Scottish Water has appointed Accenture and BT to two major strategic digital contracts following a competitive procurement, marking a significant step in the utility's transformation and its focus on resilient, secure and customer-centred technology.

Accenture has been selected to deliver Applications Management Services, while BT will provide Networks and Security Services. The investment is intended to sustain innovation, respond to changing customer expectations and support the reliable delivery of essential water and wastewater services.

The appointments advance Scottish Water's digital strategy by building on progress to strengthen capabilities, improve operational performance and create a more agile, secure and resilient technology environment.

Accenture's Applications Management Services will concentrate on the performance, stability and continuous improvement of Scottish Water's enterprise applications, enabling greater business agility, improved customer experiences and more efficient operations.

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BT's Networks and Security Services will deliver resilient connectivity and enhanced cyber-security capabilities to support critical operations and protect essential infrastructure, helping ensure secure, reliable and future-ready digital services across the organisation.

Both contracts commence on 1 September with initial terms of four years and options to extend up to a maximum of eight years. Subject to due diligence, the BT networks and security agreement is worth up to £130m and the Accenture applications management agreement up to £100m.

Chris Toop, Scottish Water's Director of Digital & Innovation, said: "These strategic relationships are an important step in our digital journey. By working with Accenture and BT, we are strengthening the technology foundations that support every part of our business.

"Together, we'll deliver more resilient, secure and efficient digital services that enable us to better serve our customers, support our colleagues and meet the challenges of the future."

Representatives from both organisations welcomed the opportunity to partner with Scottish Water.

Gordon McKirdy, Utilities Lead for Accenture UK & Ireland, said: "This collaboration is about applying technology not just to improve how systems run, but to help safeguard services that communities across Scotland depend on every day.

"With our Glasgow-based team at the heart of this work, we're proud to support local talent, innovation and long-term capability in Scotland."

Ishbell MacPhail, Head of BT Business, Scotland: "We're proud to be working with Scottish Water to help keep essential water services running smoothly for millions of people across Scotland. By bringing together BT's nationwide network, security expertise and local Scottish teams, we'll help make the services people rely on every day be more resilient, responsive and ready for the future.

"It's about using technology to support better, more dependable services for homes, businesses and communities across Scotland."