Scottish Water has launched a new division which will export the expertise it has built up in the past 10 years.

The utility has landed what it hopes will be the first of many contracts to supply industry expertise abroad. This follows a tradition of Scots taking their scientific and engineering skills and knowledge overseas.

The contract in Canada is to deliver training to operational staff in the water industry throughout Alberta. Scottish Water is delivering 15 training workshops on the management of water from source to tap. A Scottish Water team is in Alberta at the moment delivering the workshops, together with local and international partners contracted by Scottish Water.

The business is also actively exploring further opportunities internationally where utilities are keen to learn from the transformation of Scottish Water into an efficient, publicly-owned service provider.

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The work of the new international arm will not affect the continuing progress of Scottish Water in delivering the investment and improvements in customer service to its Scottish customers and its core business.

Welcoming the move, Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, said: "Scottish Water’s contract in Canada underlines that Scottish ingenuity and expertise is seen as a valuable global commodity.

"It shows that there is real potential for further contracts to be secured across the world, which is why Scottish Water’s decision to create a new international division is to be applauded."

Nigel Ayton, recently-appointed Director of International Business Development with Scottish Water, said: "These are crucial times with management of the water cycle high on many countries’ agendas and many global water issues.

"There are many opportunities to help create sustainable systems and add value to our own service at home. Many utilities need to find greater efficiencies at a time when finance is difficult and our model of an independently regulated water utility that is publicly owned is of great interest to many countries."

Mr Ayton, whose background includes living and working in China developing a utility consultancy, added: "The Canada contract is a great example of where we can use our own experience to accelerate the implementation of work in a large area. We’re proud to be helping safeguard the safety of the public water supply for millions of people."

Chris Wallace, Scottish Water’s Director of Communications, said: "Exporting our expertise fits with the Scottish Government’s idea of a Hydro Nation. Scottish Water is 10 years old and our international ambition is a reflection of our maturity and progress."

(GK)