Cumbrian firms gain places on new Sellafield work programme

TWO west Cumbrian engineering businesses have secured a share of a potential £10m work package from Sellafield Ltd.

REACT Engineering, of Cleator Moor, and Westlakes Engineering, based in Moor Row, are among the firms to be awarded a place on the Enabling Innovation Framework – Technical Solution (EIF-TS) work programme.

Firms on the framework will provide Sellafield Ltd with the latest industry thinking on how to define problems that need to be solved to safely and cost-effectively decommission Europe’s most complex nuclear site.

This will help Sellafield Ltd design contracts to ensure it uses the private sector in an effective and cost efficient way.

As well as helping define the scope of work, firms on the framework will support Sellafield Ltd through delivery, ensuring the focus remains on smart, fit-for-purpose processes and methods.

Robert Astall, CORR commercial director for Sellafield Ltd, said: “This framework is firmly aligned to our strategic objectives, particularly in relation to securing a return on investment.

“This procurement was again designed to be attractive to the marketplace and encourage SME participation and I’m pleased that around 60 per cent of the successful companies fit that category.

“It’s also encouraging to see that Cumbrian companies are again able to prove that they’re capable of competing on a national and global stage.”

The success of the two west Cumbrian firms in securing the contracts may go some way to deflect criticism of Sellafield Ltd for not placing more work locally.

It was slammed by politicians last year for awarding two packaging contracts – potentially worth £100m in total – to engineering businesses in Stockton-on-Tees and Cambridgeshire.

Andy Hooper, managing director of Westlakes Engineering, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with the other businesses within the framework so that we can bring our collective experience and expertise to support Sellafield in its mission to clean up the site.”

Tim Fox, Director at REACT Engineering, added: “The EIF contract provides a great opportunity for smart and innovative SMEs to bring new ideas and ways of working to Sellafield to help reduce costs and accelerate hazard reduction.”

Other SMEs that will participate in the framework are North West Projects, Tenet Consultants and Quintessa.

The successful larger organisations are Atkins, Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear UK and TUV SUD Nuclear Technologies.