How are the career development opportunities at Northumbrian Water Group?

Amazing employer with many great benefits on offer. Huge variety of roles and lots opportunity to progress and develop internally.

None that I can think of

A good company to work for, that offers some really good benefits and inclusivity options. Good internal career prospects.

Poor pay review structure. Poor middle management, Pre-meeting meetings and much more time spent discussing action instead of taking action.

Good contact centre salary for the NE. I'm in Billing, but Ops advisors also get standby and callout. People-first company with strong wellbeing offering, including support networks, free Digital GP, and just started a screening drive for 3 common cancers. Okay benefits, with free tea and coffee if you're willing to make it yourself. Community feeling, definitely not a normal company. Big environmental focus and lots of opportunities to volunteer. Some very good line managers who care about their teams. Lots of commitment to the company and people stay with the company. NWL has nailed hybrid working, with the option to be permanently in the office if you want it. Strong flexible working options. CEO has monthly unscripted calls where she takes questions from anyone and on any subject. Never come across that in other companies and makes her very accessible. Strong safety culture in all areas.

Some of the new leaders are abysmal and just don't understand the company culture or they refuse to adapt to our culture. Billing teams are too large with too many advisors for each manager. Not the managers fault, just poor leadership and resource planning. Restaurant is expensive for what you get, and the coffee machine needs replaced. Restaurant coffee is terrible just to echo what others have said (don't know how many people have to say this to make someone listen). Some days are incredibly busy and it's difficult to get parked. Cramming more and more people into the contact centres. They have 'Performance Advocates' who are reviled by many, especially managers. Northumbria House is 50yrs old and not the best building to work in, needs a lot of work.

Hands on experiences in the water industry

Not so much for undergrads events and career growth

Salary for a contact centre advisor in the NE is good, and it's more than some team leaders or managers will earn in other companies especially if you're on the standby rota in the Ops Team. Good pension contributions. All IT kit is provided and PPE or uniform items if you ask for them. Free coffee and tea is available but you have to make it yourself (we used to have well-stocked coffee machines but they got rid of them because they cost too much). Access to plenty of support services like digital GP, and local companies can ask to sell their stuff from a stand in reception. Most days there's plenty of parking in the 2 car parks, and hybrid working in the contact centres helps manage work/life balance. Some new employee support networks, supportive unions, and there are opportunities for development and secondment if you want them. Great community culture where everyone joins in to help with incidents and it really is like a family in some parts.

Benefits are being watered down to save money, like the tea and coffee I mentioned, and the choice in some areas is very limited. Very expensive salary sacrifice car provider that puts people off and some government schemes just seem to have NWL branding attached. Car park and Northumbria House can get very busy on some days, especially at the start of the week, and it can be difficult to find somewhere. Some really awful managers joining from other companies who just don't understand the NWL culture or people and are only focussed on performance instead of people. Some managers will only talk to other managers and not the 'little people' which I've heard someone use to describe advisers. Other reviews have criticised the food and coffee in the canteen and I wholeheartedly agree with them.

Excellent managers with lots of progression available

Pay could be higher as a base pay

Good benefits. Can be flexible depending on the role

A lot of people managers who shouldn't be. Progression is difficult if you happen to work in the wrong section