How to Join NDWE

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We are developing a directory for water engineering businesses that share a commitment to proven competence, continued learning and fair treatment of customers. Joining means standing behind those principles in everyday work.

Our Shared Ethos

Put water hygiene, safe working and the customer first. Undertake work within your demonstrated capabilities, describe your experience honestly and take responsibility for the quality of your work. Respect customers’ homes, land and time, and explain the proposed solution clearly.

Entry will be assessed against relevant experience, training, insurance and standards of delivery. The same published criteria will apply to sole traders and larger companies. Business size or a lower price does not, by itself, establish or rule out competence.

Evidence Required

• Relevant water-company or equivalent network experience within the technical leadership or delivery team, relevant to the services offered.
• At least £10 million public liability insurance covering the activities undertaken.
• Current EUSR National Water Hygiene registration for engineers carrying out the work.
• Current SHEA Water training and registration.
• Evidence of Service Avoidance training linked to the people doing the work.
• Current WaterSafe registration and WIAPS approval for the relevant work, including the scope to issue applicable certificates.

Applicants should also be ready to provide examples of comparable projects and explain their supervision, equipment and working procedures. Read the full directory standards. A listing will cover only the services for which the relevant evidence has been assessed.

Twice-Yearly Meetings

Listed businesses will be expected to commit to two meetings each year, with a suitable representative attending. Meetings will focus on practical learning, water hygiene, safe working, technical developments, customer service and improvements to directory standards. Meeting dates and attendance arrangements will be shared with applicants before a listing is approved.

Ongoing Training & Accountability

Keep training and registrations current, maintain records and update the directory when relevant personnel, insurance or approval status changes. Share useful technical learning without disclosing customers’ private information. Participate in the annual evidence review and respond constructively to concerns about a listing.

Fair, Transparent Pricing & Free Competition

Every business sets its own prices, discounts and commercial terms independently. Our shared commitment is to clear quotes, accurate descriptions of the work, transparent inclusions and exclusions, and agreement with the customer before additional charges arise.

NDWE will not set or recommend common rates, minimum prices or margins. Meetings and directory channels must not be used to exchange confidential prices, costs, bids or commercial plans, divide customers or territories, or coordinate tendering. Companies remain free to compete for work and customers remain free to choose.

Our Vision: Recognition Across the UK

Our ambition is to develop NDWE into an independent source of reliable specialist companies recognised by water authorities and water companies throughout the UK. We aim to earn that confidence through transparent assessment, current evidence, consistent standards and constructive engagement.

This is a future ambition. NDWE does not currently claim recognition or endorsement by UK water authorities, and a directory listing does not replace any water company approval or permission required for a job.

The Joining Process

1. Review the standards: check the requirements against the services your business offers.
2. Prepare your evidence: gather experience records, current insurance, training, registrations and relevant project examples.
3. Submit for assessment: provide evidence and confirm your commitment to the shared ethos and twice-yearly meetings.
4. Receive an outcome: our review will explain the services assessed, any evidence gaps and how to request a review of the decision.
5. Keep your listing current: declare material changes and participate in ongoing evidence checks.

Applications are now open using the form below. We review each application against the published requirements and may ask for further evidence. Submitting this form does not change a company’s current listing status.