Member Article

Two new hires for InTouch Ltd to drive new growth

Technology communications business InTouch Ltd has recruited two senior members of staff to support its growth, as it rolls out its innovative SmartWater Internet of Things (IoT) software for highways.

In March 2018, Joe Burns and Abbie Statham were both appointed to join the technology and software SME to oversee the roll-out of its new managed service, SmartWater, after a four-year period of rigorous research and development. SmartWater provides a risk-based approach to gully asset management using predictive modelling of gully performance and real time reporting of network performance.

Joe fills the newly-created position of development director and has a strong background in infrastructure asset management. His role is to develop and drive the growth of SmartWater as it is rolled out to highways authorities across the UK and internationally, with a target of taking turnover from £2m to £10m.

Joe is a director and a non-executive director with broad experience in highways and transportation sector in public sector client, contractor, consultant and service roles. He is also an active member of the Council of the World Road Association.

John Walden, managing director at InTouch Ltd, said: “We’re incredibly happy to welcome Joe and Abbie to our team - they’ve already become valuable assets to our operations. They are both highly experienced in the highways industry, and share our business values, so we know they are the perfect fit to drive forward our ambitious growth plans and enhance delivery of the product and service solutions for our customers.”

Abbie also joined InTouch Ltd at the same time as business development and customer relationship manager, and will work closely with Joe. She has a background working in business development for Tarmac and the asphalt industry. Abbie’s new role means she will focus on working with new customers and partners for the SmartWater business..

SmartWater is an innovative managed service solution for gully cleansing management and flood prevention, which uses the IoT self-learning algorithms and specialist sensor technology.

Having undergone trials with several councils and highways authorities, the product is currently being rolled out across further areas in the UK and internationally.

The UK has more than 14 million gullies, 80% of which are clean and running when inspected. Highways authorities are responsible for keeping gullies clean and free from silt, and traditionally this is done on a cyclical manual check, or in response to a member of the public reporting flooding or blockages.

SmartWater revolutionises this process and introduces risk-based evidence for the maintenance and improvement of the gully asset. The software and communications system means that routine cleansing visits no longer need to be carried out because a combination of prediction software and strategically positioned sensors will inform authorities when a gully needs attention, before it is blocked or silted up. 

SmartWater can typically save 30% of the cleansing budgets year-on-year and in time can be self-funding. In the Smart City demonstration project in Bristol it achieved savings of 50% and reduced problem gullies from 25% to 11%.

The research and development of SmartWater has been undertaken in partnership with DfT, Innovate UK and the University of Lancaster. 

John Walden founded the business 34 years ago, and InTouch Ltd now has 20 employees, based in Morecombe, Lancashire. InTouch Ltd is an innovation catalyst for customers and partners, developing robust, high quality intelligent solutions connecting people, assets and information.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Carolyn Hughes .