BIQ01 - What is the official name of your organisation/project (and any registration number if you have one, plus main contact, email address and phone number)?
Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) – United Utilities. Major delivery contract awarded to Cascade Infrastructure (Strabag + Equitix). Key advisers include Arup (detailed design) and Turner & Townsend (independent technical adviser). Main contact details to confirm (programme email/phone).
BIQ02 - Are you registered (NGO / CBO / company / informal group)? If not, do you want to register?
Yes. Programme owned by United Utilities (UK water company) and delivered under Ofwat Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) with a private-sector delivery partner.
BIQ03 - What location(s) do you operate in (town/county/region)? Any plans to expand?
Operates along the Haweswater Aqueduct corridor from Cumbria (Haweswater) through to the North West (including Greater Manchester and Lancashire). The aqueduct route is ~110km and the works are mostly underground at multiple tunnel locations.
BIQ04 - What problem are you solving in one sentence?
To reduce the risk of failure in an ageing strategic aqueduct by replacing critical tunnel sections and securing a resilient raw-water supply for millions of customers.
BIQ05 - What does "success" look like for you in 6 months and 12 months?
Success in 6 months: mobilisation, investigations and detailed design well advanced, stakeholder/permit work underway, baseline controls active. Success in 12 months: enabling works progressed and the programme fully prepared for main construction start in 2026.
BIQ06 - What is your biggest constraint right now (money / people / equipment / skills / trust / transport / time / other)?
Biggest constraints: complex underground tunnelling risks (ground conditions), strong cost-control needs, environmental permitting, and demonstrating best value for customers under DPC.
BIQ07 - What are the top 3 priorities you want help with immediately?
Top priorities: (1) complete investigations and lock down the design scope for early tunnel replacements, (2) establish strong governance and assurance with cost-control reporting, (3) secure permits and stakeholder alignment to protect the 2026 start.
BIQ08 - What partners do you already work with (government, clinics, schools, NGOs, churches, local leaders)?
Partners include United Utilities; Cascade Infrastructure (Strabag + Equitix); Arup; Turner & Townsend; Ofwat (regulatory oversight); and local authorities/communities along the corridor plus the specialist supply chain.
BIQ09 - What systems do you currently use (paper notebook, WhatsApp, Excel, Google Drive, website, none)?
Expected systems include integrated programme controls (schedule/cost/risk), engineering design/BIM tools, assurance and certification workflows, and formal reporting to regulators and stakeholders (exact tools to confirm).
BIQ10 - Do you have permission/consent from people on your register to store/use their data for support services?
Data handling expected to follow UK GDPR and utility governance standards. Confirm stakeholder data consent approach, document retention rules, and role-based access controls across delivery partners.
PSQ01 - What service can you name, with brief description of each that will help the beneficiaries of your project?
Primary service delivered to beneficiaries: reliable and resilient raw-water transfer for ~2.5 million customers by renewing the Haweswater Aqueduct. Secondary benefits include employment and apprenticeships (peak workforce around 1,200).
PSQ02 - List your current services (what you do today), and for each: how often and for how many people per month?
Current services: contracts awarded; preparatory works, ground investigations and detailed design in progress. Main construction is scheduled to start in 2026 and is expected to run for around 9 years within an ~11-year contract period.
PSQ03 - Which services are most needed but you cannot currently deliver?
Most-needed services not yet deliverable: full tunnel replacement construction and commissioning of all sections (dependent on 2026 start, permits, and final design/ground confirmation).
PSQ04 - What are the top 5 needs reported by beneficiaries of your project (health, safety, work, school, counselling, etc.)?
Top needs: (1) resilient water security, (2) affordability and demonstrable value for customers, (3) minimal community/environment disruption, (4) safe delivery of major works, (5) transparent oversight and delivery confidence.
PSQ05 - What is the service pathway right now? (How does a person join → receive help → follow-up?)
Service pathway: identify critical tunnel sections → investigations → detailed design → permits/planning → underground replacement works → testing/commissioning → long-term maintenance under the integrated DPC contract.
PSQ06 - What makes your approach different from other organisations (if any)?
Differentiator: delivered under DPC with design, construction, maintenance and financing integrated, supported by independent technical assurance to protect customer value and delivery confidence.
PSQ07 - What "minimum service package" could you reliably deliver every month if basic funding existed?
Minimum monthly delivery package: progress investigations and design, maintain interim monitoring/maintenance planning, deliver enabling works where approved, and maintain strong governance reporting and risk control.
PSQ08 - What does a typical case look like from first contact to resolution?
Typical case: a tunnel section is replaced using modern tunnelling methods to reduce surface disruption; outputs include verified design, safe construction delivery, certified quality evidence and reinstated resilient water transfer performance.
PSQ09 - What are the risks/harm points in service delivery (stigma, security threats, exploitation, misinformation)?
Risks/harm points: adverse ground conditions, environmental impacts and permit delays, cost escalation, schedule slippage, stakeholder disruption, and poor risk allocation/control leading to value-for-money scrutiny.
PSQ10 - How do you measure whether a service worked? (simple indicators)
Success indicators: reduced failure risk, delivery to baseline cost and schedule, strong safety performance, assurance gate success, environmental compliance, and maintained/improved water transfer capability.
PSQ11 - What services could be delivered remotely (WhatsApp/phone) vs require physical presence?
Remote vs physical: remote includes design, modelling, planning, stakeholder communications and governance reporting; physical includes investigations, tunnelling works, underground construction and commissioning/assurance.
PEQ01 - What equipment do you have? mobile phone? pc? printer? monitor? - list all you have.
Equipment includes investigation rigs, underground tunnelling plant, civil construction equipment, survey systems, design/BIM tooling, and programme control/reporting systems (detailed contractor inventory to confirm).
PEQ02 - How do we contact you? Telephone number? Office Address? Main Contact? Number of people in the management team? Number of people that the project will address?
Contact route is via United Utilities programme team (details to confirm). Management spans UU programme leadership, Cascade delivery leadership, design leads (Arup), assurance leads (Turner & Townsend) and regulatory interfaces. Programme supports ~2.5M customers and creates ~1,200 jobs at peak.
PEQ03 - Where are you working from? Would the office address be your home? a community centre? an internet cafe?
Operations are distributed across multiple sites along the ~110km corridor. Most works are underground. Local site compounds and project offices will ramp up as work fronts progress (specific locations to confirm).
PEQ04 - What equipment is working reliably, and what is broken / missing / shared / borrowed?
Major delivery capability is present through appointed Tier-1 partners; full construction mobilisation at scale occurs closer to the 2026 start, pending permits and final investigations.
PEQ05 - How stable is your electricity and internet (daily / weekly outages)?
Electricity and internet generally stable in UK context, but underground works require robust site comms and redundancy. Confirm outage assumptions per worksite.
PEQ06 - Where is your data stored (paper files, phone, laptop)? Is there a backup?
Data stored in secure corporate systems for design, programme controls and assurance documentation, with backups and controlled access. Confirm document control platform and backup policy.
PEQ07 - Do you have a safe place to store sensitive records?
Sensitive records to be stored under controlled access (commercial terms, assurance evidence, safety records, stakeholder data). Confirm secure storage/cyber controls and permissions.
PEQ08 - Do you have transport (walking, bicycle, motorbike, car, public)? Biggest travel barrier?
Transport/logistics managed across the North West using contractor fleets and public roads. Biggest barrier is moving large plant/materials while minimising disruption and coordinating access.
PEQ09 - What are your printing/scanning options (none / pay-per-use shop / own printer)?
Printing/scanning expected to be digital-first under document control systems; physical printing only where required for permits and site packs.
PEQ10 - If you had a small "starter kit" (phone + laptop + printer), who would be responsible for it?
Starter kit responsibility sits with programme controls/document control leads using asset registers and access permissions.
PEQ11 - What does your workspace need to become functional (desk, chair, lockable cabinet, internet router, etc.)?
Workspace needs include site offices, secure meeting space, document control, stable comms, welfare facilities and disciplined design-review/assurance workflows.
PEQ12 - What would be the ideal operating base in 6 months (home office / shared centre / rented office)?
Ideal base in 6 months: fully functioning programme office plus active site compounds aligned to early works, with mature governance and reporting rhythms.
PEQ13 - What security risks exist at your premises (theft, harassment, privacy exposure)?
Security risks include theft/vandalism at compounds, privacy exposure of stakeholder data and reputational impacts from disruption/environment. Mitigation includes secure compounds, controlled access, GDPR compliance and proactive engagement.
PQ01 - Who are the key roles today (leader, admin, outreach, finance, volunteer coordinator)? Names + roles.
Key roles include United Utilities programme leadership; delivery partner Cascade Infrastructure (Strabag + Equitix); detailed design by Arup; independent technical adviser Turner & Townsend; and Ofwat oversight plus stakeholder/community engagement teams.
PQ02 - How many are active weekly (not just "on the list")?
Active weekly team is a substantial multi-organisation programme group and will ramp up significantly as 2026 start approaches (exact headcount to confirm).
PQ03 - What skills do you have in the team (counselling, healthcare links, social work, advocacy, fundraising, admin, IT)?
Skills include major programme delivery, tunnelling/ground engineering, civil and materials engineering, cost and schedule management, assurance/certification and stakeholder engagement.
PQ04 - What skills are missing that you need most urgently?
Skills gaps to watch: specialist tunnelling risk management, strong value-for-money evidence under DPC, supply chain resilience, and community/environment interface management.
PQ05 - What training would help most (basic safeguarding, data handling, case management, fundraising, reporting)?
Training priorities: safety leadership for underground works, consistent assurance/document control discipline, stakeholder communications and risk-based decision-making across partners.
PQ06 - How do you recruit and manage volunteers (screening, agreements, supervision)?
Volunteer management is not applicable; workforce is contractor-led. Apprenticeships are planned to build local skills (targets/details to confirm).
PQ07 - Do you have a safeguarding lead / safeguarding rules? If not, who could be assigned?
Safeguarding and H&S governance is expected under UK standards; confirm named leads for workforce welfare and stakeholder data handling.
PQ08 - What is your communication rhythm (weekly meeting, WhatsApp group, ad-hoc)?
Communication rhythm includes regular delivery coordination (daily/weekly), formal governance and assurance cycles (monthly) and regulatory reporting as required.
PQ09 - What conflicts or workload risks exist (burnout, role confusion, disagreements)?
Workload/conflict risks: interface disputes between design/construct/assurance, schedule pressure, cost-control tensions and stakeholder friction. Mitigation is strong governance, clear roles and transparent escalation.
PQ10 - If funding arrived, which 3 positions would you pay first (and why)?
If prioritising early effectiveness: fund/pay programme controls (cost/schedule/risk), ground investigation/design integration leadership, and stakeholder/environment interface leadership.
FQ01 - Do you have any current income (donations, grants, sales, membership, events)? Rough monthly average.
Funding is regulated infrastructure investment (not donation-based). Programme cost reported around £3bn under DPC with private financing and repayment through customer charges under regulatory oversight.
FQ02 - What are your fixed monthly costs (rent, airtime, transport, printing, internet)?
Fixed monthly costs include programme management, design and assurance fees, investigations, enabling works, site overheads and contract management (phase burn rate to confirm).
FQ03 - What costs are unpredictable emergencies (medical cases, relocation, safety incidents)?
Unpredictable costs include unforeseen ground conditions, tunnelling incidents, permit-driven redesign, supply chain shocks and schedule delays increasing overheads.
FQ04 - What are the top 10 things you spend money on when you have it?
Top spend areas include investigations, detailed design, tunnelling construction, materials/liners, plant/logistics, safety/compliance, programme controls, assurance/certification, stakeholder engagement and environmental management.
FQ05 - Do you keep records (cashbook, receipts, mobile money statements)? Who holds them?
Records are held under formal corporate/commercial governance with assurance evidence trails, audited reporting and oversight (specific arrangements to confirm).
FQ06 - Do you have, or intend to open, a bank/mobile money account in the organisation name? If not, what do you use?
Accounts and payments sit within United Utilities and delivery partner contractual structures; confirm reporting requirements and payment mechanisms under DPC.
FQ07 - What is the smallest funding amount that would make a real difference this month?
Smallest “funding” that makes a difference is targeted release of investigation/design budget to de-risk the 2026 start and lock early scope.
FQ08 - What is your 12-month "ideal budget" (even if rough)?
Ideal 12-month budget supports design, investigations and mobilisation readiness to 2026 start, including contingency aligned to tunnelling and permitting risk exposure (exact baseline to confirm).
FQ09 - What funding have you tried before (who, when, result)?
Funding route is via UU + Ofwat DPC procurement; contracts awarded after the preferred bidder and final award process (timeline to confirm).
FQ10 - What would you consider "good governance proof" to show donors money is safe (reports, receipts, photos, beneficiary confirmations)?
Governance proof includes independent assurance reports, certified cost/schedule baselines, controlled document trails, H&S evidence, environmental compliance records, stakeholder engagement logs and auditable commercial evidence.
MQ01 - Who is your audience: donors, local community, government, clinics, schools, families, beneficiaries?
Audience includes Ofwat and regulators, customers across the North West, local communities along the corridor, government stakeholders, industry partners and the future workforce/apprenticeship applicants.
MQ02 - What channels do you currently use (WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, radio, church announcements, community meetings)?
Channels include official announcements/press releases, stakeholder engagement sessions, regulator reporting, community meetings, corporate website updates and industry press coverage.
MQ03 - Do you have any assets: logo, photos, short video, testimonials, case stories?
Assets include the programme narrative (resilience + economic stimulus) and key stats: ~110km aqueduct, ~2.5M customers, ~£3bn programme and peak workforce ~1,200 plus partner credentials.
MQ04 - What is your "one sentence" message to donors?
Message to stakeholders: a major investment securing long-term resilient water supply for the North West with strong independent assurance and value-for-money controls.
MQ05 - What is your "one sentence" message to beneficiaries?
Message to customers/communities: renewal of critical aqueduct sections to protect water security with minimal disruption and transparent oversight.
MQ06 - What questions do people ask most often about your project (and what answers do you give)?
Common questions and answers include why now (asset ageing/failure risk), how long (main works ~9 years), disruption (mostly underground), who delivers (UU + Cascade + advisers) and how costs are controlled (DPC + assurance).
MQ07 - Do you have a list of contacts (supporters / organisations)? How many?
Contacts list exists across utilities, regulators, councils, communities and supply chain partners (size to confirm).
MQ08 - What partnerships would unlock growth fastest (hospital, police, school, local government, NGO)?
Partnerships for momentum include local authorities, training providers/colleges for apprenticeships, environmental regulators and community engagement partners.
MQ09 - What events could you run quarterly (awareness day, clinic day, school session, community meeting)?
Quarterly events could include community briefings, supply chain engagement days, apprenticeship recruitment drives and formal milestone/assurance checkpoints.
MQ10 - What proof would be easiest for you to publish monthly (numbers helped, photos of deliveries, short story, receipts summary)?
Monthly proof to publish includes progress milestones (investigations/design), jobs/apprenticeship numbers, safety performance stats, stakeholder updates and high-level schedule/cost status where appropriate.