Northumbrian Water Group, which includes Essex & Suffolk Water, and O2 are working together to develop an app that will support employees’ physical, social and financial wellbeing.

After joining forces at the water company’s second Innovation Festival in July, the businesses are working with a number of start-up companies in O2’s network to create the app as part of an effort to create a happier, more productive workforce.

At the Festival, which took place in July at Newcastle Racecourse, the water company and O2 came together to look at ways to support employees to be happier, healthier and to safer at work, in a design sprint titled “Smiling, Happy, People Power”.

The new app combines elements of four prototypes created at the Innovation Festival and will put particular focus upon support for people coping with bereavement or the menopause.

Smiling, Happy People Power was one of 13 sprints at the Innovation Festival 2018.

Keep track of the app’s progress on the Innovation website www.innovationfestival.org and on Northumbrian Water’s social media channels (Facebook.com/northumbrianwater and Twitter.com/NorthumbrianH2O – #InnovationFestival18).