has recently launched its third Innovation Lab - the successful accelerator programme which helps innovative businesses grow and develop.
In collaboration with corporate innovation specialist, L Marks, the United Utilities’ Innovation Lab will once again give innovative businesses a unique opportunity to collaborate with the water company to tackle key business challenges.
This year the focus is on how innovative companies can help United Utilities serve its customers better and help improve performance addressing the following challenges:
Systems Thinking: to help the company reach the highest levels of capability in each of these focus areas within five years; Asset lifecycle management, Operational Monitoring, Operational Control, Production Planning & Optimisation, Customer Experience, Work Scheduling and Data & Information
Circular Economy & Natural Systems: to identify solutions that make use of the natural system and processes to solve traditional problems across water, 
wastewater and bio-resources
Future of Water – ODIs and More: to create technologies that can help the company meet the Outcome Delivery Incentives (ODIs) measured by regulators and customers, help it to provide sustainable, cost effective and relevant customer services and help it meet the challenges of the future
Wildcard: to identify any technology that could transform any aspect of United Utilities business.
During the programme, successful applicants are co-located and work hand-in-glove with United Utilities to test, develop, improve and demonstrate their product/service offering in a live customer environment over a 12-week period.
In addition, participants get unprecedented access to subject matter experts and senior leaders. In previous labs, success in the programme has led to long-term commercial partnerships.
United Utilities chief executive Steve Mogford said:
“Our Innovation Lab programme has already delivered staggering results – not just for us, but for the 
water sector and for the incredible and exciting companies who’ve taken part. We think it’s a differentiator in the sector and is now firmly part of the way we do business as a company. We’re always astonished at the ingenuity of applicants in improving our business in ways we would not have believed. That’s why we have introduced a new ‘wildcard’ category. We are giving companies an open playing field to tell us what they think we need and I am looking forward to seeing what this year’s cohort brings.”
Daniel Saunders, L Marks Chief Executive, added:
“We are delighted to once again partner with United Utilities in delivering the Innovation Lab. Year-on-year we have witnessed impressive results from the collaboration that takes place during the programme. As we continue to improve and enhance the Lab, I am confident that this year’s challenges will uncover some truly innovative and disruptive solutions and I am excited to see what this third cohort will deliver for United Utilities.”
Further details on the programme can be found on the Innovation Lab website and if you’re interested in applying, you’ve got until 11am August 17th, 2020 to do just that!
Best of luck to all who do!
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Published on: 22nd July 2020
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