Pennon hosted a Youth Board workshop in Truro to share the company's future plans and discuss customer priorities.
The firm's annual insight programme involved four workshops in Truro, Exeter, Bristol and Bournemouth throughout February.
This initiative is a series of engagement activities implemented by Pennon's water businesses; South West Water, Bristol Water and Bournemouth Water, to interact with the younger generation and determine their priorities.
The Truro event, a full-day workshop, introduced participants to the water industry and invited them to partake in interactive activities.
Among the activities was a Dragons' Den-style pitch on a water resources topic, with just a 20-minute preparation time.
The Pennon teams lauded the pitches, which covered topics like customer water charge mechanisms, smart metering benefits, and the future of water resources in the region.
The participants' insights provided the company with valuable perspectives to better comprehend the future needs of its clientele.
Impressed by the young speakers' articulation and understanding of the challenges facing the water industry, such as population growth and climate change, the Pennon team took note.
Students also highlighted the necessity for businesses and industries to focus on sustainability, particularly in the water sector.
Laura Flowerdew, Pennon Group’s chief customer and digital officer, said: "We’re always looking to the future as outlined in our business plan from 2025-30, so it was a great to be able to discuss our upcoming plans with the next generation of customers and decision makers, but perhaps more importantly, to explore what their priorities were.
"Their feedback will be invaluable as we finalise our plans for the region, for the benefit of everyone."
Pennon’s proposed plan for 2025-30 focuses on four key areas, including a £2.8 billion investment and creating 2,000 jobs in the region.
The company has also recently expanded its apprenticeship and graduate schemes, with the aim to recruit 1,000 people by 2030 and offer 5,000 work placement opportunities.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here