Northumbrian Water is transforming the way it supports its customers and the environment with a newly-created role of Head of Innovation to head up an innovation pipeline.

The North East water company has appointed Angela MacOscar as Head of Innovation, based in Northumbrian Water′s head office in Pity Me, Durham.

The new role is dedicated to making innovation the norm and making innovation ‘business as usual′ right across the water company. The aim is to use the creativity of its employees - the experts in how the business works - as well as working with partners and other organisations to support and develop innovative ideas.

The ideas will be based around real-world challenges faced by Northumbrian Water, for example finding and fixing leaks or reducing flooding, which could help transform the way the company works.

Angela MacOscar has almost 30 years of experience linked to innovation. After her physical chemistry PhD at Manchester University, she had a 17 year career in exploring innovation concepts with global organisation, Procter & Gamble. Since then, she has been helping businesses in the North East embed innovation into their culture and leverage it for growth.

The new Head of Innovation role is part of an innovation culture that is at the heart of Northumbrian Water, and includes an interactive innovation website, an employee competition for creative ideas, as well as the company′s huge, five-day Innovation Festival.

Angela MacOscar commented:

"Innovation is a must if we′re to deliver our ambitious business plan. We′re already leading in innovation but we′ve got to continue looking for new and clever ways of doing things that can create success and transform our lives and businesses.”

"With our third Innovation Festival just around the corner, and our previous festival ideas being turned into real-life projects all the time, it′s a really exciting time for Northumbrian Water.”