A matchmaker scheme has helped SMEs secure around £19 million-worth of contracts on the West Cumbrian Sellafield site.
The scheme was created by Solomons Europe – a chartered quantity surveying practice headquartered in Newton‑le‑Willows.
It was designed to remove the long‑standing barriers that can prevent regional SMEs from accessing major, highly‑regulated infrastructure frameworks.
Now in its fifth year, it has become an integral part of how Sellafield engages with its supply chain through its £7 billion Programme and Project Partners (PPP) framework.
Matchmaker has engaged more than 100 SMEs, facilitated 40 joint heads of terms, and supported 16 framework awards.
Among the Cumbrian businesses to secure work through the initiative are RAF Engineering, Delkia and West Coast Thermal.
The concept was developed by Dominic Doig, managing director of Solomons Europe.
He said the original ambition was to showcase the often‑overlooked strength of the North West’s SME community.
He said: “The Matchmaker scheme began with a simple idea – to shine a light on the collective strength and quality of SMEs in Cumbria and across the wider North West.
“These are businesses that create jobs locally, invest in skills, take on apprentices and deliver social value that stays in the region.
“Seeing them succeed on a programme of Sellafield’s scale is hugely important for the long‑term resilience of our supply chain.”
It prioritises relationships, clarity and confidence – enabling Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners to better understand SME capability, while supporting SMEs to navigate demanding procurement processes and delivery expectations.
