From five trees to a movement: the people behind Veolia Orchard

It started with a simple idea: five fruit trees make an orchard. Four years later, Veolia Orchard has delivered thousands of trees and strawberry plants across the country.

In this episode, host Beth Krucien talks with Millie Brooke, Lead External Engagement Officer, and Brent municipal colleagues Ritika Joshi, Administration Team Leader, and Paul Bond, Operations Manager. They share how the programme started, how it works on the ground and what it means for local communities.

Together, they discuss:

• How school feedback reshaped what gets planted and who can take part
• The logistical challenge of caring for saplings on busy operational sites
• The experience of watching pupils plant their first fruit trees
• How connecting young people with nature helps them understand where food comes from

Apply for free fruit trees and plants
If you work with a local school, college or community group, you can apply to receive free fruit trees and plants before applications close on 20 November 2026.

To check eligible areas and submit an application, visit veolia.co.uk/veolia-orchard.

Every time we stream, search or scroll, data centres are working in the background to keep everything connected. But what it takes to power them and the energy centres behind them is something most of us never see.

In this episode of Our People Podcast, Beth Krucien speaks with Brian Curtis, General Manager at Veolia Energy Services Ireland, from Veolia’s new energy centre in Clondalkin, outside Dublin.

Brian explains how the site generates and supplies power to data centres, what makes the process so efficient, and why this work is critical in a world that never stops using data. He also shares the story of the people behind the site, from experienced Veolia colleagues to new team members learning and growing in a fast-moving sector.

Listen now to hear how Veolia Ireland is helping lead the way in keeping the energy centres that fuel data centres running.

When a critical pump fails at a customer's busiest site just days before Christmas - and the people who need to fix it are all on annual leave - what happens next?

In this episode of Our People Podcast from Veolia, we head north of the border to hear a brilliant story of remote collaboration, calm decision-making and trusted teamwork under real pressure.

Stewart McKenzie, Business Development Lead for Building Energy Services North, takes the call while driving south on holiday. Ryan McGuinness, Pump Centre Supervisor at Hatton Waste Water Treatment Works, is also off.

The customer? A drinks manufacturer facing a complete production shutdown in their peak week. The clock is ticking.

What follows is a masterclass in how great teams operate when it matters most - coordinating across distance, communicating clearly under pressure, and backing each other to get the job done. From workshop to van to site, with a few unexpected technical challenges thrown in along the way.

Stewart and Ryan also reflect on what this moment meant for the wider customer relationship - and why working with customers, not just for them, opens doors.