South West Water has appointed Nick Buckland as independent chair of its new Customer Challenge Group. The group was set up to assist and challenge the water firm during the three-year development of its 2020-25 business plan.

SWW’s CCG chair Nick Buckland

Buckland, who lives in Cornwall, is an experienced chair and non-executive director in the private, public and voluntary sectors, following a successful career in industry.

He is chair of governors at University Technical College Plymouth, former chair of governors at Plymouth University and a member of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

Speaking about his appointment, he said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to this important role and look forward to representing the interests of South West Water and Bournemouth Water customers.”

South West Water managing director Stephen Bird said: “We are making good progress in the delivery of our current business plan, which received a gold star rating from Ofwat, the industry regulator.

“We were particularly commended for the quality of our customer and stakeholder engagement. As we start to prepare a new business plan, we look forward to working with Nick and his fellow Customer Challenge Group members to ensure that the needs and wants of our customers continue to be at the core of our plans to 2025 and beyond.”

The Customer Challenge Group will help to ensure that during the development of the new business plan, customer views and priorities are adequately addressed and activities and outcomes are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Following the merger of Bournemouth Water with South West Water earlier this year, the new five-year business plan will cover both service areas.