Project Reveals £90 Million Cost of 2007 Floods

Project Reveals £90 Million Cost of 2007 Floods

Master's student Lili Fu from Warwick Business School, working with Warwickshire County Council, has compiled a report which shows the real financial costs of the 2007 floods in Warwickshire.

The pioneering 12-week project assessed the impacts of a changing climate and extreme weather events (these include heavy rain, strong winds, heat waves and snow and ice) on the delivery of public services.

The report revealed that weather has a major impact on many of Warwickshire County Council's services.

24 year old LiLi who is from Shen Zhen in China began her MSc in Operational Research last September and will go on to work for an investment bank when she returns later this year. "Investment is about risk and reward and this project certainly highlighted the risks that unpredictable weather can throw up." LiLi said. "I was surprised that the figure was so high but there were a lot of agencies involved and many households were severely affected."

LiLi explained that the great value of this project to her was the way it improved her communication skills; she stressed that this was most important for anyone who wants to go on to take up a consulting role. She strongly urges future students to make the most of the opportunities that these projects present, adding. "Whatever your chosen career path after you have completed your study, working closely with local councils can provide a rich and diverse range of experience which is an experience that should not be missed."

More detail of the report can be found on our Features pages.