The UK water sector needs to increase recruitment and it wants to attract young, diverse people. Yet it struggles to do so. Meanwhile young people in the UK from a variety of backgrounds are keen to find job opportunities and find it hard. Why is this mismatch happening and what can be done to improve?

James Adeleke is CEO of Generation Success, a social enterprise dedicated to unlocking the potential of young people across the UK. Founded on the principles of social mobility, diversity, and inclusion, its mission is to ensure that career success is accessible to all, regardless of background.

Host Perminder and James share a practical and honest discussion, including the following talking points:

• Who the "forgotten middle" are and how to access them
• Easy starting points that companies of any size can get going on right away
• Why one-off events and box-ticking exercises need to be replaced with foundational actions and consistency
• Best practice and success stories from other sectors that could easily be adapted and replicated
• How "well-meaning allies" can be counter-productive and how to get entire organisations to move forward

Find out more about Generation Success here.

Beneath The Surface

Through powerful stories and real-life examples, Beneath The Surface highlights EDI topics in the water sector, sharing personal experiences and best practices that inspire change. It brings attention to the voices of under-represented groups, with a focus on attracting diverse talent and fostering a culture of inclusion. 

By connecting senior leaders and rising professionals from different backgrounds, it creates a space where ideas flourish, synergies are built, and the industry moves closer to becoming a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Beneath The Surface is co-hosted by British Water's CEO, Lila Thompson, and Perminder Atwal, HR Business Partner, Xylem UK & Ireland. 

Podcast Co-host- Lila Thompson, British Water, CEO

Lila is responsible for British Water’s strategic direction, representing the interests of UK water and wastewater supply chain companies together with wider stakeholders across the sector, through the UK, Technical and International forums. The Water Industry Forum provides challenge-led, independent thought leadership, to tackle the challenges facing the sector. Lila was formerly responsible for British Water’s international services and led business development visits to a range of markets including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, China, and India. Lila has over 20 years of experience driving business growth, policy development, and stakeholder engagement in a variety of sectors.

Podcast Co-host- Perminder Atwal, HR Business Partner, Xylem UK & Ireland

With 18 years of HR experience spanning manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and now the water industry, Perminder has developed a deep understanding of business and strategy, and her journey has also highlighted the critical role of company culture and psychological safety in driving engagement, business success, innovation, and development. Perminder is passionate about ensuring the accessibility of clean water for all. A trip to India in her early years revealed the harsh reality of limited and unclean water resources, particularly impacting children, which was heartbreaking. This experience fuelled her dedication to helping others and reinforced her commitment to working in a global organisation focused on the social value of water.