Advocacy

Improving the bigger picture.

Solving a problem for one client is valuable. Helping improve how problems are understood and managed across an industry can have an even greater impact.

Alongside my consultancy work, I contribute to policy discussions, professional bodies and industry initiatives focused on flooding, resilience and the built environment, with the aim of helping raise standards and share practical lessons from real-world experience.

Policy and industry

Raising standards across the sector

Much of my advocacy sits where engineering meets policy: contributing evidence, sitting on the right panels and helping shape schemes that make homes and communities more resilient.

Founding member of IPFRA, the International Property Flood Resilience Association;
Member of the DEFRA Property Flood Resilience Roundtable;
Presented Flood Re's Build Back Better scheme at Parliament in 2022, the first scheme of its kind in the world;
Contributed evidence to a government review of small-business procurement, taken into Downing Street;
Attended the 2025 launch of the Bonfield FloodReady Review;
Co-authored Cranfield University research on the effectiveness of flood action groups.

Future engineers and entrepreneurs

As a teenager I never imagined that a flooded family home would eventually lead to a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. Because of that experience, I believe strongly in helping others discover the opportunities available to them.

I was an Arkwright Engineering Scholar and now volunteer as an ambassador and interviewer, helping identify and support future engineering talent.

I also support initiatives including Tomorrow's Engineers and regularly return to schools, universities and industry events to speak about engineering, entrepreneurship, resilience and leadership.

Alongside engineering, I have spent much of my career encouraging entrepreneurship. After being named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2016, I later returned as a judge and supporter of the awards. I also served as a judge for the StartUp Awards, helping recognise and encourage new business founders across the UK.

Engineering opens far more doors than most people realise. If I can help someone discover that for themselves, I consider that time well spent.

Community and resilience

Flooding is ultimately about people.

While much of my work takes place through consultancy and engineering projects, I have also supported local communities and flood action groups over the years, particularly where practical knowledge and experience can help make a difference.

I continue to support the Woodborough Flood Action Group and have worked alongside local representatives on long-term flood resilience initiatives for the area.

I have also supported community resilience projects around the country, provided voluntary assistance during flood events and contributed to awareness campaigns aimed at helping people better understand and prepare for flood risk.

Speaking up

Student loans: speaking up early

In 2016, as a recent graduate and part of the first generation of students to pay £9,000 annual tuition fees, I publicly raised concerns about the interest being charged on Plan 2 student loans and how well the financial implications had been understood by those taking them out.

I wrote an open letter to my MP after receiving a statement showing that more than £1,800 of interest had been added to my student loan in a single year. The letter went viral, being shared tens of thousands of times and attracting national attention from outlets including BBC News (opens in new tab) and The Guardian (opens in new tab).

At the heart of my concern was something fairly simple: young people were taking on a significant and long-term financial commitment, but many did not appear to fully understand how interest could affect what they owed. I felt the implications deserved greater scrutiny and a much more open public conversation.

A decade later, the issue has moved firmly into the mainstream. In 2026, more than 120 MPs and peers from across the political spectrum called for an “urgent review” of the student loan repayment system, with their open letter describing the current arrangements as placing an “unsustainable burden on the next generation of workers”. Read the BBC coverage (opens in new tab).

The wider scrutiny has gone further still. A 2026 Treasury Committee inquiry examined the fairness of the student loan system after receiving more than 52,000 survey responses, while the government has acknowledged significant concerns around Plan 2 interest rates.

For me, speaking up is not about claiming to have every answer. It is about being prepared to question something when it does not look right, examine the evidence and raise the issue, even when the prevailing view is that the system is working as intended.

That principle continues to guide much of my work today, whether in engineering, business, policy or public life.

In pictures

Advocacy in pictures.

From Parliament and Downing Street to the Chelsea Flower Show, flood-hit communities, industry launches and Pride, a look at the policy and public work.

Simon Crowther at the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden — **Stockholm Junior Water Prize, 2010**Receiving a diploma from Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Simon Crowther giving the 2025 graduation address at the University of Nottingham — **2025 graduation address**Returning to the University of Nottingham to address engineering graduates.

Simon Crowther judging the Great British Entrepreneur Awards — **Great British Entrepreneur Awards**Returning as a judge, having won Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016.

Simon Crowther at the IPFRA launch — **IPFRA launch**A founder member of the International Property Flood Resilience Association.

Simon Crowther with Professor Hannah Cloke OBE at the Flood Re Build Back Better launch — **Build Back Better launch**With Professor Hannah Cloke OBE at the Flood Re Build Back Better launch.

Simon Crowther with Flood Re at the House of Commons — **Flood Re at Westminster**With Flood Re at the House of Commons.

Simon Crowther with a flood model at the House of Commons for Flood Re — **Flood Re at Westminster**Presenting a flood model at the House of Commons for Flood Re.

Simon Crowther at the Bricks and Water event in the House of Commons — **Bricks and Water**At the Bricks and Water event in the House of Commons.

Simon Crowther at the House of Commons — **House of Commons**Contributing to debate on flooding and resilience at Westminster.

Simon Crowther outside the Houses of Parliament — **Westminster**Outside the Houses of Parliament.

Simon Crowther at 10 Downing Street — **10 Downing Street**Taking small-business and flood-resilience evidence into Downing Street.

Simon Crowther at 10 Downing Street with Ben Towers MBE — **10 Downing Street**At Number 10 with Ben Towers MBE.

Simon Crowther at the BeFloodReady launch with Minister Emma Hardy — **BeFloodReady launch**At the launch, with Minister Emma Hardy.

Simon Crowther as a Non-Executive Director of the UK Flood Partnership in 2019 — **UK Flood Partnership**In 2019 as a Non-Executive Director, now part of the UK Water Partnership.

Simon Crowther meeting Martin Traynor OBE — **Small-business advocacy**Meeting Small Business Crown Representative Martin Traynor OBE.

Simon Crowther at the Small Business 100 reception in the House of Commons — **Small Business 100**At the reception in the House of Commons.

Simon Crowther with Alison Shadrack at the Small Business 100 reception — **Small Business 100**With Alison Shadrack, as Flood Protection Solutions was named a top 100 business.

Simon Crowther with Ben Towers MBE and Oli Barrett at IDEAS Fest — **IDEAS Fest**With Ben Towers MBE and Oli Barrett.

Simon Crowther at a launch celebrating LGBT-led businesses — **LGBT-led business**At a launch celebrating LGBT-led businesses, where FPS was featured.

Simon Crowther marching with Happl at Pride in London — **Pride in London**Marching with Happl.

Simon Crowther marching with CIWEM at Pride in London — **Pride in London**Marching with CIWEM.

Simon Crowther speaking during Pride month at K&L Gates — **Pride month**Speaking during Pride month at K&L Gates.

Simon Crowther with Mary Dhonau OBE at the Flood Re garden at the Chelsea Flower Show — **Chelsea Flower Show**With Mary Dhonau OBE at the Flood Re garden.

Simon Crowther supporting Flood Re at the Chelsea Flower Show — **Chelsea Flower Show**Supporting Flood Re.

Simon Crowther at the Flood Re Contain the Rain garden at the Chelsea Flower Show — **Contain the Rain**At Flood Re's Contain the Rain garden, Chelsea Flower Show.

Simon Crowther with Mary Dhonau OBE at the Floodmobile in Westminster — **The Floodmobile**With Mary Dhonau OBE in Westminster.

Simon Crowther on the Floodmobile holding a puddle pump — **The Floodmobile**On board with a puddle pump.

Simon Crowther with Mary Dhonau OBE at Botcherby Community Centre — **Community resilience**With Mary Dhonau OBE, donating a puddle pump to Botcherby Community Centre.

Simon Crowther with the Woodborough Flood Group and Michael Payne MP at Westminster — **Woodborough Flood Group**With the group and Michael Payne MP at Westminster.

Simon Crowther with Michael Payne MP following flooding in Nottingham — **After the flood**With Michael Payne MP following flooding in Nottingham.

Simon Crowther carrying a pump through flood water — **On the ground**Carrying a pump through flood water during a response.

Simon Crowther deploying a puddle pump — **In the field**Deploying a puddle pump on site.

**Giving back**The FPS team planting trees.

Simon Crowther at an industry event — **Industry events**Keeping close to the people shaping flooding and resilience policy.

Get in touch

Work with Simon, or invite him to speak.

Most of my time is spent running businesses, supporting clients and solving engineering problems. However, where interests and opportunities align, I am always happy to explore how I can contribute.

Contact Simon