CCW is the independent voice for water consumers in England and Wales. Since 2005, we have helped thousands of consumers resolve complaints against their water company or retailer, while providing free advice and support. All of our work is informed by extensive research, which we use to champion the interests of consumers and influence water companies, governments and regulators.
As we look ahead to the coming years, we have a clear vision of what we aim to achieve on behalf of water consumers in England and Wales. This mission is supported by strategic ambitions and delivered through a series of key campaigns. In addition, colleagues across CCW embrace a set of corporate values that embody the way we do business. Through our focus on personal development, diversity and inclusion, we want to make sure that CCW is a fun, energetic place to work where every colleague feels that their individual contribution is making a difference.
CCW is governed by a Board that is responsible for setting CCW’s strategic aims, values and policy priorities. The Board is also responsible for promoting the efficient and effective use of its staff and other resources, whilst ensuring that it fulfils the aims and objectives of the Secretary of State and Welsh Government Ministers.
The Board is made up of our Chair and five Board members, these include one member designated as the Wales Board Member and our Chief Executive.
The Board has two statutory committees, one for England and one for Wales. These committees provide advice and information to the Board on consumer matters affecting the areas of the relevant water companies allocated to that committee. We also have an Audit and Risk Management Committee, a Human Resources and Remuneration Committee and also a Panel that has oversight of the Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme for the Water Industry.
The primary role of CCW’s Board Members is to contribute to the good governance of the organisation by bringing wide experience and critical detachment to the work of the Board.
You can read about CCW including our strategy and values on our website at https://www.ccw.org.uk/
Why the Consumer Council for Water is supporting Boardroom Apprentice
CCW is committed to playing its part in developing the next generation of board members and helping to boost diversity in the boardroom. As an organisation representing water consumers it is important to us that those leading our organisation are representative of the people we serve. We see our participation in the Boardroom Apprentice programme as helping to drive change in this area.
We are currently hosting a Boardroom Apprentice from the 2024 cohort and are keen to continue in 2025.
Location of Board and Committee Meetings
Our Board meetings are normally held in person, usually at our office in Birmingham but one meeting each year is held at our Cardiff office and one meeting each year will be at a venue in London. We are currently exploring splitting our Board meetings into two parts with the ‘governance’ items taken at a short online meeting before the in person meeting so freeing up the in person time for the Board to concentrate on key strategic matters. Our Committee meetings are usually held online.
Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings
Six full meetings a year (every other month) usually starting at 11:00 and running through to approximately 14:30 depending on the business to be done.
From time to time we may call additional single item meetings to conduct a specific item of business on a timescale that doesn’t fit with the normal cycle of meetings, for example to approve the Annual Report and Accounts, these are usually virtual and last no more than an hour – it is unlikely there would be more than a couple of these a year.
We also hold one Board Strategy Session a year.
We also have 5 Board Committees:-
Audit & Risk Management Committee – 4/year
Human Resources & Remuneration Committee – 4/year
Industry Advisory Panel – 4/year
Committee for England – 2/year
Committee for Wales – 2/year
Date of Board Meetings (January – December 2025)
6 February 2025, 4 March 2025 (short online single item meeting), 20 March 2025. We are currently working on dates for 2025/26.
Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January – December 2025)
Audit Committee – 19 March 2025
HR Committee – 5 March 2025
Industry Advisory Panel – 5 February 2025
Committee for Wales – 14 March 2025
Committee for England – 21 March 2025
Dates for 2025/26 to be set once dates have been set for the Board for this period.
Security checks
No
Payment of travel expenses
Yes
