Newton Enhancing performance and creating enduring value
The power of partnership Working as strategic partners with teams across the organisation, we helped clarify priorities and roles and strengthen the work across the client and their supply chain. Our approach was practical, impact-focused, and underpinned by our forensic, evidence-based philosophy. Invested in our clients success, we based ourselves on-site, supported weekend events and built real relationships. Insight was combined with action and a clear understanding of who needed to be engaged when and how, ensuring that analysis translated into effective change on the ground. As trust grew, we were asked to support a series of emerging priorities, including environmental performance, incident response and capital delivery. We then launched a set of programmes addressing three critical areas of a network utility organisation: capital works, asset management and operations. The Newton difference in action In 2024, increased public scrutiny of environmental performance across the sector prompted Severn Trent Water to take even more action. We partnered with them to drive a step change response through improved models, smarter targeting, and accelerated delivery of capital works. CSO dischargers (spills) per millimetre of rainfall were reduced by 39% 1 , delivering on committed better outcomes for the environment. More than 7,000 2 spills were prevented, compared to what had been expected for 2025, exceeding the original projections in the client models by a third.
Across every programme we were trusted to deliver results, and applied the same principles: unlock complexity, focus on what truly drives outcomes, and remain accountable for delivery. In CSO spills improvement we: • Supported the design and mobilisation of a £120m spills programme bringing together operations, data, and supply chain activity. • Established a central controlling mind to create a single source of truth, enabling leaders to prioritise interventions and track progress in real time. • By applying pragmatism, attention to detail, and streamlining governance in low-risk situations, we increased the delivery pace dramatically, from a 12-month timeline for storage solutions to just 10% of normal time.
Uniting human and digital expertise
Building on our joint success, the same approach was applied to pollution incidents. We developed a unique machine-learning AI model that responded to live incidents, mitigating pollution risk dynamically rather than with a static risk assessment. The model doubled identification capability without increasing cost and reduced pollution ODI penalty exposure by £25m per year. Digital enablement was paramount to these outcomes. We automated daily operational processes, achieving a 40% capacity uplift in the highly skilled pollutions programme team, removing over 16 hours of manual effort per person per week. This reduced the time spent on low-value tasks and freed capacity for proactive, preventative work.
1 During the period of our engagement. This figure does not reflect the full year performance. 2 During the period of our engagement. This figure does not reflect the full year performance.
Throughout, we worked side-by-side with the organisation’s teams, challenging where needed, supporting where required, and adapting solutions to reflect operational reality.” Emma O’Malley, Partner
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