An ambitious project to boost nuclear businesses across Copeland looks set to take a leap forward this week when the plans go before the borough council.

The Industrial Solutions Hub is the cornerstone of a new initiative involving the nuclear industry and the local authority, but is still in the very early stages.

Copeland council’s executive has been asked to back the next stage of the project – the procurement of support services to develop a business case and get the plans off the ground.

The council-led project will initially be funded by Sellafield Ltd and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, with cash of between £10,000 and £75,000 available to kickstart the idea.

The cash will allow council chiefs to go out to tender with their plans to develop a business advice to make the hub a success.

David Moore, executive portfolio holder for nuclear and corporate services, said the project would help Copeland harness its nuclear skills base as the decommissioning process winds down.

It is hoped the one stop shop for the industry will become a major exporter nuclear training, encourage entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and boost jobs locally.

The hub will also market the area’s skills and give the supply chain a shot in the arm as Copeland keeps an eye on the region’s post-decommissioning future.

He added: “We have all these great pieces of working going on within the nuclear industry and its partners, but they going on in isolation. The hub will allow for more joined-up thinking.

“We see ourselves as a centre of nuclear excellence and it’s great having all that technology.

“And over the years, Sellafield Ltd has assisted all over the world but we have never harnessed that talent.

"We have never been great at supporting that – and we have given away lots of things we should have been harnessing and selling.

“This is about selling our services and world-beating skills to create some wealth within Copeland.”

Under the plans, business owners with ideas will be able to receive advice and support from organisations affiliated to the project.

These will include nuclear bosses from the NDA, Sellafield, Britain’s Energy Coast as well as representatives from the council.