WORKING TOGETHER
BWT & UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

Culham Science Centre was first commissioned in the 1960s, by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), as a suitable site for a brand-new purpose-built laboratory for plasma physics and fusion research (1). The site has played a crucial role in helping to create clean and sustainable energy sources for future generations. 

Today, research continues into fusion energy with the Centre hosting the world’s largest magnetic fusion experiment, JET (Joint European Torus), on behalf of its European partners. As well as also housing a range of hi-tech businesses, the Centre is home to a diverse range of science and technology tenants, including an Innovation Centre for start-up companies (2).

With a large number of staff going in and out of the site every day and working on projects that will help create sustainable energy sources, it is no surprise then that the successful provision of drinking water across the vast site is integral to the health and safety of the staff that work there.

BWT recently sat down with Audrey Spinner, UKAEA’s Admin­is­tra­tive Officer, to discuss why working together helps BWT to meet their exacting quality stan­dards. Audrey, as part of her role, has to ensure that every­thing runs smoothly across the site for it to operate effi­ciently and effec­tively.

One such job is guar­an­teeing staff have easy access to clean and safe drinking water. Staying hydrated in a fast pace working envi­ron­ment is impor­tant for concen­tra­tion and people’s well-​being. As such, it is imper­a­tive that Audrey can have complete confi­dence in the people that deliver the service.

Flex­i­bility and having open commu­ni­ca­tion go hand in hand, in creating a successful part­ner­ship. BWT believes in providing prod­ucts and services that are tailored to the needs of their customers. They strive to be a flex­ible and high-quality supplier with dedi­cated and friendly staff that are prepared to go the extra mile.

BWT and Audrey started working together approx­i­mately 6 years ago when the deci­sion was made to switch from an old supplier to BWT. “From the outset we noticed a differ­ence; the water coolers were kept so clean and dust free. Not only were the coolers kept to a high stan­dard but visu­ally, they are appealing. Also having the option for bottled water coolers was really useful, espe­cially in areas where we have a limited water supply,” said Audrey. With over a 1000 staff working at UKAEA, the water coolers are used on a regular basis, so making sure they are serviced frequently and oper­ating smoothly at all times, is crucial.

Speaking to Audrey, one of the things she mentioned was the impor­tance of veri­fying that the water supplier was reli­able. Being consis­tent when it comes to deliv­eries and having a single point of contact is essen­tial for peace of mind and conve­nience. Reli­a­bility is a quality that Audrey greatly appre­ci­ates and admires as it also reflects the values and ethos of the UKAEA. “It’s so impor­tant to have a key contact, and to have the same driver at all times. Because they know the routine, the logis­tics and do it very quickly. The first time it took me the whole day to show Nigel Pooke (BWT’s CSP) the site because it is vast. Now he just does it on his own in a few hours. Making it hassle free, so I can get on with my job and leave him to it.”

When talking about BWT’s flex­i­bility, Audrey commented that, “If I’ve ever had a problem, I would normally hear from someone within a couple of days or even get a response the same day. Nigel is very flex­ible, espe­cially when he is about to go on annual leave. He will let me know in advance and organise a plan to come and service the coolers before and after. Again, making my job hassle-free.”

BWT prides itself on providing a service that reflects their commit­ment and dedi­ca­tion of their customers. As such, it is impor­tant for them to ensure they have open commu­ni­ca­tion with our customers at all times. As Audrey states, “It is defi­nitely impor­tant to have a good rapport, because you can discuss issues without any prob­lems. Open commu­ni­ca­tion allows me to ensure that all my demands are being met and that if there are any worries, they are resolved quickly and effi­ciently.”

For UKAEA and Audrey, BWT were ready to take on the chal­lenge of a large site from the very first day.A good service not only reflects on a supplier but their customer too. Working with your customer to ensure that there is a smooth oper­ating system is part of being a trust­worthy supplier. Going the extra mile for your customer not only builds a posi­tive part­ner­ship but also reflects the dedi­ca­tion and passion the busi­ness and its staff have. BWT provides a service that is tailored to the needs of UKAEA and by working along­side Audrey, they ensure that drinking water is made easily acces­sible to the staff working there.