Case Study
United Utilities
01
The Situation
United Utilities is the UK’s largest listed water company, delivering water and wastewater services to over 7 million customers in the North West. With a regulatory environment defined by stringent Ofwat performance commitments and an AMP8 investment programme valued at £7 billion, the company faces the challenge of delivering major infrastructure upgrades while maintaining cost control and compliance. United Utilities identified the need for expert procurement leadership to optimise complex NEC4 framework agreements, streamline Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) processes, and deliver efficiency gains across its extensive supplier base.
02
The Transformation
Pro Outsourcing was engaged to deliver both strategic and operational improvements across United Utilities’ procurement function. This included: · Managing high-value NEC4 framework agreements to ensure commercial robustness, efficiency, and supplier performance. · Overhauling P2P processes and procedures to improve operational efficiency and governance, identifying and delivering £0.9M in savings. · Leading the end-to-end management of £300M complex commercial services tenders within the £7B AMP8 programme, from strategy development through to award. · Ensuring all procurement activity met compliance requirements while aligning with the company’s cost, sustainability, and service delivery objectives. By combining deep utilities sector expertise with process refinement, Pro Outsourcing strengthened both the commercial and operational foundations of United Utilities’ procurement delivery.
03
The Result
Through targeted intervention, Pro Outsourcing delivered measurable efficiency gains, including £0.9M in P2P savings and improved supplier engagement within NEC4 frameworks. The successful management of £300M in complex tendering activity under AMP8 secured competitive commercial terms, ensured compliance, and supported the delivery of the company’s long-term capital investment plans. The result was a more streamlined, compliant, and cost-effective procurement function, equipped to deliver against ambitious regulatory and business objectives.