Senior Management Team
KEITH SILCOCK - Managing Director
Keith has been a business owner and operator since 1979 and founded Water Direct in 1996. He has since focussed entirely on the development of this comprehensive alternative water supply and management service to create a nationwide ‘one call does it all’ facility.
From a background in building services and environmental engineering, including design, project management, installation and commissioning activities, he diversified his businesses into water treatment before focussing entirely on water supply. His vision and hands on approach in this market has driven and steered Water Direct to become a well respected support service within the UK Water Utility and commercial sectors. Keith’s past experience guides the company in being able to provide complete engineering solutions to any alternative water supply scenario. He oversees the running of the countries premier alternative and emergency water supplier, which delivers wholesome potable water in its fleet of dedicated drinking water tankers, on time, every time.
Keith represents Water Direct in the public arena, speaking and presenting at water and business continuity related conferences, seminars and workshops. He maintains direct dialogue with Water Industry Regulatory bodies to ensure that Water Direct activity provides best practice solutions within the regulatory frameworks.
NICOLA SILCOCK - Director Management Services
Nicola joined Water Direct early in 1997 to develop the systems and processes associated with management of quality assured bottled water as an emergency water supply. This included creating a water safety plan structure from ‘catchment to customer’ so that all water provided could be demonstrated to conform to the Public Water Supply Regulations at time of deployment.
Nicola developed and manages the entire Nationwide Bottled Water Bank structure of Water Direct dealing with multiple source production, logistics, diversified storage, quality assurance and monitoring, planned and emergency water deployment processes and client interface management. Bottled Water Bank members range from single pallet deposits for local Fire & Rescue teams through to 150+ pallet deposits for Major Water Undertakers. Much is also undertaken for end users who call us out of the blue, requiring quality assured bottled water in a hurry. Response times are typically within 4 hours, some have been less than 90 minutes.
Nicola has pioneered the specifications, methodology and accumulation of data relative to the quality expectations and results of bottled water held in long term storage. Research is on-going into pushing the boundaries in this critical resource, in parallel to planning for major and widespread incident escalations. She also oversees the wholesale bottled water side of our business, where clients can enjoy wholesale bottled water delivered directly to their site or event / festival.
GRAEME CLISSOLD - Finance Director
A Chartered Management Accountant with 20 years experience of operating at director level in the fields of property management, interim management and general management, for SME’s and PLC’s. Graeme has significant experience managing change and corporate restructuring, financial systems implementations, project management and logistics.
Graeme joined the Board of Water Direct in 2006 with a focus on financial and resource management. His responsibilities have included; ensuring that Water Direct operates efficiently and cost effectively and is resourced to fulfil all contractual commitments, primarily within the water utility sector. A lateral thinker, Graeme confers frequently with clients to create and sustain attractive and beneficial solutions, negotiating appropriate contract terms for required service response levels. When the chips are down, Graeme also oversees the activation and sustainment of Major Incident response services.
OLIVER SILCOCK - Operations Manager
Oliver joined Water Direct early in 2003 learning every aspect of the business from the ground up. His background in R&D and quality assurance in a high output production facility supports the diligence required in managing our drinking water resources. He is responsible for everything that moves and everything that doesn’t. His attention to detail and persistence ensures that everything he undertakes is carried through and completed correctly. He also oversees the management of the Water Direct Alternative Water Container Bank. This comprises all the emergency water supply assets, such as temporary water storage tanks, water tankers, water bowsers and other resources relative to vessel maintenance, delivery and operation and incorporates drinking water storage vessels approaching 2 million litres in total capacity.
Oliver’s responsibilities include ensuring that each water tanker, water bowser, water tank and ancillary equipment owned by us and held under our stewardship on behalf of water utility clients are maintained fit for purpose and prepared ready for immediate deployment. He developed our ‘Workflow’ asset management programme which has client log-in portals. The system includes logging and tracking so that a ‘passport’ exists for audit of every vessel and productive asset, recording maintenance, disinfection, sampling results, locations and usage. He also carries the mantle for Health & Safety, COSHH and Risk Assessments, Method Statements and operational Procedures.
He is our in-house and external trainer for procedures and EUSR-National Water Hygiene Scheme Certification and in his spare time is on the rota for Incident Manager,
supervising minor and major incident responses both from office base and in the field.
LAURA HENDERSON - Sales Manager
Laura came to Water Direct in January 2010 from a successful background in the construction industry. Her determination to provide every enquirer with a cost effective and satisfactory solution to their water supply needs has won Water Direct many new customers that keep coming back.
Laura is now driving our marketing campaigns for escalation of support with alternative water supply services to customers in construction, facilities management, finance, food production, outdoor events, health care and emergency services markets.
Laura is also on the rota for Incident Manager, supervising minor and major incident responses both from office base and in the field.
