2020 SOCIAL CONTRACT SUMMIT EVENT PREVIEW PUBLIC PURPOSE IN A PANDEMIC ■ Green recovery ■ Collective action and ■ Supporting customers resource efficiency and the economy ■ Intergenerational equity 3 NOVEMBER | 10 NOVEMBER | 24 NOVEMBER ONLINE A summit from Supported by Portsmouth Water Limited OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP Havant Thicket Reliable Supply Water Conscious FUTURE Maintain & Enhance Low Bills Recycle & Reuse Assistance ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY Be Innovative & Education Collaborate Reduce waste & Feedback Communication Support carbon Reduce CORE Investment Leakage SERVICES Clean Customer Drinking Surveys Water YOUR WATER OUR COMPANY A CLEARER FUTURE INTroDUCTION Public purpose in a pandemic Through three online sessions in operational changes will November, Indepen and The Water need to be built on and the Report will host a discussion about the sector will need to consider next steps for social contracting in the if its current arrangements are fit for purpose. water sector. This will focus on rising to Indepen and The Water Report are dedicating the the economic, social and environmental 2020 Social Contract Summit to exploring the challenges emerging from our ongoing next steps for the water sector in demonstrating battle with Covid 19. public purpose in the wake of the pandemic. f water companies are serious about operating As anchor institutions in their regions and with the purposefully and contributing more to society, privilege of providing an essential monopoly service, Ithe time to get on with it is now. we will look at how water companies can best support their communities, strengthen the economy, Covid 19 has piled unexpected and unprecedented enhance the environment, and understand how the pressures on a society already weighed down by experience of Covid 19 has affected the attitudes the need to deal urgently with the climate and and behaviours of those they serve. nature emergencies, and facing into fundamental questions on legitimacy and social justice. We We will sift through what companies can do alone managed to get on top of the immediate health and what they need agreement, support and crisis we faced in March over the Summer. But with partners for. And we will consider what lessons schools and universities back, infection rates rising we might learn from this unique chance to break and poorer weather approaching, the country looks the mould and do things differently for future to be facing an uncertain, but certainly restricted, models of operation, regulation and policy. further six months. On top of that, we are only in the foothills of a potential economic crisis and The following pages detail the programme, the really have little idea about the longer-term social, speakers, the key questions we will be discussing economic and environmental consequences of and provide opening thoughts from our sponsors living very changed lives. – to whom we are very grateful for supporting the 2020 Social Contract Summit in extremely But with challenge comes opportunity. Real difficult circumstances. opportunity to do things differently and better. Opportunities to step up, try new things, learn We are actively looking for sponsors and lessons. collaborators for the programme. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in Water companies responded decisively and getting involved. effectively to the immediate need to keep taps on through 2020 SOCIAL CONTRACT SUMMIT AT A GLANCE the lockdown. Many have Session Time Date Topic already gone further, providing 1 10.00 - 11.30 am Tuesday 3 November Net zero and a green recovery resources and new ideas to help their communities and 2 10.00 - 11.30 am Tuesday 10 November If not now, when? Can water companies act as community the wider country through the anchors against the economic crisis. Now there are major storm of Covid and a catalyst challenges around the corner for community action on water? in the form of a recession, 3 2.00 - 3.30 pm Tuesday 24 November Fresh eyes: young profession- climate change and the nature als’ perspectives on the social contract emergency, these tactical and 3 AGENDA AND SPEAKERS Tuesday 3 November ● How might public purpose frame the role water companies could play in the green 10.00am – 11.30am recovery from the consequences of Covid-19? ● How can we advance on all fronts of the ‘green part’ of the recovery, including net zero, Net zero and a green nature recovery and the improvement of natural recovery assets? ● How should the expenditure be funded and progress measured and regulated? ● What lessons might we learn for future environmental investment, markets, regulation, partnerships and innovation? Tuesday 10 November ● What measures can water companies take to support customers – domestic and business – 10.00am – 11.30am during the economic fallout from the pandemic? ● How can water companies support local communities, including through skills, training, If not now, when? Can and employment? What does being a responsible water companies act employer mean in the ‘new normal’? as community anchors ● What actions can the water sector take to against the economic support the resilience of the supply community, including fairness, collaboration, transparency? storm of Covid and a ● What lessons are there from Covid-19 for catalyst for community deploying individual and collective action to add action on water? societal value, for example on water efficiency? Who needs to do what and how? ● What opportunities are there for cross-sector partnerships on the above? Tuesday 24 November ● What contribution can young water professionals make to progress the water 2.00pm – 3.30pm industry’s social contract agenda, including with respect to tackling the climate emergency, increasing environmental ambition and Fresh eyes: young improving diversity within the sector? professionals’ ● What role could young water professionals perspectives on the play in making the case for intergenerational social contract equity? ● What type of social contract do we need between customers of today and those in future? ● How might sentiment towards intergenerational equity evolve in the wake of the pandemic? ● What enablers might help young professionals have a greater say in shaping the water sector’s response to these issues? 4 AGENDA AND SPEAKERS Tuesday 3 November ● How might public purpose frame the role Chair Panellists water companies could play in the green The Rt Hon. Peter Simpson, Rachel Fletcher, 10.00am – 11.30am recovery from the consequences of Covid-19? Lord Deben, CEO, Anglian Water CEO, Ofwat ● How can we advance on all fronts of the Chair, Committee ‘green part’ of the recovery, including net zero, on Climate Change Net zero and a green nature recovery and the improvement of natural Guy Thompson, Belinda Gordon, recovery assets? Keynote speaker Group Director Strategy Director, ● How should the expenditure be funded and Minister Pow, of Environmental Green Alliance progress measured and regulated? Minister for Futures, Wessex the Domestic Water Sophie Broadfield, ● What lessons might we learn for future environmental investment, markets, regulation, Environment Deputy Director, partnerships and innovation? Water Services, Defra Tuesday 10 November ● What measures can water companies take to Chair Panellists support customers – domestic and business – Angela Smith, Susan Davy, Emma Clancy, CEO, during the economic fallout from the pandemic? 10.00am – 11.30am Independent Non- CEO, Pennon Group Consumer Council ● How can water companies support local Executive Director, for Water If not now, when? Can communities, including through skills, training, Portsmouth Water and employment? What does being a responsible Louise Beardmore, Andrew Ribet water companies act employer mean in the ‘new normal’? Keynote speaker Customer Services Schein, Research as community anchors ● What actions can the water sector take to Colin Mayer CBE, and People Director, Advisor, against the economic support the resilience of the supply community, Peter Moores United Utilities Behavioural including fairness, collaboration, transparency? Professor of Insights Team storm of Covid and a ● What lessons are there from Covid-19 for Management catalyst for community deploying individual and collective action to add Studies, Saïd action on water? societal value, for example on water efficiency? Business School, Who needs to do what and how? University of Oxford ● What opportunities are there for cross-sector partnerships on the above? Tuesday 24 November ● What contribution can young water Chair and keynote speaker Panellists professionals make to progress the water Luke Pollard, Shadow Secretary Matthew Whaley, Co-Chair, 2.00pm – 3.30pm industry’s social contract agenda, including of State for Environment, Food International Water Association’s with respect to tackling the climate emergency, and Rural Affairs Young Professionals Network increasing environmental ambition and Fresh eyes: young improving diversity within the sector? Sam Dawson, Wholesale Services professionals’ ● What role could young water professionals Supervisor and Young Persons perspectives on the play in making the case for intergenerational Board Chair, Portsmouth Water social contract equity? ● What type of social contract do we need Institute of Water Rising Star – between customers of today and those in to be announced future? ● How might sentiment towards intergenerational equity evolve in the wake of the pandemic? ● What enablers might help young professionals have a greater say in