Caroline Gray-Mason’s mission to get North East water innovation in the global spotlight
Managing Director Caroline Gray-Mason reflects on a remarkable first year for Control Flow Technologies, taking a Sunderland-based business onto the international stage and raising the bar for women in water. For most of us, water is simple. Turn on the tap and it appears. For Caroline, that simplicity masks one of the biggest challenges facing our future. Using patented technology Control Flow is working with major water companies, councils and housing providers to reduce unnecessary water consumption, energy use and household bills.
And they’re just getting started.
Control Flow is one. How does that feel?
I’m incredibly proud!
When you’re building a business, you’re always looking forward, so our first birthday has given me a chance to look back on how far we’ve come.
We’re proudly North East based, but seeing something developed and driven by our team making an impact on the global stage is unbelievable, and slightly surreal.
For someone new to Control Flow, what do you do?
We help people use less water without asking them to live differently.
Our patented technology controls water flow in the background, despite fluctuations in mains pressure – reducing unnecessary consumption without compromising the user experience.
Using less hot water also means using less energy, lowering carbon emissions and household bills. We can deliver combined water and energy savings of up to £360 per year. Multiply that across thousands of homes and a simple intervention has an enormous impact.
What makes Control Flow different?
We look at the whole challenge. Water connects to housing, energy, carbon, affordability, infrastructure and economic growth.
The Government wants to build 1.5 million homes in England this Parliament, yet current water capacity could support only 420,000. Long-term infrastructure investment is vital, but we also need solutions that make a difference now. Control Flow has already helped unlock thousands of homes through water and nutrient neutrality solutions.
The bigger opportunity is making water something people care about and feel part of. Big change becomes possible when everyone can contribute.
Water is a global issue. Is international growth part of the ambition?
Absolutely. Water scarcity doesn’t recognise borders. Our roots are firmly in the North East, but our outlook has always been international. We’re building relationships across markets in Europe and India, where we’ve already seen our technology deliver amazing results.
The opportunity is enormous, but so is the responsibility. Water touches almost every major challenge we’re facing, yet it still doesn’t command the same conversation – that needs to change.
You’re a female MD in a male-dominated industry. Is bringing other women through important to you?
Massively. There are brilliant women coming through our senior leadership team and I want to give them the confidence, space and opportunity to grow.
I want more women to see there is a place for them in water, engineering, utilities and infrastructure – not just a place at the table, but an opportunity to lead the conversation.
To me, leadership is about creating an environment where other people can become brilliant.
So what does ‘thinking bigger’ look like for year two?
It means growing internationally, building new partnerships and continuing to prove that we can deliver commercial, environmental and social impact at the same time.
As we enter year two, we’re also excited to be working with Blue Moon Marketing to bring Control Flow’s story to new audiences and make water a much bigger part of the conversation. We can’t wait for what’s ahead.
Ultimately, this is about protecting something none of us can live without. And that feels like a pretty good reason to think bigger.
For media enquiries, interview requests or opportunities involving Caroline Gray-Mason or Control Flow Technologies, please contact Blue Moon Marketing:
hello@bluemoon-marketing.co.uk