The Competent Operator Scheme was originally agreed by Water UK and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) in 2005 and was redeveloped by all water companies in 2018, via Water UK. The recently relaunched scheme reinforces that each licensed operator is working to the minimum standards of operational good practice and compliance.
The assessment, carried out by the UK-wide body Energy & Utility Skills, involves a rigorous audit of how water companies work, and examines levels of operational excellence, good practice and compliance – as well as comprehensive training programmes.
By receiving this certificate, Scottish Water’s processes have been certified according to a strict set of industry standards.
Kes Juskowiak, Water Operations General Manager, Scottish Water, said: “Our Competent Operator scheme is a key part of providing continual professional development of our staff, ensuring we provide training to deliver the best possible service to our customers at all times. Gaining recognition and accreditation for this process is a vital part of enabling industry leading training.”
Stephen Barrett, Director of Strategic Accounts, Energy & Utility Skills, said: “Congratulations to Scottish Water for clearly demonstrating their commitment to best practice in securing their Competent Operator Scheme Certificate. As the water industry’s competency assessment body, Energy & Utility Skills has worked with the UK’s water companies and its drinking water quality regulators, to agree the most up to date standards of competence and performance expected of operators within the industry. This promotion of high competence standards and drive for excellence in safety culture will only increase, as part of delivering society one of the highest quality public water supplies in the world.”
To read more about the Competent Operator scheme please visit our EUSR website or contact Denise McGlynn via telephone on 0121 745 1310 or email; denise.mcglynn@euskills.co.uk