By Emma Marshall, Principal Consultant
Bridging the Talent Pipeline: Solving the Water Sector’s Workforce Crisis Ahead of AMP 8
As a sales professional within UK infrastructure, I spend my days talking with business leaders about their biggest challenges. Lately, one industry keeps coming up - the water sector. And let’s be honest, the headlines haven’t been kind.
The UK’s water industry is at a critical point, heading into AMP 8 (Asset Management Period 8, the next regulatory investment cycle set by Ofwat, running from April 2025 to 2030). This period represents both challenge and opportunity, with a proposed investment of £104bn, the largest in the industry's history.
However, one of the biggest concerns is whether the sector has the skilled workforce required to deliver these ambitious plans.
The situation currently
Pipes, treatment plants, and reservoirs are struggling to cope with increasing demand, climate change pressures, and stricter environmental regulations.
According to Surveyorks UK “Water firms in England and Wales lost more than 1tn litres from leaks last year.” Crazy, right?
The impact on consumers is impossible to ignore. Water companies are raising bills to fund urgent repairs, but for households already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, these hikes hit hard. Trust in the industry is dwindling, with growing frustration over pollution, service interruptions, and a lack of transparency.
AMP 8: The Workforce Bottleneck
Significant investment is needed - not just to repair and maintain existing infrastructure, but to future-proof the industry for generations to come.
While AMP 8 presents an opportunity to modernise the industry, the biggest hurdle isn't just funding or regulations - it's people. The water sector will need an estimated 50,000 additional workers to deliver AMP 8’s projects, spanning disciplines such as civil engineering, project management and digital transformation.
To put it into perspective:
The UK already faces a significant skills gap in engineering and infrastructure.
30% of the existing water sector workforce is set to retire in the next decade.
Recruitment must scale rapidly to meet demand, particularly in leakage management, clean water infrastructure, and wastewater treatment upgrades.
This was further highlighted when I attended the Institute of Water seminar towards the end of last year in Newcastle, where I had the opportunity to speak to industry leaders and listen to their concerns and feelings towards AMP8. It is clear that the biggest concern is the skills shortage, with a particularly insightful conversation about transferring skills from other sectors, such as rail and highways, proposed as a way to address the current shortage.
At Ganymede, we have a dedicated team focused on the water sector. We understand the challenges ahead and are committed to being part of the solution.
How? By attracting, selecting, connecting, and retaining the very best talent in the market. From Civil Engineers and Project Managers to Leakage Specialists and Regulatory Experts, we ensure water companies have access to the right people at the right time.
The road ahead won’t be easy, but with the right workforce in place, the industry can rebuild trust, modernise infrastructure, and create a sustainable future.
If you're in the water sector and looking for top talent to drive change, let’s talk. I’m ready to help.
.png)
Connect with Emma
emma.marshall@ganymedesolutions.co.uk
07814 890 287