In this episode of the Pennon Pod, futurist Tracy Follows, sits down with Pennon colleagues Emily and Annie to explore the concept of 'Be the Future’

As one of our values, Be the Future represents the importance of foresight, curiosity adaptability and innovation in today's rapidly changing world. 

Tracy, Emily and Annie delve into how Be the future can be applied in our lives and day to day roles. They cover everything from why personal development and continuous learning is more vital than ever in 2025 to how learning from our failures is crucial for progress, personally and as an organisation.

The key takeaways from the pod include the need for a culture of innovation and collaboration within the company, the value of experimentation, and a bold approach to professional growth.

Special guest, former Royal Marines Commando and Invictus Games Medallist, JJ Chalmers hosts a discussion with Daniel Bennett, Instrument Maintenance Technician for South West Water, to get under the skin of our value, Be You. 

They explore what it means to bring your best self to work and how our best self evolves for all of us, throughout our changing careers.

JJ and Daniel cover some unexpected similarities between their military experience and life at Pennon, from the importance of playing a part in building a successful team, supporting each other and recognising that diversity makes us stronger.

Special guest, British athlete, World Champion and two time Olympian, Derek Redmond hosts a discussion with two colleagues, Katy Ringsdore (Group Communications Director) and Chifuniro (Chi-Chi) Craker (People Services Advisor) about the value of being 'rock solid' in both personal and professional contexts. 

They explore themes of trust, consistency, resilience, and the importance of teamwork, especially in crisis situations. They unpack how the lessons from Derek's sporting success can be hugely effective in the workplace and applied more generally in life.

The conversation highlights how building relationships and maintaining open communication can foster a supportive team environment as well as the significance of personal development and expanding one's comfort zone.