FTPS Saves Anglian Water Over £4 million and Wins Supplier Award

Posted on Jun 29, 2023

Managing Director, Ian Harding, was recently invited to attend the Anglian Water Supplier Awards event at Rutland Water, having been nominated in one of the categories. FT Pipeline Systems was delighted to win the ‘Efficiency Award’ for work undertaken by Ian, which resulted in a saving of over £4 million, according to Anglian Water Services.

In essence, Ian lobbied the government to review its policy regarding safeguarding measures (relating to tariffs and quotas) on coated and lined steel water pipes. Regulations were in place, aimed at protecting UK manufacturers, which meant that importing steel pipes over the government-imposed tonnage quota incurred a 25% import tax. However, there are no manufacturers of coated and lined steel water pipes in the UK. During the tendering process for Anglian Water’s SPA project, the impact of these potential costs for the water industry became apparent.

Over the following months, Ian contacted a number of people and organisations including MPs, the DTI, Water UK, PIG and the CEO of AWS. This resulted in a meeting taking place between the then Minister for Trade, Liz Truss, and the CEO of AWS, Peter Simpson to review the UK’s policy. The result of the review was the removal of the safeguarding measures on the policy.

FT Pipeline Systems has been supplying coated and lined steel water pipes to the UK water industry for over three decades. If you would like to find out more, please call the office on 01543 416024.