Cancer Research UK, the UK’s largest charity, has signed up to a new water supply contract designed to help it save water and money across its sites in Scotland and England.

The charity, which pioneers life-saving research with the aim of beating cancer, signed up to the new water contract with Scottish based retailer Business Stream following a competitive tendering process.

Under the agreement Business Stream will provide water services across the charity’s portfolio of English and Scottish retail park superstores and high street charity shops. Water efficiency solutions will be provided to help the company reduce its water use and the charity will also benefit from access to the water expert’s dedicated account management service, which includes day-to-day support and 24/7 emergency assistance, if required.

Martin Elliott, Head of Retail Property Operations at Cancer Research UK, said:

“As a large charity, it is vital that we are operating as efficiently as possible, both in terms of internal processes and in spend on utilities. By working with Business Stream, we can reduce the time spent on managing billing and instead focus on working with Business Stream to manage water more effectively”.

Jo Dow, Chief Executive of Business Stream, said that by working closely with Cancer Research UK, Business Stream would help them to generate water and waste water efficiencies, which in turn would deliver both environmental and financial savings.

Business Stream, which works with private businesses and public sector organisations across the UK, recently it announced plans to help its customers reduce their water consumption by 20 per cent.

At the start of the year, Business Stream announced that it had acquired the customer base of Yorkshire Water Business Services and Three Sixty, both part of the Kelda Group, which doubled its market share and cemented its position as one of the top three retailers in the UK water market. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to take effect this summer.

Ahead of the opening of the English retail water market, Business Stream acquired the non-household customer base of Southern Water.

The company is the largest operator in the Scottish non-domestic water market and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water. Headquartered in Edinburgh, it also has offices in Glasgow and Worthing, and employs over 370 staff.