In every good organisation, you will find that people are the best asset you have. That is the belief of Alastair Tawn CMgr FCMI, head of integrated delivery services at Northumbrian Water Group. 

“No matter what you deal with, whether it’s physical assets or digital, you can’t do anything without your people.”

Alastair’s team is a wide and diverse mix of over 165 geographically dispersed people. He believes the most pivotal moments in his career have been those where his team has succeeded and overcome business challenges in a values-driven way. 

“I’m never going to focus on the ‘I’,” he says, noting that it feels out of his comfort zone to be named Chartered Manager of the Week. “The things that I’m most proud of in my career have been when my teams have achieved things, big and small. I’m a strong believer that it’s my role to enable my team to use their skills and creative thinking to achieve beyond their expectations.” 

• Chartered stories: “Never become complacent… always endeavour to learn”

Making a difference

Alastair initially trained as an engineer at Loughborough University, during which time he had a paper published in a journal. His career looked to be going down an academic route; he had a doctorate lined up. But when the funding fell through, he had to re-evaluate. He secured an agency job working for Northumbrian Water Group. “From there, I was delighted to secure a permanent position.”