Business Stream
Business Stream is the UK's second-largest and longest-established business water retailer, serving more than 300,000 commercial and public sector customers across Scotland and England with water supply, wastewater, and AMR-enabled water efficiency services, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Business Stream does
Business Stream is the UK's longest-established and second-largest business water retailer, founded in 2006 in Edinburgh and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water. It began delivering services when Scotland's non-domestic water market opened in 2008, expanded into England following the 2017 retail market opening (acquiring Southern Water's non-household book and, in 2019, Yorkshire Water Business Services and Three-Sixty), and now serves more than 300,000 businesses and public sector organisations across Scotland, England, and Wales.
The company's offering combines three product layers: (1) commodity water supply, wastewater management, and trade effluent consent services, on which it competes primarily on price and reliability; (2) a proprietary technology stack comprising Automated Meter Readers (AMR) capturing 15-minute interval consumption data, the Intelligent Water Management (IWM) centralised analytics platform for multi-site benchmarking and inefficiency identification, and the My Business Stream online portal for account self-service; and (3) value-added water efficiency, leak detection, audit, and stewardship services. Notable technical differentiators include AMRs that transmit consumption data to a dedicated portal with leak-spike alerting, IWM multi-site benchmarking, and a Cascade online quote-and-contracting tool used by Third Party Intermediaries.
Business Stream generates revenue primarily through pass-through wholesale charges set by regional water companies plus a retailer margin, structured as recurring supply contracts. Pricing includes multiple discounts (direct debit, combi, loyalty, feelgood tariffs that redirect 2% to Ecologi/FareShare, plus 5% payment-in-advance). The go-to-market blends direct enterprise field sales for large and multi-site customers (e.g., Britvic, Greggs, Southeastern Railway, Hull City Council), a dedicated TPI and broker channel led by named partner contacts, the exclusive Churchmarketplace framework for Catholic organisations, and a self-serve online portal for SMEs. Major contract anchors include a £240m+ Scottish Government Water and Waste Water Services Framework (2024–2027 plus extension option) and multi-million-pound enterprise deals across food manufacturing, retail, rail, and stadium sectors.
Business Stream firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Business Stream
- Legal name
- Scottish Water Business Stream Ltd.
- Website
- https://business-stream.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Business Stream is the UK's second-largest and longest-established business water retailer, serving more than 300,000 commercial and public sector customers across Scotland and England with water supply, wastewater, and AMR-enabled water efficiency services, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Business Stream industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Water Retail Services
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Third-Party Water Retailing & Managed Billing Services (outsourced billing, white-label retail operations) (EUANAIAL)
Keywords
Where Business Stream is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Business Stream business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Water and wastewater supply services: Business Stream charges non-household customers for water supply and wastewater management services. Revenue is derived from wholesale charges set by regional water companies (passed through) plus retailer margin, competitive pricing, and volume-based billing. The company offers tailored contracts for larger organisations with special rates and dedicated account management.
- Water efficiency and sustainability services: Value-added services including water efficiency audits, leak detection and monitoring, automated meter reading, and water stewardship programmes. These services generate additional revenue and help customers reduce consumption, with Business Stream retaining margin on efficiency savings delivered.
- Trade effluent management: Trade effluent consent and management services for businesses as a legal compliance requirement, which can also reduce costs and improve operational efficiency for customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Direct Debit Discount |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Combi Discount |
| Subscription | Monthly | Loyalty Discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Feelgood Tariffs (Naturally Share, Naturally Care, Naturally Fair) |
| Subscription | Annual | Payment in Advance Discount |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tailored Contracts for Large Organisations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Business Stream product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Business Stream is the UK's longest-established water retailer, supplying water and providing wastewater management services to over 300,000 non-household customers across Scotland and England. The company also delivers trade effluent consent and management, water efficiency audits, Automated Meter Reading (AMR) device installation with 15-minute interval consumption monitoring, and the Intelligent Water Management (IWM) data analytics platform for multi-site customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water Supply Services Core water supply service for non-household customers in Scotland and England, providing treated water via the wholesale network. Includes competitive pricing, tailored contracts for larger organisations, and bundled discounts (direct debit, combi, loyalty, payment in advance).
- Wastewater Management Wastewater (sewerage) collection and treatment services for non-household customers, billed through Business Stream. Includes surface drainage and trade effluent management. Available alongside water supply as part of the standard retail offering.
- Trade Effluent Management
Quantifiable outcome
- Customers saved £31.5m in 2022/23 (over £15m discounts, £14m+ water savings, £2m+ energy savings)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Business Stream
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Business Stream technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Business Stream partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hull City CouncilcoreFive-year multi-million-pound water and wastewater services agreement covering 322 Hull City Council sites worth over £6 million. Business Stream installs AMR devices on high-usage sites, provides real-time water monitoring, and supports portfolio data management for accurate billing.
- Plain NumberscoreSector-first partnership to improve how Business Stream communicates numerical information to customers. Five Business Stream colleagues undergoing intensive Plain Numbers Practitioner training. Partnership aims to simplify complex numerical data in bills and contracts, supporting vulnerable customer groups. First of its kind within the water retail sector.
- FareShareminorPartnership through Business Stream's 'Naturally Share' feelgood tariff. Redirects 2% tariff discount to redistribute surplus food to charities via FareShare's network of 8,000+ charities across the UK. Business Stream matches the contribution. Early pilot (2024) had 65 business sites signed up.
- Ecologi (Feelgood Tariffs)minorPartnership through Business Stream's 'Naturally Care' feelgood tariff. Supports regeneration of UK woodlands including peatland, heathland, woodland and wildflower meadow restoration through Ecologi's UK-based rewilding projects. Business Stream matches the 2% tariff discount redirected by customers.
- National Support Network (NSN) - Pay it Forward Charity PartnerminorAs part of NSN partnership's 'pay it forward' scheme, Business Stream selects a UK-based charity to benefit from the NSN signposting service free of charge.
- 20FIFTY PartnerscoreDeveloped a 12-week certified water stewardship programme with 20FIFTY Partners to help businesses reduce water usage and environmental footprint. Programme includes five online group sessions, self-paced learning, and 1:1 mentoring support. Supported by Yorkshire Water and funded through Strategic Panel's Market Improvement Fund. Businesses involved in pilot reported significant benefits including improved water efficiency and stronger internal engagement on sustainability goals.
- Yorkshire WaterminorCo-funder of the water stewardship programme developed with 20FIFTY Partners, through the Strategic Panel's Market Improvement Fund which supports innovative market improvement projects for business customers.
- Scotland the WaveminorBusiness Stream sponsorship of all-female rowing team competing in Atlantic Campaigns' 'World's Toughest Row' (Dec 2025). Four Scottish women rowing 3000 miles across Atlantic to raise money for Breast Cancer UK, SCAA, Simba, and Lifeboats. Aligned to Business Stream's commitment to making a positive difference to the environment.
- National Support Network (NSN)coreFirst water retailer to partner with NSN to support customers who may need specialised assistance on issues beyond the water retailer's remit. NSN's signposting service available to all Business Stream colleagues. Part of Business Stream's sector-first Customer Vulnerability Framework. Through the 'pay it forward' scheme, Business Stream selects a UK charity to benefit from the service free of charge.
- United Nations Global CompactcoreFirst water retailer in the UK to join the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative with 15,000+ companies. Business Stream meets annual reporting requirements to demonstrate support for UN Sustainable Development Goals and accesses tools, resources, and expert-led training.
- Scottish ProcurementcoreAdjudication partner for Business Stream's annual Public Sector Scotland (PSS) Water Efficiency Fund. Judging panel of Business Stream senior representatives with Scottish Procurement adjudication oversees allocation of £100,000 annual fund to 13+ public sector organisations spanning 16 water efficiency projects.
- Churchmarketplace and WodrcoreBusiness Stream was selected as preferred water retailer through Churchmarketplace's water services framework (designed to drive value and reduce water consumption for Catholic communities across England). Wodr, a specialist water consultancy, led the tender process. Framework has secured £2m+ in contracts across 170+ Catholic organisations including schools and dioceses. Educational materials on water use created for sustainability-focused curriculum studies.
- Severn Trent WaterminorPartnership funded by Severn Trent's £566m Green Recovery Programme. 100 business sites across the Midlands receive free water efficiency audits and up to £1,250 per site for water efficient devices including taps and showers. Major national and regional companies signed up including Boots, Greggs, Lloyds Bank, Next, and Network Rail.
- Southeastern RailwayminorWater management contract worth over £100,000 covering 160 Southeastern sites. Business Stream to capture and digitally log all water consumption and supply/install 120+ AMR devices for near real-time monitoring and leak alerts.
- EcologicoreCarbon offsetting partnership to support Business Stream's environmental goals and achieve carbon neutrality. Contributed to Mataven Forest protection (Colombia) and Kenya cookstoves project. Renewed in 2024 with Macaúbas Landfill Gas Project (Brazil, CCP-Approved). In 2025, supports Uganda cookstove programme and Indonesian peatland restoration. Business Stream's investment equals its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions (123.5 tonnes CO2e in 2024/25). Partnership is integral to net zero by 2030 strategy.
- BritviccoreThree-year contract worth over £9 million. Business Stream provides water efficiency support, AMR services, and contingency planning across Britvic's Leeds, Rugby, Beckton, Lutterworth, Solihull and Tamworth sites. Supports Britvic's Healthier Planet sustainability strategy.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Business Stream competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Castle Water: Castle Water is one of the largest UK business water retailers, competing directly with Business Stream in the English non-household market across SMEs and large multi-site customers with a similar pass-through pricing plus retail margin model.
- Clear Business Water: Clear Business Water is a UK business water retailer focused primarily on SMEs, directly competing with Business Stream's SME segment through competitive pricing and broker/TPI channels in the deregulated English market.
- Wave Utilities: Wave Utilities (formerly Anglian Water Business) is a major UK non-household water retailer operating in the same deregulated English market as Business Stream, competing directly for SME and enterprise customers on pricing, customer service, and value-added services.
- Water Plus: Water Plus is a UK non-household water retailer serving SMEs and larger commercial customers, operating as a direct competitor to Business Stream in the English market with comparable water supply, wastewater, and efficiency service offerings.
- Smarter Business (formerly Echo Utilities): Smarter Business is a UK business water and utilities retailer competing with Business Stream for SME and mid-market customers, particularly through TPI and broker channels in the English deregulated market.
Broad incumbents
- Dwr Cymru Welsh Water: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is a not-for-profit Welsh water utility. As a regional incumbent providing wholesale water services and competing for non-household customers in and around its territory, it is a broad incumbent peer in the UK water market.
- Severn Trent: Severn Trent is one of the largest UK water utilities and a regional wholesaler supplying Business Stream's underlying commodity. While operating primarily as an integrated wholesale/retail utility in its region, it overlaps with Business Stream through water efficiency programmes and competitive positioning across the UK water value chain.
- Thames Water: Thames Water is the UK's largest water and wastewater services company. Although primarily an integrated wholesale/retail utility serving the London region, it is a broad incumbent in the UK water sector and an indirect competitor to Business Stream for large enterprise and public sector customers.
- United Utilities: United Utilities is a major UK integrated water and wastewater utility operating in the North West of England. While primarily a wholesaler, it participates in business water services and competes indirectly with Business Stream across the UK water market.
Emerging players
- Everflow: Everflow is a UK business utilities retailer offering water alongside gas, electricity, and telecoms to SMEs. It competes with Business Stream in the SME water segment with a multi-utility bundling proposition and growing TPI/broker channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Business Stream social profiles
Digital presenceBusiness Stream financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Business Stream leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Business Stream funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Business Stream M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Business Stream
What does Business Stream do?
Business Stream is the UK's longest-established water retailer, supplying water and providing wastewater management services to over 300,000 non-household customers across Scotland and England. The company also delivers trade effluent consent and management, water efficiency audits, Automated Meter Reading (AMR) device installation with 15-minute interval consumption monitoring, and the Intelligent Water Management (IWM) data analytics platform for multi-site customers.
Is Business Stream a public or private company?
Business Stream is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Business Stream founded?
Business Stream was founded in 2008. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Business Stream based?
Business Stream is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Business Stream make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Water and wastewater supply services are the primary driver. The others are water efficiency and sustainability services and trade effluent management.
Who are Business Stream's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Castle Water, Clear Business Water, Wave Utilities, Water Plus and Smarter Business (formerly Echo Utilities). Broad incumbents are Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Severn Trent, Thames Water and United Utilities. Everflow is listed as an emerging player.
Does Business Stream have an API?
No public API is recorded for Business Stream.
What industry is Business Stream in?
Business Stream's product category is Commercial Water Retail Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAIAL, Third-Party Water Retailing & Managed Billing Services (outsourced billing, white-label retail operations). Its NAICS code is 221310 and its SIC code is 4941.