Edinburgh-based Business Stream, a subsidiary of state-owned Scottish Water, said it has applied to regulator Ofwat for a supply licence to participate in England’s non-domestic water market when it opens up on April 3 next year.

Business Stream said it is one of the UK’s largest non-domestic suppliers of water and waste water retail services.

It said that from April 1, 2017, around 1.2 million businesses and public bodies in England will be able to choose their water supplier, an option only currently available to the largest users.

The Scottish market opened in April 2008.

Business Stream is the largest operator in the Scottish non-domestic water market.

The company’s most recent profit before tax was £38.3 million from revenue of £364.2 million.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, it has offices in Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham and employs around 270 staff.

Business Stream said it already has a number of customers based in England, including House of Fraser and Bernard Matthews.

Johanna Dow, chief executive of Business Stream said: “Business Stream aims to grow a sizeable foothold in England when the market opens in 2017 and we are exploring all options to help us achieve that.

“Building on our successes in England, we are already engaging with potential customers about the benefits they could realise by switching to Business Stream.

“The opening of the English water market is just one element of our business strategy.

“Business Stream remains the market leader and supplier of choice in Scotland and our existing customers will remain our key priority.

“To that end, we are continuing to invest in customer service improvements and offering value for money tailored services.”