River Severn Partnership wins second award in a week

The River Severn Partnership (RSP) is proud to announce its success at The MJ Achievement Awards 2024, where it won the award for Innovation in Partnerships.

The River Severn Partnership is a multi-sector, cross-border collaboration designed to build resilience and prosperity for the 2.6 million people living within the Severn Catchment.

This accolade comes hot on the heels of the RSP’s success last week at the Local Government Chronicle Awards (LGC) 2024 where it received the Public Partnership award.

Praising the RSP submission, MJ Achievement Award  judges said the partnership had well evidenced need in the River Severn Catchment for intervention, and an ambition not only to improve economic, social and environment outcomes, but to bring innovation to policy.

The judges also recognised the RSP for its bold strategy, and recognised its strong leadership, for generating a series of important early outputs that are laying the foundations for future work.

The submission was also recognised for its strong evidence of engagement and partnership, and a broad range of funders and investors from public and private sector who are sponsoring the programme.

Mark Barrow, co-chair of the RSP said:

“The RSP’s ground-breaking work has been recognised for its transformative impact on communities and the environment.

“As a strategic rural partnership, the RSP has pioneered an integrated approach to developing resilience in areas affected by flooding, redefining the management and utilisation of rivers as assets rather than liabilities.

“We are delighted to have been recognised again by our peers and to have won this second industry award for innovation.”

Described by the Environment Agency as “an outstanding partnership” the RSP is uniting partners across the Severn Catchment in England and Wales around an integrated approach to resilience in areas blighted by flooding.

Partners include Gloucestershire County Council, Herefordshire County Council, Powys County Council, Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, Warwickshire County Council and Worcestershire County Council, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Homes England, Severn Trent Water, National Farmers Union, four local enterprise partnerships, local nature partnerships, wildlife trusts, academic institutions such as Birmingham City University and commercial partners including Oliver Wyman. ARUP and UK Infrastructure Bank.