South Staffordshire plc and Pennon Group plc have announced a joint venture that will create the fourth largest non-household water retail business.
Operating as Pennon Water Services (PWS), the partnership strengthens South Staffordshire Plc Group’s ability to respond to the water retail market opening fom April, when businesses and other non-household customers in England will be able to choose from whom they buy their water and waste water services.
The Group’s existing trading names of South Staffordshire Water Business and Cambridge Water Business will be retained, with Source for Business being the national brand name.
The joint venture will deliver a combined customer base of 180,000 accounts, making PWS the fourth largest retailer in the non-household retail water market, with 8% market share.
Adrian Page, Chief Executive at South Staffordshire Plc, said: “This joint venture will deliver a bigger national footprint and increased opportunities for growth and service delivery.”
Pennon’s Chief Executive Chris Loughlin said: “We’re pleased to team up with the South Staffordshire Group, combining our expertise and creating a bigger business retailer, with excellent growth potential.”
South Staffordshire Plc Group, which includes South Staffs Water, Cambridge Water and Echo Managed Services, also owns the Rapid billing system which will continue to be used by the enlarged PWS business across its consolidated customer base.
