The European Investment Bank (EIB) has strengthened its support for research and development, strategic and sustainable infrastructure and approved new lending to a range of significant projects across Europe and beyond.
The EIB’s Board of Directors yesterday approved loans worth € 8.4 billion, including € 2.9 billion that will benefit SMEs and mid-cap firms in the European Union. This brings total EIB support for SMEs and mid-cap companies approved so far in 2014 to € 13.1 billion.
Loans worth a total of € 3.4 billion were approved for investment in strategic infrastructure. This included support for transport projects in France, Spain and Greece, as well as telecommunications in Malta
Support for long-term investment in research and development included agreement to back research investment by universities and public research centres in Germany. Sustainable investment for energy included approval of new connections to off-shore wind farms in UK waters and investment to modernise existing and construct new small hydropower plants in Italy.
The Board of Directors of the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB group, earlier this week approved 10 new operations through which the EIF will further reinforce its support for SMEs. The deals represent EIF commitments of € 271.5 million and are expected to leverage € 757 million of capital. With these new approvals, the number of deals approved in 2014 now amounts to 93, with commitments in the order of € 2.6 billion and an expected overall leverage of € 11.7 billion.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.