Water is something many of us take for granted. We turn on the tap, we flush the toilet, we assume it will always be there—clean, accessible, and endless. But for one family, clean, accessible, affordable water has been more than just a necessity; it has been a lifelong mission. Born in 1937 in Yorkshire, an ambitious young engineer named Peter Wakefield, after leaving school, began his career at a power station, where he developed expertise in pumps and water systems. What started as an apprenticeship evolved into a deep-rooted passion for the water industry. After working his way through various companies, he found himself at a crossroads—facing redundancy and unsure of his next move. Sitting in a Bristol pub with a group of university students, an idea took shape: why not start his own business? With the encouragement and support of the students—who happened to be studying economics—Peter set up Europump Services Limited in the 1970’s, operating out of his garage while raising three young children. His wife, Patricia, took on the financial and administrative side of the business, making it a true family effort. From those humble beginnings, Europump grew into a major player in the water industry, providing essential services to water companies across the UK, including Wessex Water, Bristol Water, and Thames Water. Peter’s expertise in sewage and water treatment led him to work with international firms, including a Finnish company whose energy-efficient pump designs were ahead of their time. Long before sustainability became a corporate buzzword, Peter was already pushing for greener, affordable, and more efficient solutions. The company was eventually bought by a larger firm but Peter continued to consult on water projects all over the world. Peter travelled to Libya and Iraq, where he worked on large-scale water initiatives, including the Great Man-Made River Project under Colonel Gaddafi. His work helped supply water to thousands of farms in the desert—an unexpected but meaningful contribution to global water sustainability. But his passion wasn’t just professional. At home, Peter built intricate water collection and recycling systems for his garden and even found creative ways to boost water pressure at the family’s holiday property in Cornwall. In retirement, he couldn't leave the industry behind, launching a second venture focused on consultancy and exporting water solutions to developing nations. Peter’s influence extended far beyond his own career. His work ethic, problem-solving mindset, and commitment to sustainability inspired those around him. His wife continued to support charities like WaterAid , ensuring that the family’s legacy of giving back continued even after his passing. Now, that legacy lives on in a new way. His grandson, Tom Lee , has taken a different but equally impactful approach to sustainability—reducing electronic waste and promoting refurbished technology. Partnering with Greenspark , his company, Dedicated7 , is now directly contributing to water conservation efforts, providing clean water to communities in sub-Saharan Africa, planting sea kelp in Canada, and removing plastic waste from the ocean. The mission has evolved from water efficiency in industrial systems to tackling e-waste and sustainability on a global scale. But at its core, the values remain the same: reduce waste, save water, work efficiently, and leave the world better than you found it. As we face growing environmental challenges, stories like this of the Lee family remind us that change doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built over generations. Whether through water conservation, energy efficiency, or sustainable technology, the responsibility to protect our natural resources is something we can all carry forward. Join Our Mission Want to learn more about how technology and sustainability intersect? Explore how Dedicated7 is helping businesses reduce e-waste while giving back to the planet. Visit our website now or shop with us on ebay . For every order Dedicated7 process, we’ll plant sea kelp in Canada, provide days worth of water in Sub Saharan Africa and remove plastic bottles from the ocean.
In a world that’s increasingly reliant on technology, access to functional and reliable IT equipment has become essential—not just for businesses, but for education and charitable organisations as well. However, tight budgets often force these sectors to make tough decisions about where to allocate resources. One solution that is gaining traction is refurbished IT equipment. From laptops to servers, refurbished technology offers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative that can empower schools and nonprofits to focus on their missions rather than their bottom lines. Here's why we believe at Dedicated7 , refurbished IT deserves more attention, particularly in the education and charitable sectors:
In recent years, the technology industry has been firmly in the spotlight when it comes to sustainable credentials. Whether it’s technology vendors becoming greener, ethical recycling or investing in refurbished hardware, there are now an overwhelming number of areas in which IT professionals can make those all-important sustainable changes. But what is the real cost of it all and where should you start? Almost £5 billion of funding is available to help UK businesses become greener as part of the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Funding opportunities are being awarded to businesses investing in green technologies to increase energy efficiency or reduce carbon emissions. However, many UK business and public sector organisations limit their sustainable initiatives to Scope 1 & 2, with up and downstream value chain often being disregarded. So once you’ve made all your company cars electric, the lights automatically switch off when you leave the meeting room, or you’ve promised to plant a few trees, what can you do next?
Water is something many of us take for granted. We turn on the tap, we flush the toilet, we assume it will always be there—clean, accessible, and endless. But for one family, clean, accessible, affordable water has been more than just a necessity; it has been a lifelong mission. Born in 1937 in Yorkshire, an ambitious young engineer named Peter Wakefield, after leaving school, began his career at a power station, where he developed expertise in pumps and water systems. What started as an apprenticeship evolved into a deep-rooted passion for the water industry. After working his way through various companies, he found himself at a crossroads—facing redundancy and unsure of his next move. Sitting in a Bristol pub with a group of university students, an idea took shape: why not start his own business? With the encouragement and support of the students—who happened to be studying economics—Peter set up Europump Services Limited in the 1970’s, operating out of his garage while raising three young children. His wife, Patricia, took on the financial and administrative side of the business, making it a true family effort. From those humble beginnings, Europump grew into a major player in the water industry, providing essential services to water companies across the UK, including Wessex Water, Bristol Water, and Thames Water. Peter’s expertise in sewage and water treatment led him to work with international firms, including a Finnish company whose energy-efficient pump designs were ahead of their time. Long before sustainability became a corporate buzzword, Peter was already pushing for greener, affordable, and more efficient solutions. The company was eventually bought by a larger firm but Peter continued to consult on water projects all over the world. Peter travelled to Libya and Iraq, where he worked on large-scale water initiatives, including the Great Man-Made River Project under Colonel Gaddafi. His work helped supply water to thousands of farms in the desert—an unexpected but meaningful contribution to global water sustainability. But his passion wasn’t just professional. At home, Peter built intricate water collection and recycling systems for his garden and even found creative ways to boost water pressure at the family’s holiday property in Cornwall. In retirement, he couldn't leave the industry behind, launching a second venture focused on consultancy and exporting water solutions to developing nations. Peter’s influence extended far beyond his own career. His work ethic, problem-solving mindset, and commitment to sustainability inspired those around him. His wife continued to support charities like WaterAid , ensuring that the family’s legacy of giving back continued even after his passing. Now, that legacy lives on in a new way. His grandson, Tom Lee , has taken a different but equally impactful approach to sustainability—reducing electronic waste and promoting refurbished technology. Partnering with Greenspark , his company, Dedicated7 , is now directly contributing to water conservation efforts, providing clean water to communities in sub-Saharan Africa, planting sea kelp in Canada, and removing plastic waste from the ocean. The mission has evolved from water efficiency in industrial systems to tackling e-waste and sustainability on a global scale. But at its core, the values remain the same: reduce waste, save water, work efficiently, and leave the world better than you found it. As we face growing environmental challenges, stories like this of the Lee family remind us that change doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built over generations. Whether through water conservation, energy efficiency, or sustainable technology, the responsibility to protect our natural resources is something we can all carry forward. Join Our Mission Want to learn more about how technology and sustainability intersect? Explore how Dedicated7 is helping businesses reduce e-waste while giving back to the planet. Visit our website now or shop with us on ebay . For every order Dedicated7 process, we’ll plant sea kelp in Canada, provide days worth of water in Sub Saharan Africa and remove plastic bottles from the ocean.
In a world that’s increasingly reliant on technology, access to functional and reliable IT equipment has become essential—not just for businesses, but for education and charitable organisations as well. However, tight budgets often force these sectors to make tough decisions about where to allocate resources. One solution that is gaining traction is refurbished IT equipment. From laptops to servers, refurbished technology offers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative that can empower schools and nonprofits to focus on their missions rather than their bottom lines. Here's why we believe at Dedicated7 , refurbished IT deserves more attention, particularly in the education and charitable sectors:
In recent years, the technology industry has been firmly in the spotlight when it comes to sustainable credentials. Whether it’s technology vendors becoming greener, ethical recycling or investing in refurbished hardware, there are now an overwhelming number of areas in which IT professionals can make those all-important sustainable changes. But what is the real cost of it all and where should you start? Almost £5 billion of funding is available to help UK businesses become greener as part of the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Funding opportunities are being awarded to businesses investing in green technologies to increase energy efficiency or reduce carbon emissions. However, many UK business and public sector organisations limit their sustainable initiatives to Scope 1 & 2, with up and downstream value chain often being disregarded. So once you’ve made all your company cars electric, the lights automatically switch off when you leave the meeting room, or you’ve promised to plant a few trees, what can you do next?
