Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) has launched the next phase of its TIDE (Together for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) strategy, setting out how it plans to build on what the company has achieved so far between 2026 and 2030.
Originally launched in 2022, TIDE has become central to how the company supports its people and the communities it serves across the North East and Essex and Suffolk. The updated strategy marks a move from building momentum to focusing on where inclusion can make the biggest, fairest difference across the business.
Over the past four years, NWG has made clear progress on workforce representation, inclusive leadership, colleague engagement and pay gap transparency. Since the launch, female representation has continued to rise in the water company, reaching an all-time high in 2025, and the company was ranked in the top 20 for Best Workplaces for Women by Great Place to Work in both 2024 and 2025.
Elouise Leonard-Cross, Northumbrian Water Group’s Group People Director said: “Since launching TIDE in 2022, we’ve made strong progress on representation, closing pay gaps, boosting colleague engagement and strengthening inclusive leadership.
“Most importantly, we’ve learned what truly drives impact – our colleagues leading change, leaders visibly championing inclusion, and inclusive behaviours embedded in everyday working life.
“Our new strategy builds on these strong foundations, sharpening our focus so our actions deliver the greatest impact for our people and the communities we serve. Inclusion is fundamental to building trust, performing at our best and creating a sustainable future together.”
Northumbrian Water Group supports colleagues through a range of colleague led networks and forums, including groups focused on disability and neurodiversity, women in STEM, race and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+ inclusion, mental health, male health and young professionals. These groups help shape policies, provide peer support and create opportunities for learning and career development.
Unite the Union, GMB, and UNISON welcome the development of the new strategy, and look forward to working in partnership with the company’s Diversity Team and other stakeholders in shaping its direction.
In a joint statement, they said: “As recognised trade unions, we are committed to workplaces where every colleague is treated with dignity and respect, where discrimination in all its forms is actively challenged, and where equality of opportunity is not only a principle but a lived reality. We believe that diverse and inclusive workplaces are stronger, safer, and more effective for employees and for the communities we serve.
“Trade unions play an important role in ensuring that the voices of all workers are heard, particularly through collective representation, workplace support, and access to advice and representation for members. This helps ensure that concerns are raised early, issues are addressed fairly, and that employees are supported in navigating workplace challenges.
“We look forward to continuing to work constructively with Northumbrian Water and the Diversity Team to support the delivery of the TIDE strategy, to help identify barriers to inclusion where they exist, and to ensure that progress is measured in meaningful and transparent ways.
“Together, we share a commitment to building a workplace where everyone can contribute, develop, and thrive.”
With solid foundations already in place, the 2026–30 TIDE strategy is about turning progress into targeted outcomes, supporting colleagues, customers and communities alike, while building an inclusive, future ready workplace that reflects the people and places that they serve.
To find out more about the work Northumbrian Water Group is doing, go to: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity