Hundreds of delegates gathered for an event which saw SMEs meet with industry leaders to discuss how a £4.6 billion programme of work will be delivered over the next 15 years.
The Decommissioning Nuclear Waste Partnership Supply Chain Engagement event saw dozens of SMEs meet with DNWP partners, Sellafield leaders, and the wider supply chain.
The full-day event at Energus, at Lillyhall, near Workington, gave suppliers early visibility of upcoming opportunities in the decommissioning process.
They had direct access to buyers, project teams and decision-makers, and were given a clear understanding of how work will flow.
The event was organised by Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) in collaboration with the BECBC Nuclear Sector Group.
Gary McKeating, managing director of iSH, said: “I’m really pleased with how the day went.
“We worked with Sellafield and the DNWP partner companies to produce a really intensive programme to engage our local supply chain.
“The DNWP opportunities are significant, and through the various seminars, engagement activities and networking opportunities, SMEs are now better equipped to capitalise on them.
“The SMEs I spoke to made some strong connections, and felt they had been given direct access to the right people and a clearer understanding of what’s required to put themselves in the best possible position to deliver.
“iSH acts as a conduit to the supply chain – linking companies with challenges to those that can provide solutions.”
Sellafield and DNWP partners set out what will be required, and how the supply chain can position for upcoming work by promoting their products, capabilities and services.
Decommissioning work will include two legacy nuclear storage ponds that retain significant radiological materials and hazards, as well as nuclear fuel handling facilities and the UK’s oldest nuclear reactor complexes.
Ashley Cowan, head of decommissioning at Sellafield Ltd, told delegates that not all the problems inherent in the decommissioning process have solutions at this stage, saying: “This is an opportunity to shape the solutions. You are critical to Sellafield’s success.”
Engineering and technology company Amentum is one of Sellafield’s Tier Two organisations, which are managing various parts of the decommissioning process.
Amentum operations director Heather Moore said: “This has been a really important event for us. We’ve seen some really good presentations from the SMEs. Today has given us the opportunity to meet the supply chain that’s going to be helping us deliver for the next 15 years.”
Simon Martin, head of DDP & DNWP at Sellafield, said: “This supply chain event has given our Tier Two suppliers a chance to speak directly to SMEs.
“It has brought people together as a community to understand the direction of travel, the size of the opportunity that’s out there, and the resource demand that we’re going to need over the coming years.”
More than 40 suppliers had stands at the event, which attracted more than 300 delegates and also included SME Spotlight Sessions. These 10-minute presentation slots saw SMEs showcasing their capabilities directly to DNWP partners, buyers and project teams.
