As we approach the wetter months, the property flood resilience (PFR) industry is entering what is always one of its busiest periods.
With the Met Office having issued warnings for rain and thunderstorms at the end of August, and the new list of named storms for 2026/27 now published, flooding and preparedness will once again move higher up the public agenda as wetter weather returns.
This year, that seasonal activity coincides with growing momentum across the PFR industry and increasing recognition that improving the nation’s resilience will require collaboration across different industries and professions.
This is increasingly reflected here at IPFRA, as organisations from outside the traditional PFR supply chain are continuing to take a more active interest in the role they can play.
We are pleased to confirm that Severn Trent Water has become an official IPFRA Supporter, joining Flood Re, Aviva, the ABI and Admiral. As the first UK water company to join IPFRA’s network of Supporters, its involvement represents a significant development and further strengthens cross-sector collaboration in the wider management of water and flood risk.
Their involvement can help connect property-level measures with broader work around drainage, infrastructure, catchment management and community resilience. It also creates opportunities to share knowledge and build a better understanding of how different interventions can work together – a key aspect of what IPFRA is all about.
Severn Trent’s involvement is accompanied by further growth across IPFRA’s membership in recent weeks. Happy Energy Solutions Ltd has also joined as an Affiliate Member. The organisation specialises in delivering funded home energy-efficiency and retrofit programmes, working with local authorities, social housing providers and energy companies to make homes warmer, healthier and more efficient.
We are also delighted to welcome Andel as a new Associate Member - with more than 30 years’ experience, the company works across environmental solutions including leak detection, sustainable water management, drainage and flood resilience. Its work includes property-level flood measures, real-time water-level monitoring and early-warning technology.
The importance of these relationships lies not simply in the number of organisations involved, but in the range of experience they bring. Manufacturers, installers and surveyors remain central to the delivery of PFR, however, water companies, insurers, local authorities, housing and retrofit specialists, technology providers, community organisations and property professionals all influence whether people understand their risk, take appropriate action and remain prepared once measures have been installed.
This breadth of involvement is key to strengthening our work. It enables us to connect PFR with the wider decisions being made about homes, infrastructure, water management and community preparedness, while drawing on different perspectives to share learning and encourage good practice.
Ultimately, our aim is to help move PFR further into the mainstream so that it is considered as part of a joined-up approach to managing flood risk rather than in isolation or only after flooding has occurred.
With IPFRA’s network continuing to grow - and organisations from a widening range of industries joining the conversation - we have a real opportunity to build on this momentum.
By working together, we can turn greater awareness into practical action and help ensure that flood preparedness, resilience and recovery remain priorities throughout the year.
To learn more about IPFRA membership, contact Shelley Evans, Chair of IPFRA’s Member, Media and Communications sub-committee, who will be happy to answer any questions regarding membership and supporter participation: secretariat@ipfra.org.
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Meet the members
Shelley Evans, Chair of IPFRA’s Member, Media and Communications Sub-Committee, interviews IPFRA’s latest Member and Supporter organisations - Andel, Happy Energy Solutions Ltd and Severn Trent Water - about their priorities and the role of PFR within the wider resilience landscape.
Shelley: “What is your current focus for 2026/27?”
Mark Harris, commercial director of Andel: “For 2026/27, Andel is focused on making flood resilience more accessible, practical and effective. We’re continuing to develop our PFR solutions, strengthen relationships across the flood industry and raise awareness of the importance of acting before flooding happens. Ultimately, we want to help build more resilient properties, businesses and communities.”
Christian Jones, Community Flood Manager at Severn Trent Water: “As climate change increases the frequency and severity of flooding, our focus is on helping communities become more resilient before, during and after flood events. We're investing in flood mitigation, strengthening partnerships across the sector, and empowering customers with the knowledge and support they need to prepare for future challenges. We believe water companies have a critical role to play in leading the resilience agenda and driving practical action on the ground.”
Adrian Wright, founder & CEO of Happy Energy Solutions Ltd: “Whilst the majority of our work remains the installation of grant funded home energy saving measures and renewable energy upgrades, we are shifting our focus back to working in partnership with local authorities, to help deliver upgrade works to the ‘able-to-pay’ market, our first new contract launch being with Surrey County Council, which will include flood resilience works, alongside renewable energy upgrades.”
Shelley: “Why is being part of IPFRA important to you?”
Mark Harris: “Flood resilience works best when the industry works together. Being part of IPFRA allows Andel to share knowledge, learn from others and contribute to raising standards across the PFR sector. It’s also about building trust – giving customers confidence that the solutions protecting their properties are appropriate, reliable and backed by genuine expertise.”
Christian Jones: “Flood resilience cannot be delivered by any one organisation alone. By becoming the first water company to support IPFRA, we're signalling our commitment to greater collaboration across the flood sector. IPFRA brings together expertise from across industry, government and academia, creating opportunities to share learning, champion innovation and accelerate the adoption of solutions that make a real difference to communities at risk.”
Adrian Wright: “Despite working to help fight the good fight against Climate Change, flood resilience is a relatively new market for us and we recognise the importance of working with organisations such as the IPFRA, who we can turn to for advice and to help point us in the right direction when it comes to training, or even trusted companies that we can work alongside, both for products and installation.”
Shelley: “How does PFR fit into the wider flood risk and climate resilience landscape?”
Mark Harris: “We can’t prevent every flood, but we can be much better prepared for them. PFR is a vital part of that picture, complementing larger flood defence and drainage infrastructure at property level. As flood risk evolves, resilience must increasingly focus on limiting damage, reducing disruption and helping homes, businesses and communities recover faster.”
Christian Jones: “Property Flood Resilience is no longer a niche intervention; it is a fundamental part of adapting to a changing climate. While investment in drainage infrastructure, catchment management and nature-based solutions remains essential, we must also accept that some flooding will still occur. PFR helps bridge that gap by reducing impacts on homes, businesses and communities, enabling people to recover more quickly and build long-term resilience. The future of flood risk management lies in combining these approaches, not choosing between them.”
Adrian Wright: “It will be key for property owners to consider how their properties might be affected by the new extreme weather we are experiencing, whether it be flash floods or severe overheating in the summer. As we will already be in the home undertaking significant retrofit works, we will be able to educate people on the risks that their homes are facing and which they may not even be aware of, so that they can consider whether to install additional measures to mitigate these risks before the damage is done.”