Welsh Water’s CEO, Peter Perry, recently faced questions about his significant salary as the company plans to cut around 500 roles to save £50 million annually. Despite a hefty package that could reach £894,000, Perry acknowledged his salary is tied to performance and insisted there wouldn’t be pay cuts for executives amidst these changes. Instead, the “trawsnewid” programme will see costs saved through voluntary redundancies and operational efficiencies, not by lowering wages.
295 staff have volunteered for redundancy so far, although not all will be accepted as some expertise is deemed irreplaceable. With the water industry reeling from challenges like the pandemic and increased borrowing costs, Perry emphasised that these job reductions are essential to maintaining financial stability. The aim is to protect frontline services and ensure the company remains in a strong position for the future.
Despite these changes, Welsh Water is committed to an ambitious £4bn investment plan, nearly double that of recent years. They’re keen on maximising efficiency, moving away from manual data processes, and harnessing AI to support their workforce. As Roch Cheroux prepares to take over as CEO, the company stresses the focus is on doing more with the existing team rather than compromising service levels. So, while changes are on the horizon, Welsh Water is dedicated to maintaining its service standards and rising to meet increasing customer expectations.