How to enter
Winning entries will be selected following the assessment process outlined below. The two-stage entry process aims to ensure that entrants can develop proposals that have the greatest chance of being awarded funding.
We have worked to ensure the entry process is as efficient and practical as possible, allowing for easy access for all water companies, particularly smaller ones.
Information you provide in your entry at Stage 1 and Stage 2 may be shared with our partners (including the judges and any due diligence providers) to administer Breakthrough 6. For more information on how we use your data, please see the privacy policy and the terms and conditions.
The steps of the entry process, detailed below, are:
A. Stage 1 – Screening entry period
B. Eligibility screen
C. Stage 1 assessment, including Stage 1 live Q&A
D. Stage 1 Feedback
E. Stage 2 – Full entry period
F. Stage 2 Assessment
G. Judging, including live Q&A
H. Ofwat Decision
I. Award
J. Stage 2 Feedback
A. Stage 1 – Screening entry period
Stage 1 opened for entries on 8 September 2025 at 12 noon (BST) and closes on 29 September 2025 at 12 noon (BST).
Changes to the entry form
Based on feedback from the previous round, we have updated the entry form to improve entrant experience and improve the gathering of information about entries to aid assessors and judges in their decision making. The main changes to the entry form are detailed below.
Terminology change: Going forward entries will need to demonstrate how they benefit ‘customers, communities and the environment’ (a change from ‘customers, society and the environment’)
Updates to entry questions and criteria
Entry form guidance has been updated and the flow of the questions has been strengthened based on feedback from previous rounds, to enable smoother completion of the form.
Unassessed Questions
Further guidance has been included on responsibilities of the main contact to ensure that the right person is chosen for this role.
Columns have been added to the partner contacts template to gather information on whether partners count as a Small and Medium Sized Enterprise, and whether they are a UK Incorporated Entity. Guidance has been added to the entry form to support this. This data is for reporting use only and has no bearing on the assessment of the entry.
Assessed Questions
You can now upload pitch decks separately from the main submission, and the guidance on providing visuals has been made clearer.
Assessed Criteria
Criterion 1: A new question 1.2.2 has been added about the intended outputs of the entry (see definitions below). The strategic themes have been removed, and the associated criterion has been eliminated. Due to these changes, the word counts for this criterion have increased at Stage 1 (+250), and Stage 2 (+350).
Criterion 2: A new sub-criterion (2.2) now focuses on how the lead entrant and their partners plan to develop and implement the innovation, separate from its wider adoption in the water sector. Because of this and some other minor changes to questions, the word count has increased at Stage 2 by 50 words.
Criterion 3: The guidance for 3.1 has been updated to clarify what is being assessed, with additional guidance about this included in this handbook under the section Senior sponsorship of the entry and innovation. A question around plans for dissemination has been moved from 3.2 into 2.3. A word count has now been added to question 3.5.1 for Stage 2. As a result of these changes and some other minor changes to questions in this criterion, the word count has decreased slightly for Stage 2 by 50 words.
Criteria Weighting
Although the above changes have not resulted in a change to the weighting across the main criteria 1, 2 and 3. there are changes to the weighting of some of the sub-criteria. Please review the criteria weighting carefully when completing your entry.
Inputs, Outputs, Outcomes and Impacts
This round, the entry form makes more mention of these, and their definitions are as follows:
- Inputs The resources required to achieve the project objectives (this includes programme, expenditure and costs, risks, including any approvals and consents required, and project partners).
- Outputs The direct result of the activity, e.g. technological progress, or increased knowledge (this includes lessons learnt and any changes in approach)
- Outcomes The changes or benefits that result, generally to the direct beneficiaries of the project e.g. benefits to the environment resulting from the innovation (these are different for each project and will be based on the SMART outcomes included in the original entry)
- Impact The final, wider changes that result from the programme (these are different for each project and will be based on the impacts included in the original entry)
Water cycle tags
Water Cycle Tags refer to specific parts of the water cycle. These have been updated in this round and you can see more information about them in this diagram:
We set out the questions that should be answered, along with guidance on completing the entry process in the Transform Stream Entrant Handbook (Key Materials).
All entries to Stage 1 must have been submitted by 29 September 2026 at 12 noon (BST) using the Transform online entry form available via the website. The lead entrant must submit this form.
The entry form for both stages is available as a Word document (Entry drafting form) along with the entry template (budget) as an Excel document via the website to help you develop and collaborate on your answers before completing the online form.
If entrants wish to work on more than one draft on the online entry platform during the entry period, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Before submitting your entry, please ensure that:
- You and your partners have read and understood the Challenge terms and conditions and privacy policy, including the Ofwat privacy policy.
- You have followed good procurement principles, performed your due diligence on your partners and accepted any risk and liability from going ahead with them.
- You and your entry partners have set out in your entry how a 10% minimum financial contribution will be provided for (at least 10% of total entry financial costs will be funded from sources other than the Fund). The detail of which partners are contributing to the 10% is asked at Stage 2.
B. Eligibility screening
Entrants must meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Who can be involved section above.
When entries close, an eligibility screen will be conducted to ensure entries meet all the eligibility criteria.
C. Stage 1 assessment
During stage 1, all eligible entries will be assessed by assessors against each of the following three assessment criteria categories:
- Positive impact for water customers, communities, and the environment.
- Innovation enablers and innovative solutions.
- Capacity, capability, and commitment to deliver.
Scoring will be between 1 and 5 (5 being the highest). These scores are then weighted. The assessed entry questions, assessment criteria and weighting are set out in the Transform Stream Entrant Handbook which can be found in the key materials.
Live Q&A sessions for Stage 1
Entrants will be invited to a live Q&A session with assessors to take place after the Stage 1 entry period has closed. This will allow assessors to ask specific questions about the entry and seek clarifications on aspects of the written submission in order to inform decisions.
Every eligible entry will be booked for a Q&A session as soon as the Stage 1 entry period closes. Sessions will be held between late October and mid-November. The sessions will be held online, with assessors remaining anonymous, and interaction led by a Facilitator from the Breakthrough 6 delivery team.
There is no cap on the number of project members that attend the Q&A session, but each entry will need to choose a team captain. Team captains will field each question and may choose to delegate the response to another member of the project team.
Questions will be targeted (answerable live, no multi-part questions) and will be asked live and not shared with teams in advance. Follow up questions may be asked for further clarification. No additional materials will be allowed to supplement answers during the session, other than those submitted with the written entry (per question 0.4 on entry visuals and diagrams).
Full details and instructions for Stage 1 Q&A sessions will be provided after the Stage 1 submission date.
A moderation meeting will be held to discuss and recommend entries for stage 2. This moderation meeting will ensure that all assessors’ opinions have been captured and that a consistent view on the merits of each entry is provided.
Whilst scoring will form part of this process, in making its decision on whether to put forward an entry to stage 2, Ofwat will also consider the opinions of the assessors and will seek to ensure a diverse portfolio of entries in terms of entry themes, types, entrants and geographic location. Entrants should note that there is no guarantee of funding even if the entry reaches stage 2.
D. Stage 1 feedback
Feedback will be provided to the lead entrant for all entries.
For those invited to Stage 2, entries will receive up to three bullet points from assessors by 5 December to support them in developing their Stage 2 entry. For those entries not invited to Stage 2, we will provide high-level information about why the entry was unsuccessful.
Due to the streamlined Stage 1 entry form, feedback provided at the end of this stage will be high-level, and timing will depend on the number of entries received. We aim to deliver this to unsuccessful entrants no later than mid-January 2026.
In exceptional circumstances, unsuccessful entrants may wish to consider entering the Catalyst Stream of Breakthrough 6. For more information, please refer to Appendix 2 of the Transform Stream Entrant Handbook which can be found in the key materials. Please note, this does not represent a recommendation from us to unsuccessful entrants in stage 1 of the Transform Stream to enter the Catalyst Stream. Entering the Catalyst Stream will not in any way guarantee that your entry will be successful in winning funding. All entries to the Catalyst Stream are subject to the same entry process, terms and conditions, and assessment.
E. Stage 2 – Full entry period
We will open Stage 2 to invited entries on 24 November 2025 at 12 noon (GMT) and close for entries on 14 January 2026 at 12 noon (GMT).
We set out the questions that should be answered, together with guidance on how to complete the questions, in the Transform Stream Entrant Handbook (Key Materials).
All entries must have been submitted by 14 January 2026 at 12 noon (GMT) using the Transform online entry form available via the website. At Stage 2, we will be looking for a complete, evidenced and referenced narrative, as well as the completion of our entry template and a pitch recording. Entrants can update their Stage 1 entry form and will be asked to book a pitch recording session. The entry form for both stages is available as a Word document (Entry drafting form) along with the entry template (budget) as an Excel document via the website to help you develop and collaborate on your answers before completing the online form.
Pitch recordings
At Stage 2, entrants are required to book a slot to record a 5-minute pitch video. The purpose of the pitch recording is to provide a video explainer to help assessors and judges quickly understand your entry.
Pitches should outline:
- The problem the entry aims to address and what benefits it will have for customers, communities and/or the environment if successful (around 25% of the pitch)
- What about the entry is innovative (around 25% of the pitch)
- What entrants intend to do within their entry, focusing on activities that will be undertaken (around 50% of the pitch)
Please note that the booking window is from 24 November to 23 December 2025. Slots are available from 26 November 2025 to 13 January 2026. Please book a slot via Calendly.
To promote equity, diversity and inclusion and reduce any potential bias in the entry process, we will continue to exclude speaker videos in pitch recordings for Breakthrough 6. Entrants are asked to present slides or other visuals whilst talking.
F. Stage 2 Assessment
The stage 2 process will consist of a more detailed assessment of entries against each of the three assessment criteria categories:
- Positive impact for water customers, communities, and the environment.
- Innovation enablers and innovative solutions.
- Capacity, capability, and commitment to deliver.
Assessors will review and score answers to all assessed stage 1 and stage 2 entry questions against set assessment criteria. Scoring will be between 1 and 5 (5 being the highest). These scores are then weighted. The stage 2 assessed entry questions, assessment criteria and weighting are set out in the Transform Stream Entrant Handbook which can be found in the key materials.
A moderation meeting will be held to ensure that all opinions from the assessors are captured and a consistent view on the merits of each entry is provided. Whilst scoring will form part of this process, Ofwat will consider the assessors’ opinions and will also seek to ensure that a diverse portfolio of shortlisted entries, in terms of entry themes, types, entrants and geographic location, is put forward to the judges.
Drinking Water Inspectorate involvement
Entries that align with the Water Cycle tags Water Abstraction, storage, Clean water Treatment, or Water network (as selected by entrants in the entry form) may be referred to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) for additional review. Entries that do not select these categories but still relate to drinking water may be flagged by assessors for DWI review. DWI’s views may in turn be provided to judges and Ofwat to aid their decision-making. All funding decisions will be made in accordance with the published assessment criteria.
Further information on the Water Cycle can be found under ‘More information and support for your entry’ in the Catalyst Stream Entrant Handbook (Key Materials).
Environment Agency involvement
Building on the work we have done with the DWI in Breakthrough 5, entries in Breakthrough 6 may be passed to the Environment Agency for review. This is to allow the Fund to make informed funding decisions and ensuring policy coherence. The Environment Agency’s views may in turn be provided to judges and Ofwat to aid their decision-making. All funding decisions will be made in accordance with the published assessment criteria.
G. Judging
An independent panel of judges will review the shortlisted entries put forward through the Stage 2 assessment. The judging panel will review the entries individually, scoring the entries using the same criteria as the Stage 2 assessors. The judging panel will then convene to discuss entries and recommend to Ofwat which entries they agree best meet the assessment criteria and offer a diverse portfolio for funding.
Breakthrough 6 will continue to offer the opportunity of a live Q&A session for the entrants to respond to judges’ questions as part of the entry process. Please note entrants will not be required to pitch to the judges. Questions will not be provided to entry teams in advance to enable a more dynamic conversation.
Judges will ask questions relating to shortlisted entries during the judging days between 9 am and 5.30 pm (GMT) on 24, 25 or 26 March 2026. Q&A slots will be allocated to shortlisted entries no later than 11 March 2026, but where possible, we will endeavour to provide as much notice as possible.
If teams are not able to attend the live Q&A, they should notify the delivery partners at [email protected] as soon as possible, for a chance to answer the judges’ questions in writing. No other opportunities for questions and answers will be provided, with the exception of clarifying conflicting entry answers.
H. Ofwat Decision
Ofwat will make the final decision on which entries should receive funding. In making its decision, Ofwat will consider the views of assessors and judges on which entries best meet the assessment criteria and offer a diverse portfolio for funding.
Ofwat intends to publish this decision and its reasons for awarding funding. Ofwat will take account of entrants’ preferences regarding the confidentiality of their entries.
I. Award
Entries should expect to be notified if they have been awarded funding by late April 2026.
Winner’s Agreement
When notified, successful entries will receive a copy of their draft winner’s agreement. This winner’s agreement will be based on the standard template available via the website. Please note that this template is only provided for information purposes and may be subject to changes. Winning teams must sign these agreements no later than 5 pm (GMT) on 15 May 2026 to be paid by late June 2025.
A winners’ onboarding event will be held online on 9 June 2026, 1-3 pm (GMT).
Further information and a joining link will be shared with winning entries in the weeks ahead of the event.
J. Stage 2 feedback
After winners have been announced, feedback will be provided to the lead entrants who did not win funding at stage 2, outlining why their entry was unsuccessful.
Feedback will be provided on each entry, in line with the assessment criteria and, where relevant, provide guidance on areas of improvement. The feedback will not include scores provided by the assessors and the judging panel. As mentioned above, scoring forms only a part of the overall assessment process.
Feedback will not be provided to winning entries.