Aquaflow awarded multi‑year drainage maintenance contract by UKRI

Aquaflow, part of the Ipsum Group, has been awarded a multi-year contract with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)  to deliver drainage maintenance services across three of its key Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) sites. This Tier 1 contract is the first awarded to Aquaflow since it became part of the Ipsum Group in 2025.

The agreement runs for an initial three‑year term with an option for a further year. Under the contract, Aquaflow will provide drainage maintenance, pump servicing, grease and fuel interceptor management, and road cleaning at the STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilbolton Observatory, and The Cosener’s House in Abingdon.

Aquaflow became part of the Ipsum Group in 2025. Ipsum operates across the UK, delivering engineering services to water, power, infrastructure and technology sectors. Aquaflow has operated in the plumbing and drainage sector for more than 20 years and provides services to commercial, facilities and industrial clients.

John Mitchell, Operations Director (South) at Ipsum, said: “Securing Aquaflow’s first Tier 1 contract as part of the Ipsum Group is a proud milestone for both the business and the wider group. It reflects our ability to deliver complex, high-profile contracts and strengthens Ipsum’s position as a trusted partner in public-sector. We look forward to building a strong and successful partnership with UKRI over the next three years.”

The contract will begin following standard mobilisation activity, with Aquaflow and UKRI working together to ensure a smooth transition into service delivery across all three sites.

Ipsum is a specialist engineering services provider delivering critical infrastructure services across the UK. The Group supports customers in both regulated and non‑regulated environments, helping to optimise asset performance and improve the security and resilience of essential networks. It uses its domain experience to partner with customers and build resilient networks for future generations. Its engineering heritage is integrated with its desire for a sustainable future. Guided by its key values of safety, service and specialist, it uses a data‑driven approach and technologically enhanced methodologies such as no‑dig and trenchless technologies to provide a quicker, greener and more cost‑efficient delivery of engineering, maintenance and repair services.

As part of UKRI, the Science and Technology Facilities Council supports research in astronomy, physics and space science, and operates world-class research facilities for the UK.

UKRI is the UK’s national funding agency, investing over £8 billion annually to support research and innovation across all academic disciplines and business sectors. It brings together seven research councils, Innovate UK, and Research England to foster collaboration, fund research projects, develop infrastructure, and promote economic growth onb behalf of the nation. It works across a wide range of fields, including biodiversity conservation, quantum computing, the creative industries and healthcare innovation. UKRI brings together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.