To everyone who joined us at this year’s Water Matters 2025 — thank you.
On Thursday, 19th June, we welcomed over 130 delegates to 22 Bishopsgate for a full day of ideas, collaboration and ambition focused on the future of water in business and society. From the opening session to the final panel, the message was consistent: the way we manage water is changing, and businesses must lead that change.
Hosted by Waterscan, the day was built around three central themes: Market Matters, Action Matters, and Sustainability Matters. We heard from regulators, campaigners, business leaders and innovators, each offering practical insight into the risks, responsibilities and opportunities ahead. Whether it was the latest from Ofwat on funding, lessons from Greencore’s efficiency programme, or a powerful personal story from Olympian Toby Robinson, the discussions were grounded, urgent, and hopeful.
But Water Matters 2025 was about more than just dialogue. It was a rallying point. A place for action to begin.
“This is my second year at Water Matters and it doesn’t fail to deliver. It’s such a mixture of people. It’s such a great opportunity, getting together with people with such a range of knowledge and experience, including regulators, from business, from non-governmental organisations. There’s so much diversity here. There’s so much opportunity that you wouldn’t normally get to meet with so many different people within the water field.”
Liz Payne, Head of Environment, Greencore
A call for champions
One message stood above the rest: we cannot wait for change to be handed down from elsewhere: we must lead it from where we stand.
The people in the room were not just spectators. They were decision-makers, strategists, sustainability leads, and changemakers with the influence and insight to transform how water is managed across sectors. The challenge, and opportunity, is to take that position seriously.
We need champions. Champions who are willing to move first, test new models, share what works, and use their platforms to bring others with them. Champions who are not afraid to push against the status quo, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Champions who understand that water is no longer just an operational concern or compliance line item, it’s a strategic asset. A climate risk. A reputational issue. A resource under pressure.
The good news? Everything we need to act is already in place. The tools. The data. The talent. The funding. The partnerships. What’s needed now is a shift in mindset — from passive management to active leadership.
Water Matters 2025 wasn’t the end of a conversation. It was the start of a movement. And movements need leaders.
So we’re asking: Will you be one of them?
What comes next
We hope you left the event energised, connected, and ready to go further. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing recordings, key takeaways, and practical resources to help turn your insights into action, including more information on Ofwat’s Efficiency Fund, updates from our case study speakers, and opportunities to stay connected with your fellow delegates.
We’ll also be launching follow-up sessions to support those who want to go deeper, whether that’s through self-supply, collaborative projects, or building the case for water within your organisation’s net zero strategy.
Thank you once again for being part of Water Matters 2025. You showed up. Now let’s show what’s possible.
Early bird registration is open for Water Matters 2026, register now to be kept informed as plans develop for the UK’s leading sustainable water management event.
