Despite the non-domestic water market being opened last year, only one per cent of small businesses in the East of England have switched supplier, research has found.
Since April 2017 firms no longer have to buy their water services from a regional company but a survey by YouGov and SES Business Water found only one in 100 local businesses had made a change. This was despite only 36% saying they had not switched because they were happy with their supplier.
The study also found only 35% of small firms in the East were switching their providers of other services, such as energy and stationery.
Max Langford, SES Busness Water commercial director, said more needed to be done to ensure small firms new about the open water market.
He said: 'Small businesses in the East of England are far more likely to switch stationery or energy supplier than their water supplier, even though switching water could reduce their costs.'
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