Gavin Kakoulli
Continuous Improvement Manager @Thames Water
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Continuous Improvement Manager @Thames Water
London, GB
I work in operations across complex wastewater infrastructure, focused on improving customer outcomes, raising standards, and building team capability. Most of my work is joining the dots between what’s expected on paper and what’s possible on site, then making it easier for managers to lead and teams to deliver.What i doOperational standards and risk controlI help shape and embed health and safety standards across Strategic Pumping and Trunk Sewer. The job is making technical requirements practical: clear expectations, simple routines, and training that supports safe, consistent delivery.Service improvements and cultureI drive changes that improve customer experience and how we work together internally. A recent example is rolling out a below-ground digital induction to improve readiness, strengthen compliance, and set the standard before work starts.Evidence-led improvementI use feedback from managers, teams and customers to tighten procedures, guidance and training materials so they reflect real conditions and real learning needs, not ideal scenarios.Smarter ways of workingI introduced drone inspections for below-ground assets to reduce physical risk and speed up inspections while improving quality. I hold a drone pilot qualification and led the work end-to-end, from concept to rollout.Building team capabilityI support clearer role expectations, training routes, and technical documentation, helping managers develop people and keep delivery consistent across the operation.Key capabilitiesOperational improvement in high-risk environments (wastewater)Health & safety standards and risk controls (NEBOSH)Water risk planningDrone piloting and inspection operationsDigital induction / competence supportProcedures, guidance and technical documentationCulture and performance improvement through frontline management
EDUCATION
Outreach Rescue
Module 3 - Water Rescue Technician Instructor
Outreach Rescue
Module 3 - Water Rescue Technician Instructor, Water Rescue
Outreach Rescue
Module Four - SFRBO - Power Boat for Rescue Response
Drager
Breathing Apparatus Instructor
Outreach Rescue
Water Rescue One Technician Instructor
Outreach Rescue
Water Rescue One Technician
Royal Yachting Association
Powerboat Level 2 Instructor
Outreach Rescue
Water Rescue Technician Instructor Skills
City and Guilds
L3 Education and Training
Mental Health UK
Mental Health First Aider
Drager
Breathing Apparatus Maintainer
NEBOSH
National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
SKILLS
ABOUT GAVIN KAKOULLI
Continuous Improvement Manager with 20+ years in water and wastewater. I sit in operations and focus on how work really gets done. I work closely with health & safety and learning teams, but my day job is improving performance on the front line.I work across operations, high-risk work, competence and performance. I engage managers, build simple tools, and turn standards into routines that hold up on site. clear, practical, and built to last.What I bring (Ops / CI with strong H&S interface)- Practical improvement in live operations, not theory- Strong working relationships across ops, H&S, learning, contractors and leaders- Clear comms: i run meetings that keep managers engaged and accountable- Simple tools and processes that get used, not filed- Calm, consistent approach in high-risk environmentsExamples of what I\'ve delivered- Built a performance dashboard used by 100 people (frontline managers to senior leaders), tracking inspections, observations, briefings and confirmation of understanding. it improved visibility, follow-up and ownership without chasing spreadsheets- Run regular engagement meetings for frontline managers to share critical updates, set priorities and check understanding. I also introduced a simple recognition scheme so the right actions and behaviours get noticed and repeated- Designed and implemented a permit assessment process that enables safe work in confined spaces by confirming the right asset-based protections are in place before entry. it improved consistency and raised the standard of decision-making on high-risk work- Developed confined space corporate learning outcomes aligned to National Occupational Standards (NOS), built from frontline training experience and used to improve competence and consistency across the company- Created GASES (Gaining Access into Sewers Education System), a digital induction used by internal and external people, covering hazards, risks and responsibilities before anyone goes below ground- Designed clear career pathways for below-ground technicians, giving people a visible route to progress and helping managers plan capability.I’m committed to the team and the results. the aim stays the same: improve how we work and how we look after people. I’m always keen to share what’s worked, learn from others, and keep raising the bar for safe, consistent operations.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.