How two week's fly when you are having fun. I haven't much news and gossip this week as I haven't been out and about, but, as always, I hope you will find it an enjoyable read and you will get some useful information and entertainment from it.

Sellafield

I have to say all seems quiet on the Sellafield front. The supply chain involved with DDP have their heads down busily writing and the rest of the supply chain are waiting at the door for work like a dog begging at a plate at dinner time. Let's hope when Easter is out of the way and the election is over the work will once again begin to flow through the supply chain.

There was a press release out this week from Sellafied who say that there has been a major step forward on the site with the very first radioactive sludge being removed from FGMSP.

Head of the FGMSP Martin Leafe said "We're making history at Sellafield by transferring the first sludge using a tried and tested pump to a new £240 million state-of-the-art sludge storage plant containing three enormous stainless steel buffer storage vessels, each of which is the same volume as seven double decker buses,"

The vessels were brought to the Sellafield in separate sections and then welded together before being carefully slid into the reinforced concrete building. The welding of each vessel involved over 2000 metres of weld run, which was done 99% right first time. All welds were then radiographed to ensure the required integrity and that there will be no leaks.

NDA

I read an interesting article on the NDA website regarding SME spend. The NDA estate has measured that over 21% of their spend is with SMEs. In monetary terms this is over £330 million out of £1.7 billion annual supply chain spend. I think this is quite an achievement although I would be really interested to see how this is broken down and whether it also includes contractors. The NDA and SLC's have introduced a number of measures to make things easier the supply chain and particularly SMEs. The measures include:

mandatory 30-day prompt payment requirement for all contractors and sub-contractors, introduced in 2013 the establishment of a national steering group for SMEs, supported by regional groups, to discuss and address issues facing smaller suppliers use of the government's single electronic portal for contract opportunities launch of a mentoring scheme, last year, to enable smaller businesses to learn from the experience of business leaders simplified contract requirements to make contracting for NDA and SLCs less onerous an annual supply chain event, now the largest of its kind in Europe, which is free of charge to delegates and exhibitors

Being lucky enough to be an SME working with an SLC we find the whole process seamless and have only had positive experiences regarding engagement, negotiation and payment.

Nuclear college to be built in West Cumbria

It was great news to hear that a new multi-million pound National College for Nuclear will be built at Lilyhall in Workington. The college will train people in apprenticeships and qualifications for the nuclear industry. Work is likely to start in the next couple of years and it is said that it will be built near Lakes College. Led by Sellafield and EDF Energy and supported by Lakes College, the facilities will include a reactor simulator and engineering facilities. There will also be another nuclear excellence college built at Hinkley point in Somerset.

I think this is great for the area and what with the new UTC and Gen2 there is no reason for our young talent to need to leave Cumbria to ensure a good education and a long and prosperous career.

NuGen

NuGen had another three press releases out this week.

First was about the hosting visitors from the Embassy of Japan. The embassy officials met with representatives from Copeland Council before having a tour of Moorside.

A NuGen Spokesman said: "We are delighted to have been able to show our guests from the Japanese Embassy the progress we're making on the site investigations work, and to outline our plans to build three AP1000® reactors with a combined capacity of 3.4GW - enough to power six million homes."

The second press release was based on the National Nuclear College decision which they were fully backing with a spokesman saying: "A skilled workforce is fundamental to the success of the Moorside Project and the National College for Nuclear will be pivotal in meeting the future skills requirements of the nuclear industry, and help establish West Cumbria as the Centre of Nuclear Excellence."

And their final press release was regarding the Chief Executive making a keynote speech at this years UK Nuclear Skills Awards in Manchester.

The evening, which celebrates the achievements of young apprentices entering the nuclear industry, and acknowledges the professionalism of industry trainers and HR departments in encouraging them, drew an audience of more than 450 industry employers, training providers, and leaders.

Supply Chain

So this time Amec Foster Wheeler had contractors striking. There was a news article that stated that more than 40 Sellafield contractors will begin a ban on weekend working in a dispute over pay. The 43 workers, employed by Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear, voted to take industrial action after company supervisors were awarded a £1.75 an hour pay increase, while the rest of the workforce were given a pay freeze. The landslide vote in favour of industrial action, taken by members of construction union UCATT, saw 92 per cent vote in favour out of an 88 per cent turnout.

Createc

I was absolutely delighted to see in the Telegraph a mention of Createc's N-Visage cameras.

There fantastic technology is being used in Fukushima. The N-Visage cameras have been mounted on remote-controlled drones and caterpillar-tracked robots that can navigate the insides of the three reactor buildings that suffered melt-downs after the earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima in 2011. Coupled with unique software, the £200,000 system is able to create a real-time, three-dimensional image of the area being surveyed and identify hot-spots of radioactivity. Createc has permitted Japanese nuclear engineers to undertake a virtual walk through the plant and has mapped areas with the very highest concentrations of radiation, which will in the future enable engineers to shield and isolate such hot spots.

Well done guys this is a huge achievement!

Events

Nuclear opportunities focus for BECBC conference

Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) is planning to focus on the huge opportunities being created by investments in the nuclear sector at its conference in October 2015.  n-eboc15 (Nuclear Energy Business Opportunities Conference 2015) will take place on 13 and 14 October 2015 at Energus near Workington and aims to bring together global nuclear players with potential partners in the Cumbrian supply chain.

A Steering Group is currently putting together a programme that will reflect the diversity and the scale of the business opportunities being created by some of the biggest investments in the UK.

Ivan Baldwin of Bendalls Engineering and leading the n-eboc15 Steering Group says: "Cumbria is about to have the third largest infrastructure spend in the UK and the largest nuclear investment in the country over the next ten years too.  Those investments are bound to create tremendous opportunities and n-eboc15 is all about putting global nuclear organisations and the best of the nuclear supply chain companies in touch with each other to make the most of them.  We know from past comments that some of the world's biggest nuclear-related companies are surprised by the expertise, facilities and experience here in Cumbria so n-eboc15 is all about positioning the local and wider supply chain, demonstrating its potential and making stronger business connections for the future."

The conference programme will cover four key areas of nuclear investment: research and development in the sector; new generation capacity and investment; developments in defence and deterrent; and opportunities in decommissioning and waste.

"We're hoping that each of these strands will attract a key partner," says Emma-Jayne Gooch, of NuExec Consulting, a BECBC Board member and part of the Steering Group, "and then we can work with them to pull together a detailed programme of expert speakers and briefings as well as an exhibition that shows off the best of the nuclear supply chain and its potential for partnerships.  We've already had plenty of interest in involvement and sponsorship and we are working with the Centre of Nuclear Excellence (CoNE) partners to make sure that n-eboc15 will feature industry-first announcements, as well as focusing on the very latest investment news relating to both local developments and nuclear projects elsewhere."

n-eboc15 organisers have already announced their key note speaker as Lord Andrew Mawson, a crossbench member of the House of Lords and a renowned social entrepreneur, who will be speaking  on the first day of n-eboc15.  Lord Mawson is a non-executive director of the Olympic Park Legacy Company and Chairman of Water City CIC. He brings a wealth of experience of how business investments and opportunities can also be turned into long-term benefits for the communities that surround them and it is that aspect of the Olympic legacy and that n-eboc15 organisers hope will be a draw for delegates.

"Lord Mawson will bring an additional perspective to the event that should challenge everyone involved in the nuclear sector," says Ivan.  "We're structuring the event to be as accessible as possible to every scale of business, from the smallest SME and local microbusiness to the biggest players in the nuclear sector, national and international.  We're also working with the CoNE team to make sure that we reinforce and support each other to help local businesses.  n-eboc15 promises to be the key event of the Autumn and every business that gets involved will be improving its opportunities for success from the nuclear and infrastructure investments that are heading our way."

As well as the Centre of Nuclear Excellence connection, the event is also being run in collaboration with Nuclear Science Week (USA) and the Nuclear Industry Association (NiA).

Further details of the Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster and n-eboc15 sponsorship packages and other details are online at www.becbusinesscluster.co.uk or from the administrator of BECBC via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also follow n-eboc15 developments via Linked In (BECBC Group) and on Twitter via @neboc15.

Schools

As you will remember if you read my blog last time. I am currently working with Arlecdon School who would really benefit with some support on projects they are trying to deliver at the school. Being a small school they only get minimum funding in an area that is classed as an area of deprivation. Following are the projects they need help with:

Site Maintenance – Updating the junior end of the school through general maintenance, decoration and furniture.

Books for Boys and Reluctant Readers – Investment needed in some books for the school. (NuExec have already donated some)

Tablets – With a real desire to modernise the school if they could get funds from a business for some tablets this would be of real benefit to the school.

Science – With all the focus on STEM subjects they would like to see a wide variety of resources and facilities in school to spark children's interest in the subject. They would like to encourage companies to get involved with the school not only for funding but for inspiring the children in these key areas. Anything from lab coats to experiment equipment to giving some time would be much appreciated.

I have also been asked if I would mention St Bees School. Anyone living in Cumbria will have heard that the 400-year-old private school is due to close due to declining pupil numbers and school finances. There is a campaign to save the school and they have already raised £1.8m in a couple of weeks, but they are still calling for donations. I have to be honest I really struggle with this one. I have to admit it would be an awful shame to see St Bees School close and to lose the history and income to the village. However when I am dealing with a school where teachers are having to buy books out of their own money for a council run school, how can I justify encouraging people to donate to a school where only privileged kids, whose parents can afford the fees, are sent to. A private education is a privilege for those who can afford it and they can raise £1.8 Million in 2 weeks and we have state run schools struggling with hardly any funding. It seems very unfair and elitist to me. I know my comments will cause controversy as I know a number or my readers and friends have their children at St Bees, but, as with all I blog about, I have to give my true and honest feelings.

NuExec Consulting

Things are quite difficult in the NuExec Camp at the minute. Due to my injury I am having to work from home so I am missing the banter that I would normally have with Lisa. The positive is with us being in different offices it means we are getting a great deal more work done. We are currently working with some fantastic candidates and clients. So if you find yourself looking for a new opportunity or if your business is looking to recruit, please do get in touch.

It Could Only Happen to Me

So following on from my last blog I went to see the back specialist who advised me I have a large sequestrated disc prolapse pressing on the S1 nerve root. As a result I am currently waiting for emergency back surgery. Due to the pain and the medication I am having to take to get through the day, I am currently working from home. After 2 weeks of being stuck at home I had had enough and I needed to get some fresh air. So much to the amusement of my so called friends I hired a wheelchair from Age Concern for the weekend. (Alright you can stop laughing now – remember I am a good 15 years younger than a lot of you!) So as if the fact I was having to have a wheelchair wasn't mortifying enough, where I had to hire it from didn't lift my already bad mood. Stefan and the kids made the smart choice, what with the girls having the weekend with their Dad and him going on a Rally in Scotland. So I called my parents who agreed to take me shopping in Workington in my wheelchair. The Saturday came and we headed to Workington. Mum got out the wheelchair and I climbed in with my crutches tight in my hand. We started on our way and my Dad decided that every time there was someone in a wheelchair I should put my hand up to them. You know like campervan drivers do to each other. He found it hilarious to keep poking me and saying "Go on Em say hi to your friend." Thankfully as I had brought my crutches along with me I was able to whack him with them. The first stop was Boots, and to add fuel to the fire of which my friends and family were finding hilarious, I had to buy some fibre gel as all my medication makes things a bit hard. My Mother kindly pointed out that I was like a stereo typical old person in my chair buying fibre gel. – Yeah thanks Mum.  We then had to go to another shop which was across the road. My Mother, who classes herself as a pro at pushing wheelchairs, proceeded to tell me that she didn't need a drop kerb as she could easily get me down it. She proceeded to pull the chair right back until my head was skimming the pavement and bumped me down the kerb right into the path of an oncoming car. "It's alright" my Mum said "they will stop for a wheelchair" and she proceeded to push me across the road. "It's alright for you" I said "You pushed me in front of the car and you stay safe. They would hit me first." Laughing we entered the shop. Now it was time for a bit of payback to my Dad. So I told him as we were unable to hold the basket he would be our "basket bitch" and every time he wondered away (which he does regularly) I would shout "Oi Bitch where's my basket." I have to say I think my highlight of the day was when my Mother actually turned round and called him Bitch. So we moved on to another large shop and Mum was pushing me around as Dad wondered off. As we approached him my Mother parked me right behind him and my Dad proceeded to bend, aim and fire! Now he said he did it with his mouth but I swear I felt the breeze on my cheek. I said to my Mum that I couldn't believe she was involved in such a conspiracy in allowing him to do such a thing to me, but she insisted she parked me there "by accident." As you can imagine after all that fun I was ready to go home and suddenly being stuck at home unable to go out doesn't seem so bad!

Until next time.....

Happy Friday! I hope you have all had an enjoyable Easter and have made the most of the long break we had last weekend. It makes a change for us to have glorious weather during the school holidays and I am sure some of you have taken leave and have enjoyed the weather. It is funny how a sunny day and blue sky seems to make everything so much better.

The same as my last blog, I am still working from home so haven't had much interaction with the world to pick up on much gossip. I have my operation through for the 27th of this month and I think the nerve blockers are beginning to do the job, so next week I am going to attempt a couple of trips into the office, to at least try to get some normality into my life before I am laid flat for six weeks.

Anyhow enough of all that and on with the blog:

Sellafield

So I was really, really disappointed to hear that the 3 metre Cube box contract has been awarded outside of Cumbria. Obviously, as they are on stand still, I will not say who has won it, but I am absolutely gutted for the fantastic companies we have locally who could have done a grand job. Also, although not local per say, there is an absolutely fantastic steel manufacturing company who is an SME who would have been perfect to do this contract. I know for a fact they would have opened further facilities locally as they have been speaking about it for a while. I am genuinely gutted for these guys. However, I hope the companies that have won will perhaps look to the local supply chain to pull on their expertise for this contract. I would expect Sellafield to encourage them to do this.

Bright Stars

I was delighted to see on the Sellafield website and in the local press a piece about the Bright Stars project that has been running. Arlecdon Primary won a top prize for the money they raised for Hospice at Home. The project run by Sellafield saw pupils organise a fashion show, creating their own clothes and asking people and companies to donate clothes for them to up-cycle. From an initial investment of £50 the young entrepreneurs raised a staggering £781 for their chosen charity, Cumbria Hospice at Home and earned the 'Best Effort' judges' award of £250 for the school, with support from their business mentor Sellafield Ltd and the Centre for Leadership Performance who organised the competition.

I was delighted by this because my youngest Caity was the compare for the fashion show. She did a fantastic job and I was really proud of her and all of the kids worked together to put on a fantastic fashion show and auction. Bearing in mind Arlecdon is only a really small school and there are only about 15 kids max in year 3 and 4, they did a great job.

Wendy Figes, Executive head teacher, Arlecdon Primary School said: "This was the first year that we have been involved with the Bright Stars challenge and we will definitely do so again. The support we received from both the Centre for Leadership Performance but most of all Sellafield Ltd has been excellent.

"The children developed their skills and expertise over the preparation period. They worked together as a team, playing to their strengths and working to key deadlines. The fashion show event itself, was a real highlight. Our local community was very generous and we are thrilled to be able to donate to Hospice at Home, this was the charity the children themselves choose.

"With the winnings from the competition we have decided to give this back to the community and would like to put it towards the purchase of a defibrillator machine. We know that if someone in our local community has a heart attack or similar issue, at the moment, it is several miles to the nearest machine and may take a long time for an ambulance to arrive. If we are able to generate the necessary funds to purchase a machine for school, we may be able to save a life one day."

I think this was such a generous gesture by Arlecdon School especially when they have many projects within the school that they are trying to raise funds for to make it a better learning environment for the children. I as a parent would like to say well done Sellafield for giving the children such an opportunity to shine!

NDA

As you are probably aware the NDA have had a contract out for Project Controls and Programme Management. Although I don't think it is official yet I have heard through the grapevine that the winners are Deloitte and AECOM. I believe also that Prima Uno are involved in the contract too, which is fab to see a local SME getting involved. I do find it a bit puzzling though that they would appoint AECOM (URS) to look at where projects have failed on Sellafield when they were involved with the projects?

BECBC

I was gutted to miss the annual AGM of BECBC but obviously with my back injury I had no choice. But I did pick up on an interesting article on In Cumbria regarding the meeting.

"Cumbria is on the cusp of its "most important decade" but businesses must seize the opportunities on offer.

That was the message from Sean Balmer, chairman of Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC), addressing its annual general meeting.

He told the 130-strong audience: "Last year I said we were well-placed to take advantage of investments in the energy sector and infrastructure, and I still think that is the case.

"But I'd have hoped the pace of change would have been greater. I think we are now looking at possibly our most important decade ahead."

Alluding to nuclear new build at Sellafield, and other major projects such as expansion at BAE Systems in Barrow, he added: "The scale of proposed investment is huge.

"It is down to us, the businesses and organisations already here, to ensure that these investments have the most positive impact and greatest legacy for the area."

Mr Balmer reflected on another solid year for BECBC, which now has 240 member companies.

Treasurer, Alison Johnston emphasised the not-for-profit nature of the organisation and said it was the board's intention to invest in activities and events programme for 2015.

Sean presented honorary life memberships to Derek Jenkinson, of Jenkinson Partnership, and Penny Lees, of Total PR, both founder members involved throughout BECBC's ten-year life.

Mr Jenkinson said: "A lot has changed since BECBC was established in 2004.

"BECBC is playing a vital role in advocacy for member businesses, supply chain communications and the creation of successful partnerships, all aimed at creating prosperity for west Cumbria."

The guest speakers were Neil Baldwin, former managing director of Magnox and former chairman of the National Skills Academy Nuclear, and Robert Astall, commercial director of Sellafield Ltd.

Mr Baldwin compared the relatively dark days of 10 to 15 years ago with the nuclear industry of today.

He said: "There is now a new-build programme as well as investment in extending the life of older reactors.

"The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has been successful in ensuring funding for effective decommissioning and the nuclear sector is once more attractive to the best of our young engineers."

Mr Astall focused on Sellafield's site strategy, especially procurement and interactions with small and medium-sized businesses.

He said: "Smaller players in our supply chain are vital if we're to bring in fresh ideas, flexible approaches and learn from developments elsewhere and in other sectors."

I have to say was delighted to see Derek Jenkinson and Penny Lees receive honorary life membership. Both are founder members of the cluster and they have done so much for the members over the past 10 years that it was only right that they be rewarded and thanked for this.

N-eboc

I mentioned n-eboc in my last blog. Well you will be pleased to know that sponsorship is now open from as little as £50 to give all companies no matter their size an opportunity to get involved. I am so excited about this event as it is the first nuclear event that is offering real opportunities and information on how to access them. It really is a not to miss event.

To date confirmed sponsors include:

• National Nuclear Laboratory (Event Partner)
• Innovus (Spotlight on Innovation)
• Armitage Online Limited
• Bendalls Engineering
• Britain's Energy Coast
• Burnetts Solicitors
• Deltawaite Limited
• Jacobs UK Ltd
• NIS Ltd
• PacTec EPS

and confirmed exhibitors include:

Armitage Online, Assystem, Dodd & Co Chartered Accountants, Gen2, ITS, L Home International Ltd, Kier, Morson Projects, Parkgate & Co Ltd

This is in just a few days so you are going to have to be quick. If you are interested in getting involved send me a quick email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will get the information over to you. You never know I may be able to negotiate a blog reader discount! ;-)

LLWR

I received from the lovely Liz Bowe an update of procurement opportunities from LLWR so I thought I would share them with you:

LLWR from Jonathan Evans Head of Commercial LLW Repository Ltd

New procurement plan will be available on the LLWR website in April 2015. It will cover all future contract opportunities over £50k. In addition, LLWR will soon begin advertising lower value procurements using Contracts Finder – the Government's opportunity portal.

Key Procurement Plan highlights for 2015/16:

• Road Transport Services – this is for road transport of Low Level Waste - Currently in Evaluation stage with Contract Award in April 2015
• Radiological Support Services– Shared Services Alliance Collaborative OJEU Framework for Health Physics Services / Dosimetry (etc.) will be announced soon and will be led by Magnox. Market Engagement / Industry days to follow. Steve Watson is the supply Chain Manager Magnox contact. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Fleet Maintenance Services – this will be a 4 year OJEU Contract to maintain LLWR's fork lift truck fleet - Industry Day planned for Quarter 1 of 2015/15
• Ecological Support Services – this will be a 4 year OJEU Contract  to provide support to LLWR's Repository Development Programme – Industry day to be held in 2015
• Packaging Supply Services – this will be a 4 or 5 year multi-lot framework for the development and manufacture of the full range of packages that support LLWR's waste services (Package Design / ISO Containers / Drums / Soft Sided Packages) – will begin in April 2015
• Metallic Waste Treatment Services – the strategy for future treatment of metallic low level waste is being developed but will lead to procurement activity getting underway in May 2015 – there will be an Industry day

Geological Disposal Facility

I was delighted to hear that Secretary of State now grants planning permission on GDF instead of local authorities. Unfortunately not everyone is as happy as me.

Apparently the Government used a procedure on the last day of parliament to vote through a change which means a repository is classed as a "nationally significant infrastructure project", putting it in the same category as nuclear new build at Sellafield. – I have to say I do agree with that. It should come under the same category, this of course means the decision to grant planning permission will lie with the Secretary of State, rather than with local authorities. Whilst I think this is fantastic news and am very keen to see the GDF come to Cumbria to give our children some fantastic opportunities in being involved with a world class engineered facility, the old fart Eddie Martin doesn't agree with me. (Remind me how old he is again and what actual impact this will have on him?) After retiring from the County Council he is now chairman of Cumbria Trust - an anti-nuclear dump pressure group, and he described the move as "sneaky" and a "shameless erosion of public democracy." But as he is against the GDF he would say that. I stand by my thoughts and fingers crossed it will come to Cumbria.

Magnox

I have mentioned this previously but just an update that now the UK's Magnox Limited and Research Sites Restoration Limited (RSRL) have merged to form a single organization operating as Magnox Limited. The combined business will be responsible for 12 nuclear sites. Obviously as you will know this will be managed by Cavendish Fluor Partnership

New Build

Hinkley Point C

I have read a couple of articles over the last couple of weeks regarding EDF Energy stopping site preparation work at Hinkley Point C until a definite decision is made on the plant's £16bn funding.

EDF are to have said: "The next phase of work on site and in the associated developments will require a substantial increase in spending levels, and will begin as soon as the final investment decision has been made."

Around 400 workers are believed to be working on the site.

A final decision on funding was due last month but has been delayed again.

A Laing O'Rourke/Bouygues consortium is lined-up for the main construction contract while Bam Nuttall and Kier have been working on the £100m earthworks contract.

In October 2013, chancellor George Osborne agreed talks could begin with two state-owned Chinese companies, China General Nuclear Corporation and China National Nuclear Corporation.

If those talks are successful the Chinese investors could end up with a 30% stake in the nuclear build.

Talks are also continuing with a third investor, Areva, which may secure up to 10% ownership.

EDF has said it will also have up to 15% stake of the company open for interested investors.

NuGen

NuGen has announced its intention to establish an information centre and exhibition space at Whitehaven Civic Hall.

The information centre will play a key role in the forthcoming public consultation around NuGen's proposed Moorside Project – and will be the company's second location in the area along with its long-established office at Westlakes Science Park.

NuGen's public consultation will focus on local people having their say on early proposals to build three AP1000® reactors to the north and west of the Sellafield complex.

The Moorside Information Centre, which will be opened in time for the launch of the 10-week public consultation in mid-May, will include a staffed, continuous exhibition where visitors will be able to access information about the Moorside Project, ask questions and register their comments.

Sandy Rupprecht, NuGen's Chief Executive, said: "It has long been our commitment to have a presence in Whitehaven town centre, in order to engage with the local community about our proposals, and help them to have their say."

"The Moorside Information Centre will be a visible fixture in the town and somewhere our stakeholders can come and find out more about Moorside, and speak to a NuGen team member about the project."

Elaine Woodburn, Leader of Copeland Borough Council said: "It is great news that we're now able to let more space in 'the Civic' – and, importantly, bring in more income from the building. The location is a great one for NuGen and, for the community. It will be an accessible place for them to become involved in the consultation around nuclear new-build."

David Moore, Opposition Leader for Copeland Borough Council said: "It is excellent to see the Civic Hall being utilised and generating an income for the Borough again. The building lends itself to NuGen's plans for an information and exhibition space, and having NuGen staff in the town centre will mean another welcome boost for Whitehaven businesses. We've already seen traders take advantage of increased foot fall from Albion Square workers and we hope it will continue."

Further details about the Information Centre will be outlined in NuGen's 'Statement of Community Consultation' (SoCC), which is currently out for review with the local authorities, and is due to be made public later in April.

NuGen has also announced the launch of its consultation website – and is urging Cumbrians to "Have Your Say". The first consultation newsletter has been posted to the website, and other key documents will follow, including NuGen's full consultation document and associated information. The public can register now at www.nugenconsultation.com.

Full details of some 20 Moorside public consultation events, taking place in locations across Cumbria, will also be announced in due course.

Supply Chain

Prima Uno the specialist Project Controls, Risk and Forensic Planning, Consultancy has announced that Harry Strong has joined the Board of Directors of the West Cumbrian based team. He will take up the role of Strategic Business Director with a primary goal of driving towards the Company's medium and long term growth targets.

Harry was first introduced to Sarah through the NDA's SME Mentor Scheme and they have been working together for almost a year developing the basic building blocks of a stretching two year business plan. Sarah sees the NDA's SME Mentoring Scheme as hugely successful and would encourage any emerging SMEs that are seeking to work across the NDA Estate to enrol now for the second intake of the scheme.

Bill Sanderson completes the three person management team, and together they feel that they possess all the capabilities needed to provide project controls and programme management support to a range of Clients in all business sectors.

Since Prima Uno was established in 2012, its main aim has been to grow the business into a nationally respected specialist consultancy.  Alongside this ambition Managing Director Sarah Purdham also wanted to set up a 'Centre of Excellence', enabling more people in West Cumbria to become nationally respected Project Control specialists.

Well done Sarah that is absolutely fabulous news and you should be really proud of what you have achieved over the past few years.

NuExec Consulting

It's been a relatively quiet couple of weeks for NuExec which is probably due to a few factors including financial year end, Easter holidays and the up and coming budget. We are currently working with some really fabulous candidates so if you are looking for any Exceptional Individuals to join your business please do get in touch.

Soapbox

Do you ever sit back and think 'am I the only one that feels like this?' Do you wonder if it's only you that just can't switch off your emotions in business? Do you ever wonder how people can work unethically and just not seem to care?

This week I am really questioning myself and the fact that I care, not just a little bit, but I really care. I care so much that when a company I really like doesn't win a bid I have to fight back the tears. I feel I want to stand up and fight a fight that isn't mine to be involved with. And when a candidate is let down it hurts even more, as it isn't just business, its people's lives.

So here's the thing. Lisa and I set up NuExec because we wanted to do things differently. We wanted to run a business based on our ethics and beliefs. We didn't like the way agencies we had previously worked with conducted business. We hated the whole sending CV's without even speaking to the candidates or building relationships. We hated the way candidates were encouraged to work contract, without a care that this was putting the candidates livelihood at risk. The way they would put people in a short term contract without telling them it was short term and just have them leave a secure role. We are proud of our ethics and even publicise them on our website:

"As a small organisation we focus on relationships and like to think of our candidates and clients as friends. Over the time of working with them solid relationships and mutual trust and respect is built ensuring continued communication and recommendations.

As NuExec is a niche and specialised consultancy we will only work with candidates and clients we genuinely feel we can fulfil the requirements for. We will not represent any candidate or work for any client who we feel do not share our ethics."

Saying all that though I find myself questioning if having these ethics and values makes me a bad business woman. Does caring, I mean genuinely caring about a candidate make me a bad business woman? Does speaking to candidates and advising them not to take a role they are offered through NuExec as they have a better offer with better career opportunities that they should accept, make me a bad business woman? Does telling a client I will no longer work with them because they offered my candidate absolutely terrible terms expecting them to work a 7 day week, unable to take holiday and all for a really low salary, make me a bad business woman? Does the fact that when a candidate who has turned down other offers to take a role for a Client we represented her to who then a month on has the offer pulled, leaving us on the verge of tears trying to do something to rectify the situation so she isn't left with nothing, make me a bad business woman? Does the fact that I class my candidates and clients as friends who I would do anything for make me a bad business woman?

I can't help thinking that my inability to switch off my emotion in business is a bad thing. The very reason I write this blog is to share information and be a voice for the supply chain, and to try and make some kind of difference, to make the industry a better place. But does that make me a bad business woman?

I guess I don't know the answers, but what I do know is the minute I stop caring is the minute I should stop in this business. I genuinely believe Lisa and I are unique in our attitude and in our ethics. I know sometimes I can annoy people with my honest and open approach. Sometimes they may feel I speak out of turn and am too vocal, but that is because I care. I want to make a difference. I want to find people careers that are right for them, that will allow them the best possible opportunities and I want to work with clients who share my ethics and who care about their people. And if that doesn't make me rich, do you know what – I don't care, because money can't buy you happiness. But knowing you did the right thing by somebody, that you have found them their dream job, that you have found a solution to a client's recruitment problems, that your client has told you that you have done a fantastic job, when you are told you are the best recruiters they have ever worked with, when a candidate sends you flowers because they are so grateful for a role you found them and when someone emails me to say they love my blog – That, my friends, gives you happiness.

Until next time....

Another couple of weeks have flown by and here I am writing the blog again. I am not sure how long it will be until I write again as I am finally going in for my surgery on Monday and there is a 6 week rehabilitation period before I will be able to sit up and drive. However, someone telling me I can't work for 6 weeks obviously wasn't taken very well, so being a smarty pants I have found a laptop stand that can be used whilst lying down flat! I am sure I will be back to it in no time at all.

I haven't been out and about the last couple of weeks so don't have much gossip, just some news stories.

Sellafield

Mini submarines are being used to recover medical isotopes dating back to the 1950s, from storage ponds at Sellafield.

There are literally hundreds of different nuclear fuels and waste types in the historic storage ponds and these include cobalt isotope cartridges produced for medical purposes, such as lifesaving radiotherapy treatment and the sterilization of medical supplies.

The groundbreaking project will see hundreds of the cartridges retrieved from Sellafield's Pile Fuel Storage Pond (PFSP) and First Generation Magnox Storage Ponds (FGMSP), which are high priority legacy nuclear plants.

Radiation is widely used in the medical industry with the most well-known uses being x-rays, scans and radiotherapy for the treatment of serious diseases, and the radioactive isotope sources need to be safely disposed of in the same manner as any other nuclear material.

A while ago remotely operated vehicles were thought of as expensive toys, but they are now becoming an integral part of the plan to clean up for legacy fuel storage ponds.

Another vote for industrial action in a row over health and safety.

Over 1,200 members of construction union Unite employed by Sellafield Contractor Group overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a dispute over the company's refusal to allow a full time union shop steward and a more proactive remit for the site's health and safety committee.

Negotiations to resolve the 10-month dispute between Unite, Sellafield Contractor Group and the Engineering Construction Industry Association broke down.

Unite is urging Sellafield Contractor Group management to get back around the negotiating table in a bid to find a reasonable settlement that addresses its employees very reasonable request.

Unite regional officer Steve Benson said: "Our members have lost patience with Sellafield management who have steadfastly continued to ignore our very reasonable request.

"All they are asking for is their rights for a co-worker to become a union shop steward at the Sellafield site to represent construction workers and keep them safe.

"It makes sense for our members and the company and it will help improve industrial relations and a safety and welfare culture at the site."

A Sellafield spokesman said: "We are aware that discussions have taken place between Unite union and the contracting community about a ballot that could potentially lead to industrial action by those members.

"Sellafield Ltd is not directly involved in the potential dispute, which does not involve any of our employees, but we will be monitoring the issue closely. We hope all parties can reach agreement. Safety and security at the site will be unaffected by any resulting industrial action."

NDA

Amec Foster Wheeler awarded NDA decommissioning and research framework contract

Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a four-year contract by the NDA, increasing the range of services it currently provides.

The contract, for which no value has been announced, is to provide an extensive range of nuclear services in decommissioning, waste management and site characterisation across their UK nuclear portfolio.  Drawing on Amec Foster Wheeler's clean energy and environmental expertise, the company will work on all of the seven technical sectors in the contract, including providing services to support:

• Site characterisation, engineering design and delivery of the UK geological disposal facility
• Low Level Waste Repositories in West Cumbria (England) and Dounreay (Scotland)
• Research reactor sites at Harwell and Winfrith
• Decommissioning and radioactive waste management services
• Engineering design and technical support for the NDA's decommissioning programme
• Safety case management
• Laboratory and experimental research, and
• Environmental assessment

NuGen

I was really disappointed to learn that NuGen haven't kept their promise to the Cumbrian Supply Chain! Last year NuGen came and did a presentation at BECBC, and when asked what would happen to companies who had spent a great deal of money and time building relationships with the previous exec team and who had become a preferred supplier, they were assured that they would remain on the PSL for the new owners and would still have the opportunity for work. In fact they were told that they should NOT contact NuGen as nothing was really happening and that the businesses would be contacted as soon as an opportunity arouse. This has certainly not been the case and local SME's who took numerous trips to London, who completed lengthy tender and proposal documents who shared information to assist in the initial building of NuGen as a business, have been overlooked and not even given an opportunity with the new business. Very disappointing and very unethical behaviour.

CforLP – Cumbria's Bright Stars 2015

Last time I wrote I mentioned that Sellafield had done this fantastic project called Bright Starts in Primary Schools. I hadn't realised that it wasn't Sellafield at all it was actually CforLP and Sellafield just happened to be the company selected as a partner to Arlecdon Primary.

I was speaking to Sarah Glass of CforLP about what a fantastic project it was and she advised me they are now recruiting companies to get involved next year. Here is some information she kindly shared with me:

The Bright Stars challenge is a completion aimed at primary school children across Cumbria. The idea of the challenge is to engage children with leadership and entrepreneurship, at a very young age, in an accessible and fun way. It also provides an opportunity to link local businesses to their local Primary schools to help establish and develop on-going links.

Cumbria has low business start-up rates nationally and we believe that we need to work with schools to inculcate a culture of entrepreneurship and aspiration.

Each school received £50 with a simple instruction to make it grow to the highest amount possible through investment and creativity over the course of 8 weeks by setting up their own mini businesses.  Schools won cash prizes for the highest amounts raised and extra awards for other categories.  All profits are donated to the schools chosen charities.

IMPACT

We have engaged with 18 schools and over 2000 children across the county and have been amazed by their creativity, enthusiasm and determination into making their £50 grow

We have engaged and linked 14 businesses to their local schools to offer support and guidance throughout the competition  period

CfLP and local businesses have visited primary Schools across Cumbria to deliver sessions on business planning, customer service, event planning, explain job roles within a business and offer support and encouragement

21 charities have benefited from the programme with £14,448.16 being raised

The scheme has brought charities, the community, parents, teachers and local business community together to support this initiative

Children have grown in confidence and felt proud of their achievements and have learnt new skills that fit in with and compliment  the school curriculum

We have listed the schools activity and figures are below. From initial investment £900 the children have raised £14,448.16 for charity

If you are interested in getting involved with this fantastic project please do get in contact with Sarah or with me and I will happily pass your details on to her.

FabLab

I am a massive fan of the FabLab and even more so now my girls went there for a workshop this week and both came out feeling inspired. If you have never been you really should, the facilities and equipment they have are fantastic and they often run different workshops for adults, families and for kids.

NuExec Consulting

We were really pleased this week to learn that we have been accepted on the NDA SME Mentoring Scheme. We haven't yet been partnered with our mentor but we are really excited about the opportunity to learn from someone with experience. I will look forward to letting you know who we are working with.

Although I am off for surgery next week it will still be business as usual. If you have any requirements within your business get in touch and let us show you the unique service we offer, ensuring fantastic results for our Clients. In addition if you are looking for a new role get in touch.

It Could Only Happen To Me

So before my "injury" I decided to book a weekend away in a caravan with my parents for my Mum's Birthday. We did it last year for Dad's Birthday and had a great time so I thought it would be an ideal present. Now being a little bit of a snob I thought I wouldn't book a standard caravan or Bronze I would go for Silver. Not Gold or Platinum because I'm not rich but in the middle Silver. Even though there were six of us I decided to book an eight birth to ensure there was plenty of room for everyone.

My parents arrived first and checked in and we arrived a little later. Walking in to the caravan I felt my face drop. Mum had dinner in the oven but we only had a table with four chairs. How can you book a caravan for eight and only have a table that seats four?? Are we meant to have dinner in sittings or something? I aired my concerns and said to my Mum I would call reception. She then told me that she had already had to call once as we didn't have a bin. So I called reception and was told they would send housekeeping. They rocked up seeming surprised that we didn't think a table with four chairs was sufficient and they gave us a couple of odd stools which were falling apart.  We then sat down to eat, and, despite being in an eight birth, we still only had six of everything and only 5 knifes. So once again I called reception and they came with one Knife! We then realised that we had no bed linen for the pull out bed in the sofa. There was no way with Stefan's length he would have fitted in to a caravan single which was about 5ft long. So once again I called and they brought some linen.

When night time came we pulled out the sofa bed and found:

• 2 Used Cotton Buds
• Nail Clipping
• A used hand warmer
• A bouncy ball
• A plastic coin
• Some mouldy food and a great deal of muck.

Obviously by this point I was resigned to the fact that I had booked a skanky caravan. The next day when the wallpaper boarder started falling off in strips, I really wasn't surprised at all. I hate to think what a standard caravan must have looked like...

It kind of reminds me of the time Lisa and I went to London for one of our many trips to meet with the guys at NuGen and I found a bargain hotel. When we arrived, I kid you not, we were in a cupboard under the stairs of the most skankiest hotel I had ever seen, and it was all underground in the most undesirable part of London imaginable. I remember it was so small the single beds were touching, you had to shower with the bathroom door open and it flooded the room. Needless to say Lisa has never let me book a hotel again.

Until next time.....

Surprise – I'm back!!! Come on no one really thought I would be out of action for six weeks did they. If truth be known I was on the phone to Lisa just a couple of hours after surgery. So it is really good to be back and although predominantly working from home whilst flat, I will be back in the office full time from the first of June.

I haven't huge amounts of gossip as I haven't really spoken to anyone what with being highly medicated but here are some news stories from the past few weeks with a few of my comments thrown in for fun.

Sellafield

When I wrote my last blog I was contacted by one of my regular readers who felt I should mention the dire state of the supply chain due to lack of work in the sector. It seems whatever service or products you offer within the industry times are tough. It seems no one is spending and small businesses are facing exceptionally hard times because of it. I personally have put a lot of that down to the elections. I think a number of businesses were waiting to see what was going to happen within Government and subsequently budgets before putting out contracts. Of course also with Sellafield we have the added complication of the strategic partner which also seems to have had an impact.

In my last blog I mentioned the 3m cubed boxes and how disappointed I was that the contract had gone out of area. Since then it has now been officially announced that the winner of the contract is Metalcraft. Apparently Metalcraft was chosen not just because of the quality and value for money it could offer to fulfill the contract to the standards required to store nuclear waste, but in particular the socio-economic commitments it made to deliver a package which includes new jobs, apprenticeships and training development to advance the capability of manufacturing skills. In addition Metalcraft has committed to a new facility in West Cumbria for the finishing of boxes for the Phase 2 contract, subject to successful sanction to proceed.

I really hope they do fulfill these promises and I hope that Sellafield will enforce them. I think too often companies make socio economic promises within tenders that they never deliver and don't seem to have previously had to demonstrate where they have fulfilled their pledges. I do believe this is changing though, and Sellafield seem to be wising up to actually asking for proof of deliverables – although I may be wrong.

For anyone that doesn't know the three metre cube boxes will provide a safe and secure storage solution for historic nuclear waste that is to be retrieved from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo on the Sellafield site.

Retrieving waste from this facility is an integral part of the long term plan to reduce the hazard on Europe's most complex nuclear site, by cleaning up and decommissioning the oldest facilities, some of which date back to the 1940s.

This contract is the first of two contracts to be let to ensure security of supply and an announcement will be made on the second contract shortly. The initial stage will prove volume production can be achieved to the required quality and throughput rate, and then steady state volume production will manufacture the bulk of the boxes.

This is also the first programme of boxes required for the storage of historic nuclear waste at Sellafield and a second larger programme will require the manufacture of thousands more boxes in support of decommissioning a second historic waste storage silo.

Amec Foster Wheeler awarded multi-million pound Sellafield contract

Amec Foster Wheeler (AFW) announced its new 10-year contract to supply radioactive waste analysis to Sellafield. They will perform laboratory-based analysis to characterise waste from the site's decommissioning programme and determine the radioactive and chemical make-up, allowing for its 'safe and cost-effective disposal'.

As part of the multi-million pound contract awarded by Sellafield Ltd, AFW will be investing in new laboratory infrastructure and will be expanding its laboratory technician apprentice scheme.

Whilst speaking about Amec Foster Wheeler whilst not Sellafield they have also won another contract:

Fusion for Energy (F4E) has awarded a contract to the UK's Amec Foster Wheeler for a remote handling system for the Iter fusion reactor's neutral beam cell. F4E said it is "one of the largest robotics contracts to date in the field of fusion energy".

Under the €70 million ($78 million) framework contract, Amec Foster Wheeler will design, manufacture, factory test, deliver and commission Iter's neutral beam remote handling system. F4E - the European Union's organization responsible for Europe's contribution to Iter - said the contract is expected to run for seven years.

The neutral beam injectors will fire high-energy particle beams to heat up the plasma inside the Tokamak until it is hot enough for fusion to take place. During outages, the complex internal systems of these machines must be maintained, repaired and replaced remotely. The neutral beam cell's remote handling system will serve this purpose.

The remote handling system will include a 90-meter monorail that will run above the neutral beam cell. It will incorporate transfer trolleys, beam line transporters and a variety of supporting beams that will operate in coordination with tooling and manipulators. Some of the key tasks performed will include maintenance work on the neutral beam injectors, with the cutting and welding of myriads of pipes, and the transportation of heavy components to the neutral beam cell storage area or its main entrance for refurbishment and disposal.

Under the contract, Amec Foster Wheeler will be prime contractor, while a group of laboratories and companies will act as specialist sub-contractors. These include the UK's Culham Centre for Fusion, Hyde Group and Capula; Reel SAS of France; Germany's Wallischmiller Engineering GmbH; KU Leuven-MaGyICs of Belgium; and, Finland's Technical research Centre (VTT) and the Technical University of Tampere.

The Iter project - under construction at Cadarache in southern France - is meant to take nuclear fusion research to a new level with the largest ever Tokamak unit, which should be capable of sustaining plasmas that produce 500 MWt for as long as seven minutes. The EU is funding half of the cost while the remainder comes in equal parts from the other partners: China, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea and the USA.

Construction work on Iter began in 2010 and is expected to come to an end in 2019. A commissioning phase will follow that will ensure all systems operate together and prepare the machine for the achievement of first plasma in November 2020. The facility is expected to reach full operation in 2027. Iter's operational phase is expected to last for 20 years.

NuGen

On Saturday NuGen will commence their 10 week public consultation period. Visit their website for details of where they will be taking place.

Nuclear Decommissioning Sector Group – Opportunities

I obviously was unable to attend this event which was really disappointing as it is such a good meeting with fabulous industry information. However the group's leader Liz kindly passed on details of some opportunities that I hope you will find useful:

• 8119  35/10058.17.06.02 A2000362987  Dragon Waste Project Package 2 - Flask Interface Equipment  01/05/2015  15/06/2015 12:00  RFQ (Request For Quotation)  Sellafield Ltd  United Kingdom  David Jenkins Phone: + 44 - 1925 - 833596

• 8125  4986 - U52  Self Shielded Boxes  Design, Manufacture, works testing and delivery of self shielded Boxes and nominated location to works on site. 01/05/2015  15/05/2015 12:00  PIN Notice  Sellafield Ltd  United Kingdom  Lena Askew Phone: + 44 - 19467 - 88502

• 8043  9030-P16-4869  PROVISION OF STAINLESS STEEL AND CARBON STEEL  30/04/2015  01/06/2015 12:00  RFQ (Request For Quotation)  Sellafield Ltd  United Kingdom  Tina  Pilkington Phone: + 44 - 19467 - 73091

• 8127  4889  Category Management - Pre ITT Supplier Day for Tanks and Vessels  28/04/2015  01/06/2015 12:00  PIN Notice  Sellafield Ltd  United Kingdom  Sellafield Ltd are holding a Supplier Event on the 16 June 2015 (09.30-15.30), at the Hilton Hotel, Manchester Airport, the purpose of the day will be to discuss the Invitation to Tender and our requirements therein. To register for the event please email Steph Atkinson by the 1 June 2016 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• 8128  4893  Category Management - Pre ITT Supplier Day for Shield Doors  28/04/2015  01/06/2015 12:00  PIN Notice  Sellafield Ltd  United Kingdom   Sellafield Ltd are holding a Supplier Event on the 16 June 2015 (09.30-15.30), at the Hilton Hotel, Manchester Airport, the purpose of the day will be to discuss the Invitation to Tender and our requirements therein. To register for the event please email Steph Atkinson by the 1 June 2016 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• 8129   Type B Manufacture PIN Boxes Packaging of radioactive waste  27/04/2015  13/05/2015 18:00  Prior Information Notice  LLW Repository Ltd  United Kingdom  Joanne Makin Phone: + 44 - 19467 - 22237

• 8089  2000362711  Gamma Gate Umbilicle Cable Detailed description- Replacement of Umbilical Cables and the installation of a Cable Harness Assembly  24/04/2015  22/05/2015 16:00  RFQ (Request For Quotation)  Sellafield Ltd  United Kingdom  Jasmine  Lane Phone: + 44 - 19467 - 88180

• 8121  LS04/15  Modular Package Refurbishment Magnox Ltd are currently refurbishing two licensed transport packages, the Modular Package, Design/Serial numbers DN3358/0004 and DN3358/0005. As part of this refurbishment some of the tapped holes in the main frame that secure the shock absorbing panels are worn and need to be replaced with thread inserts. 24/04/2015  11/05/2015 12:00  Mini Competition / Below Threshold / Informal Competition  Magnox Ltd  for RSRL United Kingdom Dawn Davies Phone: + 44 -1305 - 202570

• 8113  MAGNOX LTD/2015/SS02  ITT for Grout Encapsulation Trials The current strategic position for Magnox Ltd (the Employer) is waste encapsulation of solid Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) from the Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) and Dragon reactors decommissioning inside a 6m3 concrete box design (previously known as the Robust Concrete Box (RCB) and Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (WAGR) Box utilising a high density infiltration grout formulation. The Employer has a requirement to undertake encapsulation/immobilisation trials using simulated wastes to demonstrate to Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd that the waste can be suitably encapsulated to form a product that will be acceptable for long term storage and disposal 20/04/2015  22/05/2015 14:00  Mini Competition / Below Threshold / Informal Competition  Magnox Ltd  United Kingdom Sue Symes Phone: + 44 - 1305 - 203654

From the same meeting there was some information on BEP and procurement opportunities that I also felt would be helpful and of interest.

BEP: Background

• Original Plant Mothballed in 2002
• NDA/SL pushing for revised BEP capability to be re-instated
• Will take specific wastes from MSSS, FGMSP and PFCS
• Jacobs, with Amec Foster Wheeler and Balfour Beatty won the contract for the works
• Value of contract is between ~£240-340M and ~4 years

BEP: Process

• Waste to arrive in a number of SL packages
• Retrieved, pre-processed and sorted robotically
• Inventory assigned and placed into a new liner
• Waste then flood grouted and capped
• Transported and interim stored in BEPPS

BEP: Typical Scope

• The existing building contains 12,000m2 of floor distributed on six operating levels
• M&E Fit Out
• Modifications and Finishes to the building are required. Site Accommodation needed.
• Enabling works: Protected escape routes, fire regulations work, emergency lighting
• Delivery of Effluent Management Capability

Supply Chain

Rachel Beech – BEP Supply Chain Manager

"for the BEP project, Sustainable Procurement will mean collaborative working with the supply chain to increase innovation, improve schedule and enhance value for money, national and SME suppliers alike and supporting the community within which we will deliver the BEP project"

Procurement – ITT dates 2015

Q3 2015

Encast Items

Scaffolding

External Cladding

Internal Building Works

Vessels

Q4 2015

Air Compressor

Conveyors

Carbon Dioxide Bottle Store

CCTV

Containment, PA &PSA Doors

Floor covers & hatches

Integrated Plant Control System

Nitrogen Bottle Store

Stillages & Park Stands

Power Distribution

Process Building Cranes

Roller Shutter Doors

Safety Showers & Sinks

Skip Yolk Guide

Sodium Hydroxide Dosing

Steam Ejectors

UPS System

Fire Detection System

PA & Evacuation System

Passenger Lift

ITT Dates 2016

Q1

AHUs

Ductwork

Fans

HEPA Filters & Housings

Through Wall Lighting

Shield Doors

Bogies

Q2

Maintenance Cranes

Robots

Monitoring & Swabbing

Civils Works

Transfer Hatches

Gamma Monitors

Grapples

Grout Plant

Motor Control Circuits

Personnel Platforms

Structural Steelwork

Q3

Pumps

Gloveboxes

Cabinets

Stainless Steel Cladding

Shield Plugs

Q4

Lid Lift Machines

Routes to market

Single Source/Competitive Tender/BEP Frameworks/ Existing SL, JV Frameworks

Pre-Qualification Process

Business Support

Next Steps

Opportunities advertised online

Support local supplier engagement events

Framework supplier engagement events

NuExec Consulting

Well there is lots of exciting things going on with us so it's hard to know where to start. We have decided that it is time to grow and we are going to be having a new consultant join our team in June. They will assist Lisa in the office in finding Exceptional Individuals and I am going to be focussing more on business development. So watch out, I will be contacting every one of you and inviting myself for a brew to discuss how we can add real value to your business. – You never know you may be lucky enough to feature in one of my "it could only happen to me's".

Finally, as I mentioned last time, we are really excited to have now been matched with a mentor on the NDA mentoring scheme. We were lucky enough to be partnered with someone who I really respect so hopefully his input will be great for our business too. It really is exciting times.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

So I have many things I could share here following on from my eventful time in hospital but even I think there is a line when it comes to over sharing. So instead I am going to tell you about my eventful two days this week which included a cat napping and a vomit incident.

Part of my recovery is that I have to walk regularly so three times a day I have been going out for a walk. On my first walk out I met this cat. She was so lovely and I just couldn't resist giving her a fuss. I then found myself purposely going on the same route so I could see the cat. Every time I saw her she would come running over to me meowing and purring. Then one morning this lady told me that her owner had died and she was a stray and no one was looking after her. I was heartbroken to think this beautiful cat didn't have someone to look after her so I asked if I could take her. She told me she would speak to the daughters and see if they wanted her. Then over the weekend she seemed to disappear. I was absolutely gutted and thought she must have been taken in by the daughters. Then on Monday she was back so I went and saw her three times and made sure she had food. On Tuesday morning on my walk I saw the lady from before and she told me I could take her. Much to my surprise my husband agreed so I went and bought all the things you need for a cat and stole her. I gave her the first day to settle and then on Wednesday took her to the vets. The girls were desperate to come along as Maddy, my eldest, decided the cat would be hers and she would take responsibility for her. So late afternoon we set off to the vets. Now I should probably mention here that the day before my back operation I bought a brand new car so I was a little nervous having the cat in my car with less than a 150 miles on the clock. We took the cat (now named Gorgeous) into the vets and she refused to take her worming tablet spitting it out 3 times. Finally they managed to get it in and get her to swallow. We headed home with Maddy and gorgeous in the front. Half way into the journey Maddy started screaming. The cat had been sick and Maddy has a sick phobia. So she was screaming and crying for help, all I could do was stress and tell her to sit still and not get anything on my seats of my brand new car. We arrived home and suddenly the cat was no longer Maddy's and there I was clearing up cat vomit from my brand new car! – Why is nothing ever simple!!

Until next time....

Another two weeks have flown by and summer is fast approaching. I have slowly been introducing myself back into the office and as of Monday I am back in the office full time. After a very long road I feel I am approaching the end.

So as always here is the news and my views from the past two weeks:

Sellafield

Sellafield announced that Tata Steel is to be awarded a contract worth £20 million for the provision of 'packages and gamma gates'.

The four-year package of work will see Tata Steel modify and refurbish an existing fleet of 'packages and gamma gates', which  are essentially specialist high-integrity containers and doors used to provide shielding during the safe transfer of waste from the legacy storage plants at the site to modern, purpose built stores.

This will enable decommissioning of the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS), one of the four oldest nuclear waste stores on the Sellafield site, and will see nuclear material moved from the silo and transferred to a new Silo Direct Encapsulation Plant (SDP) where it will be packaged for safe, secure storage. It is the only project of its kind in the world.

This is good news for Tata who have gone through quite a tough time of late. I hope they will deliver the work locally and will engage with the local supply chain to assist them where possible.

Second £50m contract for storage of Sellafield's historic nuclear waste

Sellafield Ltd has announced that it's awarding a second £50 million contract for storage of historic nuclear waste

Darchem Engineering Ltd has been awarded the contract potentially valued at up to £50 million, for the provision of high-integrity steel storage containers for nuclear waste.

This is the second contact to supply three metre cubed boxes, the first of which was awarded to Metalcraft earlier in May, which will together total some £100 million.

Once again this is a contract going out of County. Darchem have a small office on Westlakes but the manufacturing happens elsewhere. They have however previous experience in supplying to Sellafield; including providing an access gantry to support the recent retrieval of radioactive sludge from the one of our historic nuclear fuel storage ponds.

They have committed to working with the local supply chain which is great news.

The three metre cubed boxes will provide a safe and secure storage solution for historic nuclear waste that is to be retrieved from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo on the Sellafield site. Darchem and Metalcraft will have to prove volume production can be achieved to the required quality and throughput rate in the first phase of the contract.

The second phase for steady state volume production to manufacture in total some 2200 three metre cubed boxes will then be awarded subject to performance.

Carillion Joint Venture Secures RoSPA Gold Medal for Occupational Health & Safety

It was great to read that Carillion joint venture ACKtiv  which is supporting the safe decommissioning of the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) at Sellafield through its Bulk Sludge and Fuel Retrievals (BS&FR) project, has won the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety.

The RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards are internationally recognised and open to organisations of all sizes across a wide spectrum of industries. Entrants must provide evidence of a good health and safety management system supported by a portfolio of relevant documentation. This is Carillion's ninth consecutive Gold Award and RoSPA Gold Medal.

NDA

I was hugely excited this week when registration opened for the fifth NDA event being held on Wednesday 4th November at Event City Manchester.

I have been to every one of these events and every year is better than the last. I definitely feel this is the best event of the year and certainly offers the best networking platform for businesses and especially SME's.

THIS YEAR'S KEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Presentations by:

• A senior Government Minister
• NDA Chief Executive John Clarke
• Rear Admiral Mike Wareham, Director of Submarines, MOD
• Innovation zone with technology demonstrations
• Opportunities to meet 'buyers and sellers' from the NDA Estate and other Government departments
• Awards presentation
• Networking opportunities

And fingers crossed a NuExec exhibition stand where all the fun happens!

This free event gets booked up fast so if you are interested in attending get registered.

Magnox Ltd

Having completed the relicensing of Research Sites Restoration Limited (RSRL), the former Site Licence Company (SLC) for the Harwell and Winfrith sites, into Magnox Limited on 1April 2015, Magnox Limited has reached a stage where it is now ready to announce its new organisational structure.

Staff numbers at the 12 sites operated by Magnox Ltd have been declining for a number of years as progress is made on the decommissioning programmes. This announcement sets out plans to reduce workforce numbers by between 1400-1600 over the next 17 months. The NDA has been assured that efforts will be undertaken to mitigate the impact of any job losses through an emphasis on voluntary redundancy, reskilling and the potential for alternative employment in Magnox Limited's parent companies, Cavendish Nuclear and Fluor Corporation.

The restructure follows the NDA's appointment of CFP, last September, as the new Parent Body Organisation (PBO) for two of the NDA's Site Licence Companies (SLCs), Magnox Ltd and Research Sites Restoration Ltd. The appointment followed a two-year competitive procurement process launched in 2012, with the primary aim of delivering a more efficient, effective programme within agreed funding levels. The NDA is confident that the Magnox contract will deliver savings for the taxpayer of approximately £1 billion over the full contract period compared with previous plans.

The NDA has duties under the Energy Act 2004 to promote competition and to secure value for money in the delivery of its mission. The primary objective of the contract is to take 12 nuclear sites – two in Scotland, two in Wales and eight in England into Care and Maintenance (C&M) or into their interim end states by 2028. Two of the sites are scheduled to enter C&M within the next few years, followed by the others, leaving only sealed reactor buildings and waste stores for a number of decades before final clean-up.

It is always such a shame when people are made redundant but this was a scheduled plan. I am sure there are many organisations who would benefit from the expertise these people have. If you find yourself looking for a new opportunity get in touch with NuExec and we will do our best to help.

New Build

NuGen has announced that it will add a 22nd consultation event to its programme of public exhibitions about the proposed Moorside Power Station.

The final consultation event will be held on-site at Sellafield to engage directly with workers during the course of their working day. The event will be held on July 16th, in the main Sellafield canteen. The extra date is specifically aimed to help Sellafield staff and contractors have their say about the Moorside Project, which aims to build a new nuclear power station to the north and west of the main site.

I think this is a fantastic idea. In my opinion many people who are pro nuclear don't think they need to give their view. They see nuclear consultations for anti-nuclear campaigners to air their views and the fact they go to work every day in the industry they feel is support enough. I really hope that many of Sellafield workers will go along to the consultation and give their views.

Dounreay

The first two vaults of the new low-level waste (LLW) disposal facility at the UK's Dounreay site has begun accepting waste. Up to four additional vaults could be constructed at the facility.

The Dounreay site applied to Highland Council for planning permission to build six LLW disposal vaults in July 2006. The council granted planning permission in April 2009. Graham Construction won a tender to design and build the facility and construction began in November 2011.

Completion of construction of phase one of the facility, comprising two vaults, was ceremoniously celebrated in April 2014. One of the vaults will be used for disposal of LLW arising from previous operations at Dounreay, while the other will accommodate waste generated by decommissioning operations at the site.

Active commissioning of the associated encapsulation plant began on 24 April when a container packed with LLW was filled with grout. This container has now been placed within the LLW vault, Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) announced today. Meanwhile, packages of demolition waste have also been transferred from storage on the Dounreay site to the demolition LLW vault.

DSRL has now confirmed that phase two of the facility will also be required and will comprise a further two LLW vaults to accommodate further waste from decommissioning.

The facility will be used for the disposal of up to a maximum of 175,000 cubic metres of solid LLW, which is expected to be generated during the decommissioning of the Dounreay site, in addition to waste that will be retrieved from a series of historical LLW pits there.

LLW typically consists of debris such as metal, plastics and rags that have been contaminated during the clean-out of facilities where radioactive materials were handled. By volume, LLW represents more than 80% of all the radioactive waste generated by Dounreay's demolition. However, by radiological hazard, it represents less than 0.1%, according to DSRL.

When the UK's experimental fast reactors at Dounreay have been cleared away in 2025 the vaults will be sealed and the surface restored. The site will then be monitored for 300 years, by which time 95% of the radioactivity will have decayed.

NuExec Consulting

Things continue to be busy with NuExec and we are so excited to be growing the business. As a reminder to any new readers NuExec recruit all roles within the nuclear industry across the whole of the UK Nuclear portfolio, so if you are looking to grow your business or looking for a new role, please do get in touch.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

Lisa reminded me this week of a great it could only happen to me from about 4 years ago which I thought I would share with you.

I never used to be one for labels (oh how times change) and I wouldn't know the difference between a Prada and a Fendi. So one Christmas I was bought a beautiful watch with what looked like diamonds and I thought it was one from Oasis. So when I went into the office and showed Lisa I nearly fell of the chair when she told me it was a Balmain with real diamonds and probably cost around £2000! Anyhow this didn't stop me from wearing it every day. In my opinion what is the point of having a nice watch if you aren't going to wear it?

So every night I would put my watch on the bedside table before going to sleep. One night I went to go to bed and I had a problem! There was a big spider above my bed. Now there was no way I would be able to go to bed knowing this spider was above me. Normally I would have got my youngest to catch the spiders for me but it was 10.30pm and it was too high for her to reach and I couldn't risk her losing it somewhere in the bedroom. Now I have to be honest and say I had got Caity out of bed in the past to catch spiders for me but they had to be accessible to justify waking her. So there I was standing at my bedroom door wondering what to do. I tried asking it to go – but that didn't work. I tried swearing at it and I tried crying but still it wouldn't go. The only thing I could think of was sucking it up the hoover. The only problem is I was too scared to get close enough to suck it up. By now it was midnight I was tired, upset and stressed out and realised I had no choice. So I got the hoover, a cloth and an elastic band. – I knew that if I captured it I would need to cover the end of the pipe to ensure it didn't come out in the middle of the night. So with trepidation and sheer fright I switched on the hoover and edged towards it. I sucked it up and as I brought the pipe down I heard a clunk I put the cloth over and put on the elastic band. I about to climb into bed when I noticed my watch (the Balmain) had disappeared. Then it clicked: the clunk I heard was the watch going up the hoover, but there was no way I could get it out because of the spider. I finally fell asleep to nightmares of the spider wearing my Balmain watch.

Next morning I had an idea and paid Caity £1 to search through the hoover contents to find my watch. She searched and searched but couldn't find it. I searched the bedroom and it wasn't there. In frustration I kicked the hoover pipe and heard a jangle. I gave it a bang and out popped my watch. After I had got Caity to spider check it and give it a clean (for an additional £1) I popped it back on my wrist where it belonged.

Until next time.....

Another two weeks have absolutely flown by and I feel like my feet haven't even touched the floor. Business has been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks which I am really grateful for considering what seems to be going on in the industry currently. In fact, I found myself this morning umming and ahhing over whether I should just skip writing the blog and focus on making money. It is interesting as my business mentor is making me look and revaluate many things within my business and one such thing is my blog. He knows how much time it takes and wants me to justify time over return. His question is: does it really make me any money or is it just a tool for people to use to save them doing their own research? It is an interesting question and I have been so caught up in the love of writing the blog that I haven't considered it from that view point. So if I could ask all of my readers to pay me a pound each that would be great as I would make about £1500 every time I publish. Alternatively if your business is recruiting or you are looking for a new opportunity please get in touch with me to enable me to demonstrate why NuExec Consulting is unique and different to all the other recruitment agencies.

Sellafield

It seems the industry is really struggling at the moment. Over the past two weeks I have heard of 16 people in my network being made redundant and a couple of small businesses having to close down. The reason for this seems to be because of a downturn in work coming out of Sellafield. It seems spending is right down from where it usually is and therefore the tier twos are holding on tightly to any work they are getting, meaning work isn't reaching the tier three and four suppliers. I have many theories as to why things are so slow at the moment and they are as follows:

• Budget cuts
• Spending reviews
• Strategic Partner
• Elections
• Downturn in Oil & Gas

I do genuinely believe in a couple of months things will be back to normal, at least, I really do hope so, as there are some fantastic people now available looking for new opportunities and some fantastic companies who are struggling that I would hate to see have to cease trading.

So Sellafield have been getting a real battering over their choice of contractors for the boxes. I noticed a recent article on their website which I believe is in response to the local industry outcry:

"Sellafield Ltd, the company responsible for delivering decommissioning of the UK's nuclear legacy has today announced that Metalcraft has been awarded a contract potentially valued at £50 million, for the provision of high-integrity stainless steel storage containers for nuclear waste.

Metalcraft was chosen not just because of the quality and value for money it could offer to fulfil the contract to the standards required to store nuclear waste, but in particular the socio-economic commitments it made to deliver a package which includes new jobs, apprenticeships and training development to advance the capability of manufacturing skills. In addition Metalcraft has committed to a new facility in West Cumbria for the finishing of boxes for the Phase 2 contract, subject to successful sanction to proceed."

I think this is one socio economic promise that Sellafield are really going to have to closely monitor as there will be real uproar locally if this doesn't happen.

An open letter has been sent to MPs and local politicians

The letter in full:

This is an open letter to Jamie Reed, Sue Haman, Alan Smith, Stewart Young and Mike Starkey with regards to the metal box contract going out of the area.
We are writing to you on behalf of the joint Sellafield Unions, GMB, Prospect and Unite.
The whole Sellafield workforce and the west Cumbrian community are united in outrage that Sellafield Ltd has awarded two £50m contracts, to produce metal boxes for the site, to companies outside west Cumbria.
The current two £50m contracts could grow to £2bn as Sellafield will require more than 30,000 metal boxes in the future.
Both the workforce and the local community have been consistently promised by Sellafield Ltd, NMP and NDA that local supply chains would benefit from contracts awarded for Sellafield.
The truth is investment in the local supply chain has been extremely limited.
The Public Accounts Committee, when they investigated the mismanagement of Sellafield, recognised this was a problem and called for more to be done concerning investment in west Cumbria.
What has gone so wrong with the Britain's Energy Coast (BEC) and the West Cumbria Economic Blueprint, with it's claims of "ensuring that small medium enterprise's can access contract opportunities"?
Cumbria county councillor Tim Knowles, in a recent newspaper article,
described the decision to award these massive contracts to supply boxes to companies based hundreds of miles away from west Cumbria as a betrayal.
The joint Sellafield unions agree and believe the comments that were made by Sellafield Ltd in the same newspaper article clearly demonstrate how out of touch they are with the workforce and west Cumbria as a whole.
Sellafield has a hugely skilled workforce who are ultimately employed at the tax payers' expense.
We have a long history of reskilling and equipping workers on site to deliver new missions.
Investing in the local workforce and equipping them to produce the steel boxes would have been far more cost effective in the long term.
It should be remembered, that the workforce at Sellafield safely delivers work on the most complex nuclear site on earth.
West Cumbria as an area and community delivered the Thorp reprocessing plant, which at its peak employed thousands workers.
Making steel boxes certainly isn't beyond our members capability.
We have a great skills network in west Cumbria that could support reskilling.
The joint unions recently attended a skills event at Energus. It was really interesting but the truth
is we are looking at up­skilling local people for jobs that don't exist.
Recently we have lost more jobs at Tata Steel, Eastmans and Studvik as you may know.
West Cumbria has massive levels of deprivation and disproportionate levels of youth unemployment.
This is despite the fact Sellafield is the largest public sector contract in Europe.
If the site was better managed and decisions were taken for the long term, Sellafield should be at the hub of a booming local economy in which local people are employed doing good quality jobs.
Our support for the nuclear industry has been taken for granted for too long.
There is no way the Sellafield joint unions are going to support building a Geological Disposal Facility locally if Sellafield and our community has no future.
We will not accept west Cumbria being turned into a nuclear graveyard and dumping ground.
We are asking you to raise the issue of these current contracts awards with the NDA, Government and Sellafield Ltd.
The three trade unions have grave concerns over west Cumbria's real economic benefit from future nuclear missions that may not be as bright as some have forecast.
GMB at Sellafield
Unite at Sellafield
Prospect at Sellafield

Dounreay

11Tonnes of "breeder" material has been transported to Sellafield from Dounreay.

The breeder material consists of rods of natural uranium that had been placed around the core of the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) to produce plutonium. The DFR - the UK's experimental breeder design - operated between 1959 and 1977. Some of the material was sent to Sellafield for reprocessing while the reactor was in operation, but 44 tonnes remained at Dounreay after it shut down.

Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) has now announced that the 32nd and final shipment of 11 tonnes of breeder material that had been removed from the DFR following its closure and stored at Dounreay has arrived at Sellafield for reprocessing.

A further 33 tonnes of breeder material remains within the DFR and is scheduled to be sent to Sellafield in a second phase of transports. Purpose-built retrieval equipment has been installed above the reactor and is currently undergoing testing, DSRL said. Transfer of the remaining breeder material to Sellafield is expected to be completed around the end of 2017 and will involve a further 60 or so transports.

Westinghouse

Yesterday Westinghouse announced that they have opened a new office at Westlakes to support the delivery of existing decommissioning and remediation contracts with Sellafield Ltd and in the future, the development of the Moorside new nuclear build project with NuGen.

The new office at Westlakes will be the base for up to 40 people initially. The new team will work closely with Westinghouse's U.K. head office at Chorley in Lancashire.  – Let's hope they contact the nuclear recruiter of choice (That's NuExec in case you lost interest in my opening gambit) to assist in the recruitment of their team.

BECBC June

I finally, after what seems like a lifetime, was back at BECBC this week. It was quite strange really and I felt a bit like the new girl. It was great that we celebrated our 250th member and the cluster is growing in numbers and standing within the industry.

The first presentation was from Atkins:

Atkins - Martin Grant CEO

Established 1938

Whitehaven Office opened in 1987

in 1990's acquired Faithful & Gould

Employ 18,000 staff worldwide turnover 1.75bn

London 2012 Olympics

Engineering infrastructure, design, project managing enabling works, site clearance and remediation, environmental impact assessment.

Burj Al Arab

Architecture, civil and structural engineering.

ITER France

Architect engineer for the building and civil infrastructures for ITER

What we do

We deliver engineering, design and consultancy solutions to the oil and gas, nuclear, renewables, electrical generation, transmission and distribution sectors all over the world.

Nuclear New Build Programme - UAE

Appointed to act as the lenders technical adviser for the UAE's nuclear power project at Barakah

Deepwater Flowlines - Gulf of Mexico

Responsible for the integrity management pf all of BP's deepwater flowlines.

Off Shore Wind

Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay

Feasibility studies, engineering design and geotechnical expertise

North America

UK

Middle East

India

Europe

Australia

Building a new office at Westlakes Science Park

House 200 people

Open 31st July

Bringing the breadth and depth of Atkins capability to West Cumbria

Contribute significantly to exciting opportunities which lie ahead in this region.

Exciting future in the region.

10 - 12 apprentices at varying levels. Grow them through to chartership if they have the ability and interest.

CforLP – Bright Stars

There was an absolutely fantastic presentation from CforLP and Arlecdon School. They spoke about the Bright Stars programme run by CforLP and what fantastic benefits it has for schools, children, charity and business.

The piece de resistance during the presentation was when four of the children that took part spoke. This was no easy task considering there were at least 120 business people in front of them in the auditorium. They spoke about how the Bright Stars programme worked in their school about how they came up with ideas, worked as a team, were innovative and very entrepreneurial and also about how much money they made for charity. The presentation finished with one little girl completing her speech by saying "The bright stars competition taught me how to come up with an idea and put it into action. I think every company here should get involved next year to inspire lots of other children"

So there you have it if you want to inspire primary school kids who will be your future of your business then contact Sarah at CforLP who will give you details of how businesses can get involved. – By the way that little girl is already spoken for!

NIA

Speaking about the industry

Over 50,000 people employed in the sector in the UK

Burges Salmon Glossary or nuclear terms

NIA UK Jobs Map

54,515 jobs throughout NIA membership broken into areas.

Supply Chain Partnership

www.nuclearscp.org

More work for SME's

CoNE – Barry Watkinson gave a CoNE update

New Chair - Paul Howarth

Cone Sectors

Business

R&D

Infrastructure

Comms

Skills

Commercialising Decommissioning

Identifying and enabling commercial opportunities from existing and future nuclear missions to support the growth of Cumbria!

SME Update – Kurt Canfield

Things are slow across the NDA estate. Spending review in September, Government.

Cumbrian Excellence Day been push to do again but will probably be next year.

Strategy approved for Cone for Business strand

NuGen

NuGen announced Tom Samson as the new Chief Executive as of the 1st June. He is a globally-renowned mega-infrastructure development specialist, with extended experience in developing organisational structures, corporate governance, and joint-venture partnership relations.

He will be leaving his post as Chief Operating Officer at Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), based in Abu Dhabi, where he has helped develop the company delivering new nuclear units at Barakah, which will supply up to 25 per cent of the Emirate's electricity by 2020.

Mr. Samson will continue to drive NuGen forward to create a company capable of delivering the next generation of nuclear reactors to provide safe, reliable and secure electricity to the United Kingdom with the planned development and delivery of the Moorside Project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe. The project aims to build three reactors capable of producing seven per cent of the UK's future electricity at the site, to the north and west of Sellafield, West Cumbria.

Mr. Samson will now lead NuGen as the company takes forward detailed plans for one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe, on the path to becoming a leading UK power producer.

Also in the last couple of weeks NuGen have launched a YouTube channel featuring films outlining plans for the Moorside Project. So if you have a spare 5 minutes have a watch.

CforLP

Leadership@Lunch seminar in partnership with BEC
Guest Speaker: John Elliott
Theme: Business Growth and Innovation
John Elliot a leading innovator in the manufacturing field and founder and former chairman of Ebac, who produce half the water coolers in the UK.  John demonstrates the importance of innovation and the success that can be found in a specialised field. He illustrates how diversification is important; but always within the context of one's core business.

Wednesday 15th July
12 noon - 1.30pm (including business networking lunch)
Samuel Lindow Building, Westlakes Science Park

This event is fully subsidised by the Centre for Leadership Performance and BEC

NuExec Consulting

So it has been a very busy couple of weeks for NuExec Consulting and we are currently recruiting some fantastic opportunities. It isn't long now until our new lady starts so we definitely have the capacity to take on more opportunities. And if your business isn't currently working with us, please do get in touch as I will be focussing more on building the business and the ladies filling the roles with all the exceptional individuals we work with. So if you are recruiting or looking for a new opportunity get in touch: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

So with starting back in the office full time after my operation I decided it was time to get healthy. I have, putting it politely, put on a bit of extra baggage in the past 6 months. With not being able to move much, let alone train, and with my fondness of chocolate, crisps, cake, chips, ice cream, take aways, biscuits – in fact it is probably easier to say because I am a greedy bugger that loves food and I have grown somewhat. As any of my lady readers will know when trying to get back to eating healthy you have to start with a detox. So I decided that I would do a proper detox which involved making my own soup. Now I am not much of a "cooker" more of a "heat it up in the ovener" so this was quite a task. The recipe said I needed to make my own stock – really?! I went to the butchers and asked if I could please have some bones for stock. He told me he couldn't sell me bones for stock due to regulations but he could sell me dog bones! Great so now I was having dog stock. Still I was determined and went home and set my slow cooker to boil the bones for 24 hours.

Next day I spent ages preparing all the vegetables for the stock and then I put it all in the saucepan to cook. Whilst that was happening I took the time to clean the kitchen. So out came the bleach and the tops, floor and cupboard fronts were cleaned. When the soup was ready I got my blender out ready. Now I need to point out I don't know the difference between a blender and a liquidiser. I thought you get the soup pour into the liquidiser (which is the large round thing) switch it on and it blends the soup and then you can pour it in to your tubs ready. So that's what I did. Put the stock and veg now all boiling hot and cooked into the liquidiser and switched it on to number 2 (let's be honest no one has time for number 1) which resulted to boiling hot soup squirting out of the sides all over my feet (OMG burnt feet is the worst) all over the worktops, cupboards, floor, radio, iPad and my bag of medication I had on the side. Whilst screaming I somehow managed to switch off at the socket! I just stood there in complete shock with my feet burning shouting for help. Stefan came into the kitchen and considering boiled bone stock is really fatty and leaves a horrid film over everything he was remarkably calm. Together we cleaned the kitchen and all the unfortunate items that had been caught in the blast. I then, with Stefan's instruction, used the liquidiser and made the soup. On going to eat the soup I just couldn't eat it. The thought of boiled bones just completely put me off!

Until next time.....

Another two weeks have absolutely flown by. I have some exciting things coming up with 3 days in London at the NIA event next week followed by a trip to Warrington, Preston and Oxford the week after. There isn't huge amount of news this week but following is what I know!

Sellafield

This week has seen a real push regarding Women in Engineering, especially in the nuclear industry. Leading ladies from Sellafiled have joined forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers, as part of the national 'Women in Engineering Week' (WiEW).

The week aims to encourage young women to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, and give them a taste of what being an engineer in the nuclear industry is about.

Sellafield kicked off the week at the 'FabLab' in Cockermouth, challenging a group of female apprentices from the company to construct a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), similar to the technology used for the remote handling of items within the nuclear industry.

With help from senior female engineers from Sellafield Ltd, the apprentices used the internals of a remote control car and a robotic arm to build the ROV.

Whilst I mention FabLab I spent a lovely day on Tuesday as their neighbour at the Innovus innovation event at Rheged where I was representing BECBC. The FabLab are changing their name from Bec FabLab to FabLab Cockermouth. Now I don't think enough people know about this facility and the fantastic stuff they can do. It is open to businesses for use of things like the 3d Printer and clever laser stuff but it is also open to kids. Quite often it is open of a weekend where families can go in and make stuff. My girls had a great time building gliders that actually work. I would really recommend that you get in touch with them and see what they can do for your business.

Anyhow, back to the Women in Engineering story:

In the UK, just 13 per cent of workers in STEM industries are female. With the looming skills gap facing the energy sector and engineering disciplines, it has never been more important to increase gender diversity by encouraging women to choose an education and career in STEM.

Sellafield Ltd is proud to be ahead of the curve when it comes to education, training and recruitment. More than 25 per cent of those in training at the site are female — against an industry average of just four per cent — and the company hopes to improve this figure through future recruitment drives.

The company continually strives to push these young women to reach their full potential, challenging their skills and innovative thinking on a daily basis to climb higher in their nuclear career.

Sellafield Spend

In my last blog I mentioned how much the lower supply chain companies are struggling due to the evident lack of work coming out of Sellafield. Well it seems it isn't just the lower Tier's struggling but tier 2s are also suffering from severe project cuts, and projects that were promised that just aren't coming out. Even those who have been awarded contracts aren't getting any work from them. This is resulting in companies of all Tier levels having to lay people off.

What I don't understand is that apparently Sellafield have more money than last year so why aren't they spending it? Apparently they are trying to keep more work in house as oppose to putting it out to the supply chain.  I really hope this is rectified soon and the pain is released from these companies who have fantastic skills and abilities who are really struggling.

Supply Chain News

Oxford Technologies

I was absolutely delighted to hear that our friends at Oxford Technologies have won a part in the lead design and safety case consultant contract for the Dounreay Shaft and Silo decommissioning project.

They are in a consortium with M&W Group, 3T Safety Consultants and Sanderson Watts Associates.

The project will cover design, safety and environment case development as well as construction management support. This major 7-year contract forms an integral part of the programme of works to decommission and restore the Dounreay site.

The project will establish new retrieval, processing and packaging facilities that will enable waste from the Dounreay Shaft and Silo to be treated safely and securely, rendering it suitable for long-term storage and future disposal.

Used for over 40 years to store Intermediate Level Waste (ILW), the existing 65 metre deep shaft is the deepest storage area of its kind in the world and decommissioning the Shaft and Silo presents a number of unique technical and engineering challenges.

It was great to see M&W partnering with a fantastic SME like Oxford Technologies who have a fantastic innovative business.

NIS

NIS have specialised in complex welding and fabrication techniques for more than 30 years and have recently achieved EN 1090 Execution Class 3.

EN 1090 has four defined execution classes (EXC). Each class mandating its own set of requirements, with complexity and engineering effort increasing as the number rises. Though EXC2 is the most common specification, given their well established capability EXC3 was the standard they reached for and achieved.

This additional EXC3 accreditation will allow them to add to their core business streams of Mechanical Handling equipment, gloveboxes and containments to allow them to manufacture supporting structures made of steel up to strength class S700 and structural components made of aluminium alloys.

NuGen

NuGen announced earlier this week that Robert Armour has been appointed by the board as Deputy Chairman of the company.

Mr. Armour brings over 25 years' experience in the UK nuclear sector, having formerly been General Counsel and Corporate Affairs Director of British Energy Group, and, before that, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser at Scottish Nuclear.

Mr Armour was a pivotal member of the British Energy team during the government-backed restructuring of the company between 2002-2005, and instrumental in the turnaround of British Energy's nuclear performance.

Having been a board member of a UK nuclear licencee for over a decade and as a former member of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, his experience will help the Board to develop the organisation of the company, and to position it with key external stakeholders, as it progresses the Moorside development.

Since 2010, Mr. Armour has been Senior Counsel in the London office of Gowlings, an international legal practice, advising on nuclear and wider energy matters. He is also a non-executive director of the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, Albion Community Power plc, and chair of Smarter Grid Solutions Ltd.

In 2013 Mr. Armour chaired the Expert Commission on Energy Regulation established by the Scottish Government looking at future regulatory models. Previously he was a director of Equiniti David Venus, a Board Governance consultancy, and chair of the Scottish Council for the Development of Industry (SCDI).

n-eboc 15

I wanted to remind you all about the fantastic n-eboc15 event that is coming up in October. This is going to be a fantastic event that will be all about nuclear opportunities and how to access them. Following is some information:

About n-eboc15

Find out all you need to know about what will be going on at n-eboc15 this October.

Cumbria will have the largest nuclear and third largest infrastructure investment in the UK over the next 10 years and that is set to create tremendous business opportunities.

n-eboc15 will offer a platform to find out about real opportunities in the nuclear sector in and around West Cumbria, including sessions on:

Research and Development

Nuclear New Build

UK Submarine Programme

Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste

The n-eboc15 conference will showcase how the investments are creating real prospects for business.

Whatever your role in the nuclear supply chain, there will be opportunities for you at n-eboc15.

There are still delegate tickets and limited sponsorship available but the dinner has already sold out. Following is a link to the website so don't delay click today! http://www.n-eboc.co.uk/

NuExec Consulting

Well it has been an extremely exciting week for us at NuExec with the arrival of our new lady Sarah. She is settling into the team well and she will be flying in no time at all. Bringing her on board will allow me to get out and about more to keep bringing in the opportunities for the business. Considering how bad things are in the industry at the moment we are very fortunate to have a number of roles and be working with a number of fantastic candidates. If you are currently recruiting or looking for a new role please do get in touch.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

At the weekend we went down to Birmingham for the weekend because as a Father's Day treat we were having a tour of the Cadburys factory. I had booked a lovely hotel with a swimming pool and the girls were looking forward to going for a swim. We settled into the room and then decided we would go swimming. I did the real "girl" thing to do and put my swimming costume on in the room and then got back dressed over the top and then headed down to the pool. The girls and I got changed and then we walked through to the pool area. It was really busy and Stefan was already in the water. I had three towels that I needed to put on the side I walked round the pool one way but couldn't get through so had to walk round the whole pool dodging people as I went. I then found a place to put the towels by the window that looked over into the reception area. I could swear the man gave me a strange look but thought nothing of it and started a conversation with a nice family. Then I walked all the way back around the pool where Stefan and the girls were. I was about to get into the pool and Stefan shouted to me: "Are you really going to get in the pool like that?" "What do you mean" I said "What's wrong with my costume." Suddenly there was laughter from a number of people and I looked down to realise that I still had my brown frilly bra on over my black swimsuit. I was absolutely mortified as everyone joined in the laughter at my sheer embarrassment. I rushed to a packed changing room and took my bra off and threw it into the locker. I walked back out to the pool and still everyone was laughing. I got in the pool and said to the girls that I couldn't believe that they hadn't told me. Caity, my eight year old, said that she thought it would be really funny if I got in the pool wearing it and that was why she hadn't told me. As I swam over to Stefan swamped with embarrassment he turned to me and said: "Look on the bright side at least you have an "It could only happen to me" for your blog!

Until next time.....

I have certainly been on my travels since I last wrote. I have had a weekend in Manchester and Towcester for the Grand Prix, I have had three days in London, one day in Warrington and two days in Oxford. I think I have forgotten what my bed looks like! The good news though is with all this travel comes lots of news that I can share with you. I took copious notes at the NIA New Build event which hopefully will be of interest to you.

Sellafield

I went to the Nuclear Forum in Birchwood on Monday and there was an interesting presentation from Sellafield procurement which I wanted to share with you:

They have had their biggest procurement change in February with new law changes in UK procurement law.

New payment terms have been introduced so tier 2 companies are paid quicker and they have been instructed to flow this down the supply chain.

Limitation have been introduced on pre-qualification questions below threshold requirements nearly excluding them altogether.

Below £70k no PPQ

Fewer questions on PPQ's

1.6bn was spent in supply chain last financial year

Last financial year they made £40mil in savings

20% Spend with SME's - Now obviously regarding this spend I asked what percentage of this was spent with ASW's as opposed to SME's.  He told me he couldn't answer and said the NDA give them their figures and I would have to ask them how much of it is ASW spend. So imagine my delight when I heard Ron Gorham was going to be at the BECBC sector group meeting. So when he mentioned SME spend I asked him and I got an answer that made me really really happy. He told me that the spend is actually 21% and the figure comes from SL's and the top 25 tier 2's. They have someone who checks in to each business using the EU definition of an SME and Dun & Bradstreet to confirm they are an SME. So for all of us who have been thinking (and I would say it is probably 90% of the supply chain) over the last couple of years that the majority of that spend is on ASW's - we were wrong! I am so pleased I was wrong too as knowing that the figure or percentage is proper SME usage is really encouraging and commendable!

Sellafield budget set 1.95 Bn - increased work will continue to rise into the supply chain - it really doesn't feel like that right now and speaking to a number of companies whilst out on my travels they are all really feeling the pain. A number have had to make redundancies, some have had to put their recruitment on hold and others have made the hard decision to pull out of even trying to win work at Sellafield anymore. It is such a shame and I don't think anyone is to blame, it is more circumstance and timing but I really hope things start moving again soon.

A third supplier for boxes coming to market soon

Cranes - £100-250mn tenders in

Shield doors and tanks and vessels approved by NDA and moving forward

Procurement plan on website

Made an SME cut of procurement plan for ease

Publishing this year's procurement strategy document

Listening to suppliers second publication called procurement on a page so lower tiers can gauge if the opportunities are of interest

Sellafield supplier forum 15th September at Energus - keep a look on the website for information on attendance

Sellafield performance plan another document printed

Heat map of where SME's are and where tier 2's are

Sellafield - Fukushima

A team of West Cumbrian experts has been helping tackle one of the most complex nuclear clean-up challenges faced anywhere in the world, at the tsunami-stricken Fukushima plant.

A group of Sellafield workers have spent five days at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility in Japan, which was devastated by the 2011 tsunami and is now in the process of being decommissioned.

The trip is part of Sellafield's ongoing commitment to give support to TEPCO FDEC (Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination and Decommissioning Engineering Company), the company charged with the painstaking task of cleaning up the site.

This mutual commitment between Sellafield Ltd and TEPCO FDEC was formalised in a co-operation agreement, signed by the two companies in 2014, which would see them exchange knowledge, experience and skills on an on-going basis to ultimately help decommission both plants as quickly and safely as possible.

NIA Nuclear New Build Conference

Day 1

Alan Raymant – COO Horizon – Wylfa

2013 should have commenced but don't feel they have failed. A lot has happened in that time including Fukishima. It is a marathon not a sprint. There are many stakeholders with huge investment. Framework is in place and delivering.

Wylfa & Oldbury – Hitachi GE's delivery partner are clear what their mission is - building an organisation which is running the power station. Site development at stage 3 generic design process. It is a challenging process. Last year's ground investigations won project of the year with Atkins.

End of tech assessment end of 2017

Development consent 2018

Nuclear Site Licence 2018

Final investment decision early 2019

Very complex and working with an extensive range of stakeholders. Having already spent £80Mil in UK supply chain it is a long journey and they will have difficult moments. Need to work together to ensure delivery. They continue to make strong progress using proven technology.

GDA – their key challenge is translating into UK regulatory language as it is already approved in Japan, Korea and US.

Within next couple of months they hope to have Tier 1 partners in place.

Tom Samson – COO NuGen

Toshibas entry a year ago gave the project a new lease of life. It is now really picking up momentum. In the next 3 years is the development stage and they are focused on a final investment decision in 2018. Mid 20's power to grid.

His wife is Cumbrian and he is very excited to be involved in Moorside. He says West Cumbria is the heartland of nuclear with legacy and experience. He told how the public consultation has had positive community support.

They have finalised land options and approved with the NDA. Site characterisation is ongoing. Westinghouse and Toshiba is a strong team. They have competencies and experience to deliver.

They are working with the ONR to define NuGen as a nuclear operator. Impressed with the educational and training facilities in West Cumbria.

Clarity and purpose to the project is needed as he had in Abu Dhabi. He says it is essential to make sure public perception is at the forefront. Make sure they understand that nuclear is an essential part of the energy mix.

With regard to training he says you have to spend big. They are currently trying to build up a Tier 1 consortium to sign up to risk allocation and delivery.

EDF – Paul Spence

Hinkley Point C

57% delivered in the UK. Invested £11m in training. This project is paving the way for Sizewell C. They are learning from experience and achieving a lot. They are getting ready for a final investment decision but wouldn't specify when this would be. Working with the NIA to get SME's involved. They have helped 20 companies in Somerset to set up a consortium supplying food for workers.

They are practicing what they do before doing it. Building on a computer using 3d and 4d modelling to see any problems and to work out a sequence of construction.

Martin Westbury – Laing O'Rourke

Boygues and Laing O'Rourke working together on Hinkley Point C. Scope of work 2 EPR's and 64 buildings. It is all about reinforcement and concrete. Lots of 2D and 3D modelling.

Ian Graves – Sector Director of Power – Costain

Engineering solutions provider celebrating 150 years. In the last 5 years they have been the largest provider of engineering services to the UK nuclear industry.

They have a JV called Construct Energy in partnership with Sir Robert McAlpine, Hochief and Heitkamp. All marine works which includes tunnelling water in and out, jetty, factories and associated works.

Working closely with EDF to deliver. Committed to using local companies and local people. Want to work with SME's register to work with them at:

http://costain.com/suppliers/becoming-a-supplier/

Andrea Leadsom – MP for Energy and Climate Change

Nuclear is critical in the Government goals. By 2030 all but one reactor would have shut down. Nuclear offers lower priced bills to the consumer and lower CO2. Committed to new nuclear expansion. The plan is Hinkley C 2023 start generation. There will be 5 new nuclear builds generating 35% of electricity saving 40 million tonnes of carbon. 35000 jobs created at peak. Wants to see UK exporting capabilities to other Countries.

Recognising skills gaps the Government have funded a number of initiatives.

GDF has to go ahead as there needs to be a permanent solution to waste storage.

Simon Carter – UKTI

Support for UK exporters. HVO Programmes:

434 current nuclear sites

69 Under construction

272 new build proposed

145 reactors decommissioned by 2030.

Significant UK firms could capture a part of these investments. UK companies need to get involved with these global opportunities.

Would like better engagement with SME's.

Jean-Pol Poncelet

Spoke about how UK nuclear is viewed in Europe.

Panel Debate regarding overseas trading. Key to delivering overseas:

Engage early, do research, respect culture and language, never assume, know your offering, know your niche, understand what already exists, focus on stakeholder management, patience, collaboration and investment.

Dame Sue Ion

Gave a fantastic passionate presentation about the industry and our fabulous R&D facilities.

She spoke about Small Module Reactors and said that the supply chain must be involved in this as there are currently no global suppliers and could be very lucrative and a first. There is only a small window of opportunity so companies interested must get involved now!

This was more of a social event than an opportunity to promote. I had a good chat with Mike Smith and cleared up any animosity regarding my comments regarding CONE. We discussed perception and how this could be changed and spoke about his career and the place of Gen2.

Day 2

John Cridland Director General CBI

Spoke about new build of a bridge and how long it took to happen. Presented a 5 point plan about finance to SME's, innovation, skills, entrepreneurs and infrastructure.

This country under invests in infrastructure and the UK is lagging behind. Private finance will have to invest as the Government can't.

Work between government and business is a global debate.

Government need to make decisions and not dither.

Business want a balanced energy mix and nuclear is critical to that.

Nuclear provided 20% energy mix with all but one station to close we need new build but we take too long to get the new build through planning and Government political processes.

In the medium to long term there is no substitute to investing and building in nuclear new build. Need to bring the users of energy along in the debate.

Won't hit carbon targets without nuclear. Government right to support nuclear. Hinckley point c will be first and getting that right will fire the gun for the rest of the nuclear fleet.

Hold politicians to account and make sure nuclear doesn't fall off the agenda.

Need to ensure Hinkley isn't an only child.

Significant opportunities will come with the new build. 12 nuclear reactors at 5 sites. 16 GW of power. Not just end destination, the journey gives huge growth opportunities. Medium businesses and non entrants will get opportunity. There is a total commercial turnover of £4bn.

£36bn into the UK supply chain.

Must help supply chain gear up to Europe's largest construction project.

Have to act now, can't wait and have to have an environment to make the most of nuclear. UK business in the supply chain have to have the right skills to get behind the infrastructure.

Horizon - Wylfa

Leon Flexman - Head of corporate affairs

Delivering Wylfa

Cooperative working with Hitachi.

Joint working - Hitachi GE technology, Hitachi Horizon owner making Horizon Nuclear Power. Sole shareholder allows total collaboration.

Joint working is critical for information exchange. Joint teams and shared locations, integrated approach to all aspects of the project.

London, Liverpool, Gloucester and Wylfa are their office locations.

Joint safety case office.

On schedule to deliver

Culture integration – there is continued growth of the Japanese team in UK and regular visits from the UK to Japan. People are having culture awareness training to gain trust and mutual respect.

Growing mutual understanding - focus on what all parties can bring to the Project, sharing knowledge and experience. Hitachi has decades of experience of NNB in Japan.

They want to have a shared commitment with supply chain as they have internally.

Shiro Akahori - Deputy Project Director Hitachi Europe

Has spent 2 months in the UK and is happy to meet so many people in the industry.

Hitachi GE (Japan) under front end engineering and design

30 full time staff

50 Contractors

250 in Japan

A lot of the senior management is now based in the UK

Formed in 1912

320000 employees global

Wants to share learnings of experience from Japan

4 reactors generating 3 under construction all delivered to time and cost

Learnings proven technology and an established supply chain.

Been developing technology for 50 years of ABWR

30 engineers supporting them on the GDA in the UK.

Nothing is taken for granted or assumed. Modular construction is an integral part of construction. It isn't a new technology but believe it must be bespoke to Horizon by injecting learning from past projects. Need to have the right people in the right place in the team.

In UK been in negotiations with Tier 1 & 2 over the past 2 years.

Put together the right team with proven international experience will give the best opportunity to succeed.

Feel increasingly at home here like a real British Company.

Achieved meaningful goals since arriving in the UK.

Tim Davies - Head of UK Supply Chain Hitachi Europe

Hitachi acquired horizon in 2012. Owner and operator.

Equipment and hardware. Hitachi make their own and will be utilising their own facilities.

Horizon is the overall project lead.

Engineering - progressing GDA

Procurement - goods and services

Construction - pulling team together

Want to leave a positive legacy. Working with local, national and global companies that can show commitment to the project. Will treat them all with respect and integrity.

Suppliers need to demonstrate quality, safety, value for money, right first time and continuous improvement.

Every supplier must be commercially attractive. Best offer for the work scope and demonstrate it is cost effective.

Thoroughly assessing the supply chain and working with them on improving.

Horizon main customer

Global EPC - Hitachi GE and tier 1 partner

Tier 2 - multi national nuclear experience (supplier a and b)

Tier 3 - nuclear experience (supplier c,d & e)

Have existing suppliers for reactor internals and will come from Japan

Already looking at local supply chain for some components

Will utilise UK and EU supply chain

Tier 1 selection process is moving well

Construction team under discussion

Tier 2 studies

Looking at UK and EU for potential equipment & hardware

Suppliers www.horizonnuclearpower.com/suppliers

Supplier event 23rd July

Long and challenging commercial process and want to work with supply chain and stakeholders. Working with respect and collaboratively.

Supply chain event at Llandudno - national and local event giving updates and starting conversations with supply chain. Launching supply chain charter.

Looking to EPC partners to deliver scope

Make clear what is needed to get past the fence.

Collaboration with Japanese companies is possible. Integrate more companies from Japan into the UK.

Working with nuclear amrc.  Need smaller companies to get involved with fit for nuclear. People need to understand what it takes to supply them.

Tier 2 and 3 should be helping other companies learn about nuclear and what the smaller companies need to do to develop.

David Edwards - Chief Exec ECITB

Investing in training and skills ready for the new build programme

Excellent organisations that can run training programmes however if everyone is doing things in a fragmented manner then we will struggle. Coherence and collaboration are needed as not one organisation has all the answers.

80,000 people will be required over the next decade in nuclear

Spend early spend big in skills

All training organisations need to work in partnership together.

Transferability in skills is key

ECITB also cover Oil & Gas

Manage £30mil an annum

Panel discussion on skills

Encouraging more people into STEM

Encouraging collaboration between training providers and companies.

Gen2 have been thinking about new build skills since 2012 and looked for an international partner who have delivered operator training needed for plant operations.

Gen2 supported Horizon

Looking to run courses on nuclear operation and have a mock reactor for the programme.

Educational and skills supply chain need to collaborate.

The problem is that there isn't time in the curriculum for businesses to engage with schools.

Need to keep message simple and try and match it into the curriculum.

Gen2 use their apprentices to go into schools and sell the apprenticeship programme.

Perception of apprenticeships need to change. It isn't just about bricklayers and carpenters. Engineers, accountants and many more apprenticeship programmes are available and it is not to be seen as an option for under achievers but another route to excellent skills training.

Nuclear needs good well rounded engineers which is right across many industries. They just need nuclear learning. Industry need to learn that nuclear isn't special and they have to value skills from other industries.

Retraining of older people? Is this being done? In Wales they are looking at it and want to set up a training centre for people who want to do the jobs new build will bring. Attract people back to North Wales.

Somerset looking at brokering skills and are looking at people of other ages to train not just apprentice ages.

Knowledge transfer is an issue and we need to ensure we don't lose all the knowledge when people retire.

Invest in people now or they won't be around when you need them.

Moorside Project - NuGen

Gary Shuttleworth - Director of Corporate Affairs

It is going to be about collaboration.

Change of shareholding has been a lot of work but has invigorated the project.

They built the team and this was important in growth. NuGen come together and has clarity of purpose.

There is a consultation process

NuGen made up with engie (GDA suez), Westinghouse and Toshiba

They will construct 3 AP1000

Provide 7% of UK future electricity

Create 14 - 21k jobs

Larger nuclear project in the UK

Largest private investment in Cumbria

Engage up to 60% UK companies to deliver project

2020 first concrete

2024 operational first unit

2027 fully operational

100 year plus journey

Shaping the future now

Consultation ends 25th July

Objectives:

Employment

Skills and training

Supply chain

Local economy

Transport

Health

Environment

Regeneration

Moved from London to Manchester and have 2 offices in Cumbria. - Westlakes and Civic Hall.

Make sure BECBC members go online and have their say on the consultation.

Grenville Harrop - Director EPC development Westinghouse

Ap1000 PWR reactor

Passively safe

Strong licensing pedigree

Simplified design and modular construction

Modular nature

Structural modules

Mechanical modules

Shield building wall modules

Site investigations has commenced

AP1000 is right for Moorside

17th unit built in China and U.S.

First of a kind risk is lost making the process easier. Although will still be site specific requirements.

AP1000 is being constructed as a fleet. Will bring a lot in by sea.

George Beveridge - Sellafield

There is only one nuclear industry and we all need to work together not separate decom and new build.

Nuclear new build is already underway at Sellafield and brings many challenges on a nuclear site. Facilities essential for legacy ponds and silos.

Only by cleaning up legacy will people have confidence in the next generation of nuclear power. Government need to continue to invest in the NDA to allow decommissioning to happen.

Nuclear pioneers at Sellafield. Sellafield is the biggest construction site in Europe and NuGen and Sellafield will be pulling on the same resource. Working together to ensure the skills are available. 170 apprentices a year. Have a collaboration agreement with NuGen.

SME - optimum opportunity to work alongside supply chain. Small businesses are vital to local business health. 20% target spend with SME's last year. Collaboration key to success. Work with local businesses to create local jobs.

Nuclear Decommissioning Sector Group

This meeting was held at the fantastic facilities of Oxford Technologies. I was very lucky to get my own personal tour first thing - See it's not what you know it is who you know! I have to say I was absolutely blown away with this piece of technology they have called Dexter. Now I know my explanation won't do it any justice but in short it is a remote handling robotic arm that can move like a hand to handle things like test tubes, clamps and even a game of jenga. Now the really exciting thing is you are not only in a different room to control it, but you can be up to 4km away and will be moving things with the movement of your hand in real time. It absolutely blew me away and I am sure if anyone is interested they will happily give you a demonstration.

The first presentation was given by Alan Rolfe, MD of Oxford Technologies

Established in 2000 spin off from the Jet project

Professional Engineering Services & Bespoke Products

Remote Handling Applications

2014 / 15 revenue £4.25m

53 Professional Engineers and Technicians

100% Staff owned

Markets

Nuclear Fusion

JET

ITER

High Energy Physics

MTRRHA, ESS

CERN,Mu2e

Hiper

Nuclear Decommissioning

Dounreay

Sellafield

Harwell

Developing Markets

Space

Off Shore

CBRNe

Medical

Life blood is Collaboration

Collaborate with a number of companies - big or small or educational. Not hung up on IP just want to make things work.

Remote Handling Solutions

Plant manipulation and maintenance environments hazardous to people

Dextrous manipulation up to 4km in real-time

Have offices and assembly, integration and test facilities

Stephen Sanders, Nuclear Technologies, Nuclear Fusion

Stephen is a lovely chap and has such passion for the industry and this came across in his lovely enthusiastic presentation which was full of energy

Remote Handling

Plant maintenance tasks in environments hazardous to people

Dextrous manipulation over distance in real time

Humans are in the loop, not robotics

Core Business - Large scale transporters and remote tools

ITER - 10 X Volume of Jet

Want to get 10x more out than what they put in. It is a testing facility and an enormous facility with lots of opportunity.

Supporting ITER

Remote Handling

Vacuum Group - Direct Contract

Machine Assembly & Installation - Framework via Jacobs

Plasma Diagnostics Engineering Support

F4E Remote Handling Support - Direct Framework

EU Remote Handling Systems

A number of contracts coming out and being won

There are a number of manufacturing procurements coming out with lots of metal type work so he urged companies to get registered so they don't miss out on all this potential work.

http://www.iter.org  - Forthcoming tenders have a look at the opportunities

Dounreay Shaft & Silo Project - M&W Consortium including Oxford Technologies

Providing design and safety case support to the project.

65m deep shaft

4.6m Diameter

Waste is mixed between solid and sludge waste

Sellafield Procurement Update

Sellafield Ion Exchange Effluent Plant - technical dialogue with a number of suppliers on 3rd August

NDA & SL executives having internal strategic partner workshops, planned procurement Autumn 2015.

The budget has not been cut and spending more than ever in the supply chain

2015 supplier forum 15th September Energus

Procurement plan being updated again.

Current CTM Opps

247 Self Shielded Boxes

Provision of Civil Inspection and Topographical

Fork Lift Truck and Belly Grab

Infra - Transport Telematics

Commercial & project Controls Strategic Partner

LLWR

Procurement Plan will be on website next month

Metal waste treatment strategy hope to publish ITT in late August

Packaging, storage and consultancy waste contracts coming out but re looking at the lotting for it.

Magnox - Key Messages

Magnox is undergoing a substantial period of transition

How they engage with suppliers will be changing

The recent re-structuring within Magnox is not a sign they aren't committed to meeting programme goals

Going through a review of future supply chain requirements

Ron Gorham - NDA

I really enjoy seeing Ron present. He has real personality that comes across in his presentation making him engaging and more importantly believable.

Contracts Finders is where to look for procurements must register it is where the NDA estate will do business.

Their annual report isn't a bad read and is available on their website. Ron said they have not had a bad year as an estate. Good messages.

1.4bn spent in the supply chain

21% SME spend

£65Mil Savings

NDA estate is not a protected area with regard to funding

Supply chain do a lot of important things for the NDA estate

Target for SME spend will be going up and they will flow it down to the SL's and Tier 2's.

NuExec Consulting

With me being out and about so much it has been a busy time in the office. We were delighted to welcome Sarah into the office. She is settling in well and really getting the hang of things. I also have some more really exciting news in that we have just offered another person a role and he will be coming on board with us in September. It really is such an exciting time for us and an opportunity to really build the business. So as always if you are recruiting within your organisation or you are looking for a new role please do get in touch - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It Could Only Happen to Me

As I mentioned earlier in the blog I was in London last week for the NIA New Build Conference representing BECBC and n-eboc 15 (Which is this year's not to miss nuclear opportunities conference so if you haven't yet got tickets get in touch). Now because I was representing the cluster I had a lot of stuff. The girls were both on residentials so they had the suitcases so I had to use a large awkward holdall, with another bag with my laptop, IPad etc in and a banner with promotional items. You may have heard me mention it before but I am certainly not a public transport fan. If I was rich I would travel in first class but I am not so it was standard for me. I booked my ticket on line so I could be in a quiet coach, window seat, with a table and a power socket to enable me to work. So after nearly crashing my car on the way to the station I dragged all my baggage onto the train and sat on my aisle seat with no table other than a pull down tray covered in loads of brown gooey stuff and no socket. Great! So now I wouldn't be able to get any work done. I should probably add that I also get travel sick on trains so I was dosed up on travel tablets and was wearing pressure bands. I managed ok on the train until there was about an hour to go and I suddenly knew that I either had to sleep or be ill so I went to sleep. When we arrived in Euston I struggled to shake myself awake and had an attractive amount or drawl. Anyhow I decided that there was no way I was going to manage on the underground with all my luggage so got a taxi to the hotel. After a bumpy start the room was nice, it had air con and free wifi so I could crack on with some work. I did a few hours then with the help of the navigation on my phone (I have no sense of direction) made my way to the Summer Reception. It was all very nice and I chatted away to a few people and then headed home without any drama! Maybe this trip wasn't going to be so bad after all. Next morning I was up nice and early as I needed to be at the conference hotel for 8am. It was a 30 minute walk and I thought in the lovely sunshine and knowing what the traffic is like that would be my best option. I smiled as I got ready and put on my new Ralph Lauren dress and Clark's light brown suede pumps. Now I know pumps aren't as nice as heels but knowing I had a long walk and would be standing a lot of the day and with my back still recovering I thought they were the sensible option. Now I wasn't bothered that these were new shoes as they were Clark's and everyone knows that Clark's shoes are made for comfort. I headed out with my heavy bag filled with marketing literature (but subsequently I realised no ipad so I had to hand write all my notes and then type them up) and a banner stand. As I started to walk I felt that my shoes seemed to be rubbing slightly. I wasn't too concerned as I had tights on. But then the pain got worse and worse. I searched my bag for plasters only to realise I had left them in my suitcase. When I looked at my heals I saw the tights had been ripped open and my heals were bleeding. I limped on as I couldn't see an alternative and slowly my light brown suede shoes were turning claret red with blood. Considering London is meant to have loads of shops I didn't see a single one. Then about 20 minutes in I saw a garage. I managed to get a packet of plasters and stuck them on over my tights. As I continued to walk though they were still rubbing and the pain was atrocious. Then I got to Lambeth Bridge where I had to cross. I crossed a couple of times and found myself on the bridge with no other option to cross - so with bleeding heals I had to walk the 10 minutes all the way over the bridge to cross over and walk all the way back. By this time not only was I in pain, my shoes were ruined and now I was late! It may have only been 8 minutes by the time I got there but still I was late and I do not cope with being late. I arrived and headed to the toilets where I had to take off the shredded tights and use about 4 plasters on each foot to cover the huge patch of bleeding raw flesh I had on each heal. More than anything I just wanted to find a corner and cry. But I sucked it up and did what I was there to do! Even as I write this though on the train back from Oxford over a week and a half on I still have dressings on and they still hurt like hell.

Until next time.....

Well quiet is an understatement for the industry right now! I get that budgets have gone up and supply chain spend is going to be more, but when is that going to happen? The supply chain is buckling beneath them as having no work is not sustainable. Redundancies are at an all-time high, businesses are closing offices and pulling out of the industry whilst other SME's are having sleepless nights worrying if their business is sustainable in the current climate! – I however remain optimistic and think that come September / October time Sellafield are going to go "Shit we have this money to spend and we haven't spent it – let's start putting contracts out". Then Tier 2's will get busy which will filter to the 3's and 4's and we will recruit all the exceptional individuals they will need to deliver the projects.

So other than hearing how companies are struggling there isn't much news. You probably already know that the DDP contract is having its value cut. From my understanding it is only going to be worth 25% – 30% of the original value - that is a huge blow to companies that have spent hours on the bid for the work.

Sellafield

Strategic Partner

Sellafield are continuing to work to formulate the proposition and strategic need for the market enhanced Site Licence Company concept.

They have consulted widely both within the business and also externally with the Supply Chain. During the consultation they have benchmarked their developing requirement against other collaborative relationships which exist both with the public and private sectors.

The next steps involve their executive team further refining the proposition and adding the detail of how the new arrangements will operate in practice.

Following completion of the necessary governance steps both internal and external, they anticipate engaging the Supply Chain in technical dialogue in the autumn.

Strike in Pay Row

Nearly 400 Sellafield workers are to go on strike in a row over pay.

The GMB announced that the action is being taken on July 28 by the 388 health physics monitors who work at Sellafield.

The action has been called as a row over pay (through a regrading system) rumbles on.

The union says problems with the monitors' pay have been running for at least 15 years. Health physics monitors assess radiological conditions to provide appropriate safety and advice to safeguard personnel, plant and environment.

The GMB union, which represents the workers, has been in talks with Sellafield management for a couple of years. Matters have reached a head, the union says, after all parties thought that an agreement had been reached to settle the issues.

GMB senior organiser Chris Jukes said: "Initially the monitors received an uplift in their grade which led to a major problem with the recognition agreement on site".

"Subsequent re-negotiations led to what we understood to be a situation that could lead to an increase in monitor take home pay. However, in subsequent discussions around criteria for progression to a new rate of pay, it became clear to workplace representatives that there would be an unknown number of monitors benefiting from changes".

"Management subsequently refused to elaborate on their views of the criteria or the number of post holders who would go up in grades. The situation escalated when management refused to negotiate further."

More than 83% of the monitors took part in a ballot for industrial action on July 6. They voted overwhelmingly - almost 98% - in support of taking action.

Mr Jukes said: "It is a crying shame that we have reached this position and there is huge frustration at the complete inertia that exists within the Sellafield culture and the lack of willingness by management to negotiate openly, transparently and with a view to the future."

A statement from Sellafield Ltd said: "The site will continue to be managed safely and securely throughout any action, and the GMB have offered us an assurance that agreed minimum safety manning levels will be maintained throughout any period of action.

"The dispute centres on a fundamental difference of understanding of an agreement by the company to reward a number of health physics monitors who display particular skills and behaviours. The principle that some of those individuals are entitled to further reward is not in contention – the dispute lies in the interpretation of the criteria for further payment".

"Our position is absolutely clear – the principle of offering any level of payment is to further reward those whose work merits further reward."

Nuclear Safety Compromised.

I came across the following article on Thursday:

"Inspectors have demanded action at Sellafield after it was revealed nuclear safety had been compromised".

Officials found a failure to follow Operating Instructions at the Magnox Reprocessing Separation Plant that has resulted in safety breaches.

The report by ONR stated although no harm or release of radioactivity occurred, these incidents "compromised" nuclear safety. It said the site was proactive in identifying some of the problems but it was "necessary" to issue the Improvement Notice, which must be complied with by September 30 next year.

An inspector said: "The main area of concern was a failure to follow Operating Instructions, which are measures in place to keep the plant safe. Although no harm or release of radioactivity occurred, these incidents compromised nuclear safety."

There were 14 occasions in 2014 where safety limits and conditions were breached in the Magnox Reprocessing Separation plant. Bosses have pledged to improve the "shortfalls" with a programme developed prior to the Improvement Notice being served.

An ONR Spokesman added: "Sellafield Ltd acknowledges the importance of good conduct of operations and was already developing a programme of improvements prior to this Improvement Notice being served. ONR welcomes this strong commitment to improve standards at the Magnox Reprocessing Separation Plant."

A Sellafield Ltd spokeswoman said: "We have acknowledged these concerns and have implemented an improvement programme to rectify them. The ONR has welcomed our commitment to this piece of work. At no point were there any adverse effects to our workforce, the general public or the environment."

Sellafield Ltd was served with an Improvement Notice by the Office for Nuclear Regulation yesterday because of a number of incidents at a reprocessing plant on the site."

My personal opinion is this isn't a big deal and this will no doubt be used against Sellafield by the anti nuc's who have no real understanding of the industry.

BBC Four Goes Nuclear Season

So I am really excited that cameras are being allowed behind the scenes at Sellafield.

Physicist Jim Al-Khalili will present Britain's Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield and aim to tell the story of the country's often controversial nuclear industry.

The show, part of the BBC Four Goes Nuclear season, promises "unprecedented access to some of the country's most secret buildings" and examination of incidents including the 1957 fire at the site and subsequent controversy over radioactive leaks.

Other programmes include a Storyville documentary about the atomic age using archive footage and complete with a score by Mogwai and a film about the men and women who built the first atomic bomb in the dying days of World War Two.

BBC Four's channel editor Cassian Harrison said: "BBC Four Goes Nuclear will give our audiences a chance to contemplate the history and the extraordinary potential of our nuclear age. We have unique access to Britain's most renowned nuclear facility with the documentary Britain's Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield, alongside other captivating new and archive programmes for the channel. BBC Four Goes Nuclear will consider the nuclear age from all sides - its ground-breaking opportunities as well as its terrifying dangers."

The Sellafield programme is an hour long and should be aired on the 10th August at 9pm. Here is the synopsis:

Lying on the remote northwest coast of England is one of the most controversial places in Britain: the nuclear facility known as Sellafield. In this one-off documentary, BBC Four have been given unprecedented access to some of the country's most secret buildings, revealing the extraordinary experiments, the jaw-dropping technology, and the costly science behind Britain's attempts to harness the power of the atom.

Nuclear physicist Jim Al-Khalili uncovers the story of Sellafield: from the headlong rush to develop nuclear weapons and nuclear power to terrifying accidents, like the Windscale fire and leaks of radioactive material into the sea; from public opposition to the latest reprocessing techniques.

Jim examines the ways waste and spent fuel rods have been stored here over the last 70 years and the latest attempts to try and clean some of it up, from storage in vast open air ponds to encasing pieces of old reactors in concrete blocks. Jim looks at the latest efforts and considers whether, 65 years on, we are any closer to a solution to the problem of nuclear waste.

And throughout the programme, Jim will conduct his own experiments, demonstrating the scientific discoveries that lie at the heart of Britain's journey into the nuclear age.

I will be on holiday but I will definitely be videoing it (How old am I – does anyone even have video's anymore?) and watching it with interest on my return.

NDA

A webinar sharing session has provided valuable feedback to researchers, businesses and sites involved in a series of innovative projects focused on nuclear decommissioning and waste.

Innovate UK, the NDA and DECC are funding the collaborative R&D and feasibility studies, which are aimed at encouraging innovation in the civil nuclear fission power sector and developing a robust, innovative UK supply chain.

The research projects are being undertaken across the UK. They involve partnerships between supply chain businesses and nuclear sites.

In 2014, a competition by Innovate UK (with NDA and DECC) awarded funding support to help UK businesses benefit from the growing opportunities in all sectors of the nuclear industry, including power generation and decommissioning.  The competition's priorities were to foster:

technology transfer sharing from other sectors and companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Last month, Innovate UK's Knowledge Transfer Network streamed decommissioning and waste management presentations from participating organisations. The audience included representatives from the Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning Research Forum (NWDRF). The presentations comprised of 5-minute project overviews, followed by a question and answer session. The live webcast meant that people could watch remotely and ask questions online. This provided feedback from technology end-users to the researchers as the projects progress.  It was a good example of a knowledge-sharing event.

Presentation themes included:

• TRIBECA (TRItium detection By ElectroChemically Assisted radiometrics)
• Submersible treatment of pond waters
• Large-scale hot-isostatic pressing of waste forms for the treatment of Magnox sludge and other wastes
• DEnsification processing of a Ceramic MAtrix composite material for nuclear waste containment (DECMAN)
• High dynamic range spectroscopic radiation detectors
• SeeSnake
• In-Situ monitoring of tritium and carbon 14 in groundwater
• New techniques for the rapid characterisation of low-level waste and surface contamination
• Improving the decommissioning process with intelligent semantic building histories
• Novel system for localised, real-time radiometric measurements of ground water at civil nuclear sites
• SmartScan
• D:EEP : Estimating Entrained Products
• Pre-industrial research of horizontal sludge dredge
• Thermal treatment of irradiated graphite
• Flexible charged particle detector for nuclear decommissioning
• ELENDES II (Electrochemical Enhancement of Nuclear Decontamination Solutions)
• Plasma vitrification

Demolition paves way for magazines to go

A major skyline change is under way at the Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository.

Magazine 4's Retrieval Facility (MRF), a fixture at the site since the 1990s, has been safely demolished, setting the template for the future demolition of such facilities on site.

MRFs are purpose-built engineered facilities, constructed to allow the retrieval of Plutonium Contaminated Materials (PCM) from magazines before decommissioning and demolition could begin.

Carl Smith, PCM Senior Project Manager, said:

"This is the first of five remaining Magazine Retrieval Facilities to be demolished and we have proven the demolition method for the MRF. This will be reviewed as part of the post-project review to identify any improvements and efficiencies for the future demolition phases."

All remaining magazines on the site near Drigg will be demolished, in time, to make way for future vaults.

The soft strip, de-planting and removal of the cladding and portal frame is now complete for Magazine 4.

The first phase of demolition has now been completed, with soil removed from the top of the magazine structure, erection of an environmental barrier at the magazine entrance and the removal off site of all remaining waste.

All the demolition work has been recorded by four time-lapsed cameras located around the demolition site.

The magazines, or concrete bunkers, were constructed to store munitions such as TNT during World War II, when the site hosted a Royal Ordnance Factory.

PCM from Sellafield operations was later stored in some magazines and in the 1990s, retrieval facilities were built to enable the removal, packaging and transport of the waste for safe storage in modern, purpose-built facilities at Sellafield.

In 2008, LLWR started a programme of work to decommission the magazines.

NuGen

So it looks like NuGen are moving forward, although their engagement with SME's remains questionable. Good news:

NuGen announces land contract signed with Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NuGen concludes site suitability investigations at Moorside and validates site selection for three reactors against recognised IAEA criteria Moorside will deliver 7% of the UK's future electricity needs Moorside development is Europe's largest new nuclear build - and part of the UK's northern powerhouse... Decision shows "commitment and intent" of shareholders Toshiba and ENGIE

NuGen will now take responsibility for the land following payment of an undisclosed sum to the NDA. The deal underpins the successful policy of selling NDA land to new nuclear developers – and creating value for the taxpayer.

The NuGen Board approved the land contract signing at a meeting in Tokyo. The company is now confident the site is suitable for construction of three AP1000® reactors, as all criteria were satisfied.

NuExec Consulting

Our new lady Sarah is settling in well and she has been lucky enough to have me actually in the office for the past couple of weeks. (Poor Lady)  As with all businesses in the nuclear supply chain though things are very quiet, so if you are looking to recruit now is a really good time to get in touch and see what NuExec Consulting can do to support your business.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

So when I was at the Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago Alisha Dixon sang the national anthem. I absolutely loved her voice so I said to Stefan I would really like to go and see her live. As we drove home I logged on to google to see if she was touring and it just so happened that the Sunday just gone she was at Manchester at an event called Key Summer Live. She was alongside James Bay, Mark Ronson, Little Mix, Mr Probz, Lawson, Stereo Kicks and Ella Eyre. So I have to be honest I had no clue who half of them were but I knew I liked Alisha Dixon and Mark Ronson so I booked tickets for Stefan and I.

On the night we were both looking forward to the concert but as we approached the venue we noticed an incredibly large number of children and teenage girls. Maybe they are just waiting for signatures I reasoned with myself, I am sure it won't be full of kids at the concert. As we got closer and entered the queue we soon realised that we were without doubt the oldest people there without kids. I felt so embarrassed as we moved into the venue and followed all the excited children. We quickly made our way to our seats and tried to look inconspicuous. I noticed in the next block to us there was another childless couple but in fairness they were I would say in their late teens. As Stefan and I sat there writing out our food shopping list (we are so rock and roll) this man came over to us. "Hi I'm the morning presenter from Key 103 are you two here on your own" OMG I wanted my seat to swallow me. "Yes it's just us, I know we are a bit old." I stuttered. "Well how would you two like front row tickets?" "Well err well erm" "The answer you are looking for is yes! These are the best tickets in the house and I am giving them to you." The thing is I would love to have been front row but looking at all the kids around me it just didn't seem fair that us couple of biddies would take front row tickets that they could get. So I did the decent thing. "Thanks for the offer but how about you make the day of one of the little girls here and give the tickets to her and her Mum." "Are you sure these are the best tickets in the house?" "Yes let a child benefit." He walked away and I watched him go straight over the other couple, give them the tickets (they of course didn't offer them to a child) and see them rush to the front row. Now not only did they get the front row seats, they got a shout out, free ice cream and vouchers to a clothing website. I can't help feeling somewhat bitter and annoyed that I didn't do the right thing and say yes!

Until next time....

Another two weeks have passed and more uncertainty has blasted the industry. I have been as ever, really busy the last couple of weeks, which I have to say I am only ever grateful for. I am off to Holland today for a week and then I have a long weekend in Dublin with my lovely friend and her partner who are really bad influences, and then a long weekend with two of my best friends in Suffolk, so I am not telling you this to brag, but more to inform you that this will be my last blog until the kids go back to school in September. I always feel a bit disappointed when I know I won't blog for a while, but to be honest with all that is going on in the industry I am kind of pleased of the break. When you have found an industry you love and are passionate about it is emotionally draining when you see things falling apart. Last week I received a heart wrenching email from someone I have known since I came into the industry a good 7 years ago.

I want to share a bit of his email with you:

"One of the main factors was that sustaining any form of continual work in the nuclear sector is virtually impossible at the present time.  Sellafield and the NDA have been promising to support the supply chain for about 5 years, but that's just not happened and the Tier Two's have been allowed to starve us out. I have given a lot to the industry, but the higher level managers, politicians and NDA have let me and my family down.

I am happy to say that I am employed by a multi-discipline consultancy in Grangemouth who deal with Industrial/Commercial and Oil & Gas.

I am sorry to be leaving the nuclear market and feel that I am a traitor to the sector.  I would also like to think that I am taking some needed skills and knowledge away, but I simply can't afford to wait, and doubt very much if I will ever return."

The sad thing is I know it is not just this chap leaving the sector and companies are really struggling with the lack of work. What I have found frustrating is up until Wednesday all Sellafield have said is that they have more money than ever and work is continue to be placed, but when you are a supply chain company and have no work from the sector you know this just isn't true.

However I was delighted that Paul Foster came to speak at the Cluster on Wednesday and his open and honest approach was just what the supply chain needed. Now following is what he said, but before you read it I need to make you aware that it isn't word for word (I can't type that quickly) and it is my interpretation of what he said. He did mention he didn't want to be misquoted so that certainly isn't my intention but hopefully me sharing this will help some of my fellow colleagues who weren't one of the 197 that attended BECBC get a feeling for what is actually going on at Sellafield:

BECBC Sellafield Transition Update - Paul Foster

Core competencies at Sellafield is to tick the box that we have engaged with you. Lifting the curtain on Sellafield. Will share constraints with us. Sellafield is in turbulence more than ever before. Don't quote out of context but share what he says. It's complex and will try and share things with us and speak candidly.

Sellafield will transition as of the 1st April next year. NDA will go from being a Client to the NDA being an owner. Shouldn't impact a great deal it should reduce corporate barriers. Sellafield strategy doesn't change. They still need to do what they need to do. Working on detail behind the strategy and what it really means and how it is delivered. Need to work towards 5 years rather than keep doing what they are doing. Sellafield is succeeding at the moment. Everyone watches everything Sellafield does and they are critiqued on it. Last year over 90% of targets were hit. They could do things better but did things very well. Never hit so many production targets. Still wasting some money but are doing better. But 3 years from now Thorpe finishes and 5 years Magnox finishes. Expenditure on major projects are ramped up. Sellafield will be about Waste Management and environmental. Don't currently have those skills so need to change.

Paul is meant to be able to see through the few years and will be confirmed as a Chief Exec as of the 1st April and will be a Sellafield employee. Short term funding strategy is the same and is supported. £70 million pounds more than they have previously had. £1.9Bn Cash and £2.3bn on the books. £75 million efficiency expected. £200m short for the work wants to do. Have to prioritise work and stopping certain things and keeping others going. Risk and Hazard reduction is what they are working to. Knocking on head either low probability work, asset maintenance and care as can't afford it. Accelerating certain areas and cancelling and stopping others. That won't change moving forward. Overlaying corporate values so keeping apprentices as they are lifeblood of the business need to keep with socio economic impact. Critical skills have to be kept going. Have to consider putting businesses to the wall. Tried to apply common sense and value. Deferred £150m of work. Enjoyed support of Government and NDA. Comprehensive spending review continuing and expecting to hear late autumn. Overheads at Sellafield too high have to reduce spend and overheads. How we procure supply chain and how we access supply chain has to be addressed. Desire is to get nothing wrong so produce groups and processes to stop getting things wrong. So have become very process heavy and we have got to unpick that. If the supply chain can help to unpick then they are happy to listen. Sellafield has to be agile as it isn't currently. Sellafield is funded annually. Cannot save, borrow or carry money forward. 1.95Bn cannot spend a penny more or defer money. Sellafield is a business and is just in a different environment. What are seeking to do is to federalise Sellafield. Strong central direction and strong values and hand over more authority to delivery areas. Stiffen up central Sellafield but push more authority out to enable people to crack on. Longer term relationships with the supply chain. Work with you for a longer period of time so they can make commitments to the area. Preferred suppliers so know they will get work when it arises. Gives consistency and has companies ready, Change the way in which we procure, commoditise what we do. Try and treat employees like adults. Spent 15 years taking authority away from people and now they want to give it back. At the moment big chunks of work but moving forward this will change to smaller different packages of work.

Have a bright future and have at least 40 years' worth of work. 30 new facilities to be built. Estimated another 60 years beyond that. Sellafield due to stop at 2123. Currently getting work from other estates. Good skill base and a good place to be. Sellafield will be a standalone company it will be government owned and annually funded.  Work going to be changing to small groups individually led. Supply chain needs to change with us. Shaping competitions and engaging the supply chain.

Don't want people to need us as much as they do. Have to encourage diversity into other areas. Not healthy supply chain need to be more agile that are not so dependent on them.

Answers to Questions

Other parts of government funded businesses get 3 -4 year funding. If they could get funded that way it would give them better scope and allow them to update things and manage budgets more effectively.

Need to educate leadership group and empower them. Give permission to innovate and stop following processes. Give them permission to make decisions.

Currently stepping through some places 7 layers of staff in other areas 12 and some people called managers with no teams. Thin out the layers. Need to align and reorganise. Sometimes need 50 people to make a decision. Pulling out huge chunks of process. Inactive work same bells and whistles as highly regulated. Cut down to 7 layers and remove redundant processes. Save several hundred jobs in doing that but it doesn't mean redundancies they will relocate people into other areas.

Acquisition Strategy will there be a review?

Yes there will be a review but Strategic partner is an understandable cog in a story. 2005 BNFL sold major projects group and a lot of it is now in Cavendish. Weren't doing a lot of major projects. NMP brought in a large amount of capability for Major Projects support. Sellafield has never had an internal major project capability. Sellafield needs some augmentation. Strategic partner worked at cross rail. That model will not work for Sellafield as an ongoing series of projects and programmes.

Currently looking at how it will look like, how compete it, incentivise it and how it will work. Want things to be done quicker looking to go to market early next year partner late 16 early 17 in place. They are the pivotal of the strategy. Strategic partner one end and chemical the other. Need to take successful frameworks the gaps and make a pyramid and see where it fits together. Make sure right framework and right companies. Maybe they need 1, 2 or 3 companies. He personally doesn't want a consortium.

Work supporting Tepco and other sites in the UK revenue is important to offset NDA costs but doesn't add to budget.

How Sellafield will help companies diversify?

Writing a blueprint for Sellafield and will socialise with supply chain. Historically been sterile in footprint and need to be a bit more proactive with the weight they have got. Healthy West Cumbria is really important. They can't be reliant on Sellafield. Not offering solutions just explain what challenges are and commit to plan to make outcome happen. Stepping stones to get there.

Tier 2 need to help the lower tiers to diversify. Sellafield will try to help supply chain but it is partner organisations responsibility too.

Sellafield Skills Strategy?

Working in generality rather than specifics. We are obsessed with Stem but it is only half of what they do. Do need science and engineering it is the backbone of what they do. Safety Engineering and science. Programme and Project Management skills needed and need to make sure have enough of these skills. 1200 buildings with inventory waste. Some of the buildings are more challenging than the ones they are currently working on. Need to engage on strategy regarding waste. Will need people in waste and environmental. Need problem solving and collaboration skills. Behavioural skills. Launching West Cumbria works. It needs accounts, procurement and administration etc.

Delays have been a result of the management change. Need to lead our way through it rather than just administer it, we need to look at what we really need to do and what we really want. Reintegrate as a single business. Empathise with the supply chain and know there are changes needed. Need to change culture on site and then the process will improve. Make sure what we procure is owned, understood and wanted.

Spent a week at Fukishima which was distressing, conditions they work. Turned to Sellafield for help because of our expertise. WANO came and visited and gave an excellent review. 300,000 tonnes of fuel into reactors 100,000 processed and half of that through Sellafield. West Cumbria has a negative approach needs to be a more positive place. Need to represent it positively and make it a better place to be. Start represent in context or people will think it is a bad place. Proud to be associated with Sellafield. Workforce get hurt by critiquing constantly. Great future ahead hoping with change of ownership will allow better flow. Need to compete in a manner to allow people to answer the exam questions. Keen that Sellafield has a positive effect on diversity.

I personally feel a lot better now Paul has actually come and engaged with the supply chain and told the truth instead of all the placating we have been getting. It is important the supply chain know and understand the challenges of Sellafield and this will allow them to make the decisions regarding diversification and how to model their business. Certainly our business has felt the pinch in the industry but I realised a good few weeks ago that diversification is going to be key for survival. As such in September you will be seeing NuExec Recruitment coming on to the scene this will be a new business that will be taking the experience of nuclear into other regulated industries whilst leaving NuExec Consulting to focus on Nuclear.

Other Sellafield News

The Supplier Awards 2015 has been launched this week and this year will consist of four separate award categories.

These are:

A supplier going the extra mile Best Supply Chain collaboration Innovation of a large supplier company Innovation of a SME

This is a chance for the Supply Chain and Sellafield Ltd's own Commercial directorate to highlight excellent examples of the work that they carry out on a daily/weekly basis and to honour them against such categories as safety performance, delivery services, quality of goods/services and excellence in providing a good customer service.

Each submission needs to be entered by the supplier on a standard A4 form. The judging panel members will consist of Stuart Wilson, Supply Chain Ombudsman, Sellafield Ltd, a representative from Britain's Energy Coast and a member of Sellafield Ltd's Commercial lead team who will review and short-list the submissions.

The winners in each category will be automatically nominated for this years Nuclear Decommissioning Authority National Supplier Awards 2015.

The Sellafield Ltd awards winners will be recognised at the Sellafield Ltd Supplier Forum which is being held at Energus, Lillyhall on the 15th September 2015.

All entries must be sent to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than the 31st August deadline

BECBC

Obviously we had the Paul Foster update which I shared earlier in the blog but other presentations included a fab one about Tidal Lagoon.

Tidal Lagoon Power

Ioan Jenkins, Development Director Swansea Bay & Roger Woods, BDD West Cumbria

Developer focussed on large infrastructure for tidal power. Currently investigating the West Cumbria coast. Currently doing feasibility work as to whether they go ahead with scheme. Give Cumbrian companies a chance to bid on work in wales. Assess whether an opportunity and to make intros.

50% of Europe's tidal and wave energy potential in the UK. Looking at wave energy, tidal stream and barrages. Think have the answer as it controls power of the sea. It is a tidal lagoon. Make a break water in the sea. Tide comes on, but is held back 2.5 hours. Tide goes back and held back 2.5 hours. A fully flushing system, mimicking nature.

Swansea first of a kind project it will establish a blueprint that will allow them to roll out 6 lagoons to deliver 8% of the UK's electricity.

• £27bn to UK during 12 years of construction
• 35,800 Jobs average. 70900 at peak
• A new global industry based on a UK supply chain.
• It all starts in Swansea Bay.

Really interesting video shown about how it works and the legacy it will leave behind.

Swansea is a city lagoon. Progressing Cardiff as the second then Bridgwater, Colwyn bay, Newport and West Cumbria.

Where are we now:

• Started 4 years ago.
• Planning
• Consent to build
• Marine Licence - In Progress
• Construction Preparation
• Awarding preferred bidder on the main contract Packages

Power Generation (Turbine Supply) GE & Andritz Hydro

Power Generation Ops and Maintenance GE & Andritz Hydro

Turbine / Sluice - Lang O'Rourke

Want to build lagoons with UK companies.

• 50% spend in wales. Working with local agencies for local labour.

www.tidallagoonswanseabay.com

www.sell2wales.gov.uk

I was delighted to see one of my favourites, Alistair Laird, at the cluster and he gave, as always, an eloquent and passionate presentation about Doosan Babcock.

Doosan Babcock - Alistair Laird, Sales Director

Wants to position itself as the EPC of choice in Cumbria.

Doosan Group employs 43,000

Doosan Babcock employs 5,000

Capabilities

• Design
• Manufacturing
• Welding
• Inspection
• Construction
• Resource Management
• Full Plant Life Cycle Approach

Delivery of High Integrity projects to the Nuclear Industry

• EDF
• Magnox
• Westinghouse & Areva

Doosan Babcock at Sellafield 2004 - 2015

• Residue Export Facility
• SPP1
• SAV
• B6 Stack Programme
• DFA
• Fellside CHP O&M
• Outage Support Contract

Manufacturing facility in Renfrew and is a World Class facility.

Socio-Economic Pledge

Commitment

Tier 2 socio-economic initiative

Keen to work with supply chain and SME's.

SME Update - Kurt

Perfect storm for the SME agenda. Transition is key.

Bad News - Kurt is stepping down as chair so a new chair will need to step forward.  – At this point I would like to say a massive thank you to Kurt for all his hard work in being the voice of SME's in Cumbria. I know it was a huge drain on his time but he still always made time to speak to local SME's and listen to what they had to say. He should be really proud of what he has achieved for the SME community and the area. I wish him all the best of luck with his new business structure where he needs to focus his time.

Good News - Value brought to SME's has been phenomenal. It has given SME's an opportunity to have a voice. SME steering group has targets and it chased numbers to hit targets. Going forward know the figure will grow from 21% NDA SME spend. Cannot be achieved in current procurement processes. This is down to the efforts of those on the steering groups. Had an insight that has broaden his sights. In a point of turbulence and things will get better.

Supply Chain News

Bendalls

I was delighted to read that Bendalls have won a £1.25m contract with Sellafield.

Bendalls' new design department has won its first contract from Sellafield to design a skip conveyor system.

The Carlisle firm has also been commissioned to build a pressure vessel, it's parent company Carr's Group has confirmed.

TATA Steel

TATA Steel has dropped plans to sell its long products business, which includes the company's site in Workington.

The sale had been opposed by unions and Tata's u-turn will come as a relief to the 200-strong workforce at Workington.

Tata had been in negotiations to sell the division to Klesch Group and even signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swiss company last year.

Now it says the deal is off.

With immediate effect the long products business, and associated distribution facilities, becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Steel UK.

The long products business supplies advanced steel products including rail, wire rod, plate, sections and special profiles.

It employs 6,500 people across the UK.

New Build

EDF Energy readies Hinkley Point C suppliers for contract signings subject to a final investment decision

EDF Energy's work to ready the Hinkley Point C project for a final investment decision has taken a further step forward with the announcement of more preferred bidders. This has been made possible by work from EDF Energy and suppliers to create a supply chain ready to build the proposed nuclear power station in Somerset. Any contract signings are subject to a final investment decision.

It is now estimated that more than 60% of the construction cost will be placed with UK firms, against an initial estimate of 57%.

The proposed power station will provide reliable, low carbon electricity to meet 7% of UK demand. It will provide 25,000 employment opportunities on-site during its construction, including 1,000 apprenticeships.

Preferred bidders with combined contract values of more than £1.3billion include:

Balfour Beatty Bailey (Joint Venture) comprising of Balfour Beatty, London and NG Bailey, Ilkley, Yorkshire – electrical cabling and equipment installation * Cavendish Boccard Nuclear (Joint Venture) comprising of Cavendish Nuclear, Bristol and Boccard, Lyon, France – mechanical pipework and equipment installation * ACTAN (Joint Venture) comprising of Doosan Babcock, Renfrew and Crawley, with Axima Concept and Tunzini Nucleaire, both of Paris, France – heating, ventilation and air conditioning* Laing O'Rourke, Dartford – construction of workers' campus accommodation ABB UK, Stone, Staffordshire – power transmission Premier Interlink WACO UK Ltd, East Yorkshire – construction of temporary buildings Weir, East Kilbride – large pumps for cooling water SPX ClydeUnion Pumps – main pumps for feedwater system and cooling water system

Two further companies are already working on the project:

G4S, Surrey – security Aggregate Industries, Leicestershire – construction of the Cannington bypass, Park & Rides and highway improvements

Project management contracts have been signed with the following companies, with the value of each contract to be determined for services that will be provided over the duration of construction:

KBR, Greenford and Leatherhead – project management of site operations and equipment contract management Jacobs, Reading – project management of building and civil work Gleeds, London and Gloucester – contract management services Faithful+Gould, Bristol – contract management services Turner and Townsend, Leeds – project controls and project management Mace, London – contract management services

Key South West joint ventures announced today with combined contract values of more than £225m include:

Somerset Larder, six Somerset food producers – catering HOST, four Somerset companies – workers' campus accommodation management Somerset Passenger Solutions, two Somerset companies – transporting workers by bus Somerset Infrastructure Alliance, three South West companies – site infrastructure services including site road maintenance, landscaping, signage and fencing COMA, five South West businesses – construction utilities including electrical networks across the site and support services

The major supply chain partner companies will need to let sub-contracts for manufacturing work, potentially allowing many more firms to benefit from the project.

In order to prepare the potential workforce EDF Energy has invested £11 million in training, education and skills in Somerset, with the opening of both a new Energy Skills Centre and a Construction Skills Centre in partnership with Bridgwater College. The project will provide a wealth of apprenticeships and opportunities for the future workforce and in doing so will leave a long-term and sustainable legacy for the region.

All parties are working so that a final investment decision can be taken at Hinkley Point C as soon as possible.

I think this is great news and it looks like EDF have done a fab job in engaging with the supply chain and getting SME's in Somerset involved. Let's hope NuGen follows their lead.

NuExec Consulting

It has been a great week for NuExec this week. On Monday I went to Knutsford to meet the James Fisher Group Recruitment Team and was delighted to be invited to sign a contract to provide continued support to James Fisher Nuclear and an opportunity to support the rest of the group through NuExec Recruitment. I have to say that the team were really lovely and welcoming and a real pleasure to meet. We also this week signed a PSL agreement with Doosan Babcock to support the nuclear side of their business. I have to say this is a great example by both of these Tier 2 companies on supporting SME's, appreciating the work they do and giving us an opportunity to demonstrate our excellence.

It Could Only Happen to Sarah

As you know we have our new lady Sarah and she told me a great story that I had to share with you.

One rainy afternoon Sarah took her dog, Oakley, for his daily walk around the village. As she was walking she noticed a lady approaching on the other side of the road who was walking 4 massive dogs. As she got closer Oakley pulled toward the dogs to say hello. The 4 humongous dogs took a liking to Oakley and dragged the lady across the road toward Sarah at great speed. The 5 leads all got tangled together wrapping Sarah up and throwing her to the ground into a muddy puddle face down. As if this wasn't bad enough, the unknown lady was then catapulted on top of her with great force. So Sarah laid face down in the mud, the lady was backwards on top of her and the dogs were everywhere pulling on the leads that were wrapped around them.

The lady was shouting at Sarah to get up and take her dog away, however Sarah was unable to move as the lady was on top of her. The lady rolled to the side to allow Sarah up whilst apologising profusely for the situation. Sarah being quintessentially English was saying "No I'm sorry" She then was able to slide up through the mud and successfully gain control of a very excited Oakley and continue her walk, covered in mud and laughing to herself all the way home.

Until next time.....

It has been a whole month since I last wrote a blog, and for the first time ever in the three years I've been writing I really didn't want to write today. I nearly just didn't do it, but I looked at how many people read my last blog and it was nearly 1600 and I felt I owed it to them to at least write something.

So this isn't going to be my normal format of blog I am just going to write. I am going to write from the heart and I am going to say it like I feel it.

Any of you that know me, and those who regularly read my blog, will know that I moved to Cumbria seven years ago and found the nuclear industry. Over that seven years I have learnt so much, I have met some fantastic people (and some arseholes), and  have become passionate about the industry; my industry! Pretty much every day I have people contacting me just for a chat, because they want to know what's happening, what the news is, what the gossip is, or what my opinion on something is. And do you know, I am absolutely honoured by this.

I still now, after three years of writing, get such a buzz when someone tells me they read my blog, that they get something from it and even more so when it helps them either personally or as a business. I love writing my blog and allowing people one place to look for all that is going on in the industry, I love being the first to know something, I love sharing exciting and good news stories; but what I hate, more than anything, is when the blog is full of negativity, bitching and moaning. I am sure I was put on this earth to make people smile and give them some light entertainment and a chuckle, but when I can no longer do this it makes me feel absolutely miserable. In fact it upsets me so much I really could just cry.

OK so I know the majority of you are probably thinking what an earth is she rabbiting on about now, but for the past 3 months all I have heard in the industry I love, is doom and gloom and bad news stories and I don't like it. I know I sound like a petulant child but it is not fair that really talented people who have families to support are being made redundant and can't find another job. It's not fair that small businesses are going out of business because they can no longer even get dregs of work from the industry. – And just to put it out there I am not just referring to Sellafield but the industry as a whole. It is not fair that every time someone asks me to tell them some good news I just have nothing to tell. Businesses are desperately trying to diversify to enable survival and whilst this is a necessity, it is also a crying shame as these skills will be gone from our industry, and when the industry needs them again they are going to be out of luck! I have graduates calling me begging for help as they were told to study nuclear and now they can't get a job when they were "promised" it was the career to be in. I know it is what is, and I know one person can't change anything and I also know that it is not one person's fault that we are in this predicament. It seems we are in the midst of one uncomfortable event after another. I have heard (please remember when I say heard it is hearsay and not fact) that the DSA spend is down form £25Mil to £5Mil, that a.m.a is on hold as SDP may be canned; DDP will be down to 50%, many contractors at Westlakes have been laid off, some companies are pulling all resource from Westlakes and moving them to Risley, promised projects aren't happening and even those involved with projects that are still moving forward aren't getting any work.

So that, my friends, is why today I dreaded writing my blog. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, I want to be the person that makes you smile with good news and cheer. I know one thing for sure: the Sellafield Supplier Forum on Tuesday will be a very interesting event. I will be on the BECBC stand during lunch so I challenge you to come to me and tell me one positive thing that is going on in the industry.

Now holding with tradition I will give you a NuExec update and give you a special Dublin edition of It Could Only Happen to Me!

NuExec Consulting

So it has been all change over the past month. Our new lady Sarah has joined one of our Clients – honestly, headhunted by your own client, what next! But a replacement will be joining the business in October and I am really excited about him joining the team. He will be working closely with Lisa on our nuclear business. Then comes my lovely new chap Matthew who started on Monday. Matthew has come on board to help me launch our new business which will be recruiting into other regulated industries. This is such an exciting time with lots of hard work and late nights, but I know it will be worth it when it is all up and running. As always if you are looking to recruit (yeah I know, in my dreams) do get in touch as we would be delighted to work with you to find Exceptional Individuals.

It Could Only Happen To Me

As I mentioned in my last blog, a couple of weeks ago myself, my husband and two other mad nuclear friends went to Dublin. As always we had some very funny experiences. So get yourself a brew, get comfy and hopefully this will raise a smile:

So Stefan, Tony and I left Cumbria on Friday lunchtime and headed to over to Preston to pick up Claire from work on route to the airport. I made it quite clear that once we arrived at the airport I was handing adult responsibility to someone else. Tony nominated himself as designated grown up. So I parked the car and whilst waiting for the bus I quickly checked the boarding pass for our terminal and handed Claire and Tony their passes. We got on the bus and got off at Terminal One and headed straight to security! Here we hit our first problem the lady told us we could only have one bag of fluids. So Claire was busily trying to fit all her stuff in one bag and was getting a little stressed. I wasn't bothered as I had a massive clear bag in my hand luggage so I was alright. Anyway she got sorted and marched off but left her suitcase. Luckily Stefan noticed it and took it with him. When we got to the scanner to scan our boarding passes I asked Claire if she had forgotten anything, all of a sudden it dawned on her and the look of panic on her face was priceless. Stefan handed her the bag and he proceeded to try and scan his pass, as did I, but they weren't working. The lady took the passes and told us we were at the wrong terminal! – Well I did say I didn't want adult responsibilities. We found our way to the right terminal and then headed to security to be met with absolute bedlam and lots of shouting. We were told we needed to remove all electronics and all fluids. If there was anything in the bag that shouldn't be it would be rejected and there was a 2 hour wait for your bag. We looked over and there was a crowd of people all waiting for their bags to be checked. I took all my stuff out and Stefan was in front of me. He had the same clear bag as me and they told him he had to fit all the stuff in to one of their tiny bags. Panic hit as I knew there was no way my stuff was going to fit in that bag. I didn't want to have to wait 2 hours or we would miss our flight so I hid my bag under my jacket in the tray and hoped that it would get through. I walked through and stood on the other side. This women was asking the man for her bag as she was going to miss her flight and he just turned round and asked her why she was so late getting through and it was tough, she would have to wait in line. I have never been so stressed at a security point in my life. Thankfully we all got through and quickly scuttled off.

The flight was pretty uneventful and very quick, when we landed I stood up only to find some dirty little scumbag had stuck chewing gum on the seat and it was now all over my new jeans! I was so cross but nothing I could do. We headed to the apartment and as we walked out of the lift it actually really looked like a prison. It had balconies and stairs up with doors all along just like a prison wing. I just hoped it was ok on the inside. Thankfully it was lovely inside and as we were unpacking Claire suddenly shouted "Emma come quick there is a man with his willy out." I rushed over absolutely shocked at what sort of place we had come to, and of course to have a look. Thankfully it was just a random statue and not a real man.

The evening was lovely chilled and event free, apart from Claire's new found love of the green post boxes! Next day we headed out early to the Guinness tour where I am proud to say I drank my first pint of Guinness. Now between you and me, I had actually smuggled some blackcurrant squash into my handbag and when no one was looking I squirted it in – mmm Guinness and black. After the tour we decided to go to the Old Jail as it sounded really interested. Tony, as designated grown up, took the map and said it's only a short walk. Well let's just say not only did he get us lost but he took us through the Dublin Ghetto and I am not even joking. Loads of windows were boarded up, the schools had high fences with spikes (I don't know if this was to keep the kids in or keep people out); there were loads of dodgy looking people walking around and the police were regularly slowly driving past. We finally arrived and really enjoy it. We got a taxi back to the Viking Experience that I had booked that morning, however, When I went to talk to the man he told me I had actually booked for the Sunday and not the Saturday (honestly I was absolutely useless this holiday) but luckily they had a bus we could jump on. It was so funny everyone had to wear Viking hats and the driver told loads of jokes and funny stories about the area. Every few minutes he would shout now and we would all have to roar and shake our fists at the passer-by's. There reactions were hilarious. That evening we headed out to a restaurant we had booked and guess what?? Yes you guessed it!- Tony got us lost again so we decided we would take away his adult responsibilities and give them to Stefan. When we headed back to the apartment we found some people injecting drugs into their toes. We certainly didn't hang around getting into the apartment and locking the door.

The next day we set off early to the Jamieson tour. Now I am 95% sure our guide was drunk. He kept losing his balance and forgetting what he was saying. After tasting all the whiskeys we then enjoyed a whiskey sour while we chatted. We were reminiscing about children's TV when we were young. I said to Claire "Do you remember that programme it was called something street and it had a pigeon in it?" "That will be Pigeon Street then" said Claire and my goodness we found it absolutely hilarious. We had another whiskey and then staggered to Dublin Castle. For those of you who have never been, this is a stately home. So as we were walking around Claire and I slipped off into a little side room off the great hall and noticed it echoed so we had a little game of bogies (where you take it in turns to say bogies and see who dares say it loudest.) As we walked through to the main hall one look at Stefan shaking his head and the look of disgust I realised all the people in the great hall had heard us. Obviously after a good few whiskeys Claire and I found this hilarious and across the hall Tony was looking at a painting when he suddenly shouted "bogies". After a few more rounds we made a sharp exit to consume some more alcohol. We had a lovely lunch (yes it was still early) and Claire and I went back to the apartment whilst the boys went to get some supplies. We thought it would be a hilarious idea to take some funny pictures of us dressed up in the boy's pants on Stefan's Ipad and we even made a toilet selfie video. We also updated Stefan's facebook status to bogies then put it back where it was and tried to sit and look innocent on the sofa. It took him all of a minute to realise what we did and in fairness both him and Tony thought it was hilarious.

Unfortunately the evening didn't end well as I had the same problem as what I had in Holland that time (my regular readers will know exactly what I am talking about) and spent all evening on the toilet. Poor Tony was trying to brush his teeth ready for bed and I had to ask him to leave the bathroom. Well I think it's fair to say we are all very good friends now!

Until next time.....

Another two weeks have flown by and here I am writing again. So last time I wrote a different type of blog with some very open, honest and personal views on the industry and what is currently happening within it. Now I challenged you all to tell me some positive things about the industry and I had a number of emails of support, agreement and some with some positive things. However, the one that really made my absolute week, if not my month, was this one:

"What's good about the Nuclear Industry is that it has you - someone who will stand up and say it how it is and who is nipping the heels of nuclear officialdom. Don't despair or give up. Keep flying the flag for change and a fair share for those on the Energy Coast. You do a sterling job - don't forget that. People look to you for sound and fair council - don't forget that either."

I know not everyone will agree with what he said, but, for me, it was just what I needed to hear! Anyway enough self-indulgence – on with the blog!

Sellafield Supplier Forum

I attended the Sellafield Supplier Forum last Tuesday and it was certainly well attended. There were lots of people already in the industry but also a large number of people who are wanting to move into the industry. These are always great events to catch up with people you haven't seen since the last one so I certainly did a great deal of talking. The mood was hard to read really, although I wouldn't describe it as flat, nor would I say it was buzzing, but it was just steady I guess.

Stuart Wilson opened the event and said how delighted he was to be there. He said he hoped that it was a worthwhile and enjoyable day and that they would be shaping the path moving forward. He handed over to Paul Foster.

Paul Foster

I do enjoy hearing Paul Foster speak as I find him very engaging, humorous and easy to listen to. He comes across as being very genuine and honest.

He told us that Sellafield was going through a period of change. Change of people and change of Governance. Change in financial times. Change of mission! He saw the day as an opportunity to share what the future looks like.

Scope has changed from the plan. Record funding more than last year. Difficulty is scope is higher than the funding available. Got to prioritise, £100m off the plan have to work hazard reduction as a priority. There are some winners and some losers. Big challenge: how to deliver more efficiently? Supply Chain is a big part of addressing this. Thorpe finishes in 2018, Magnox in 2020. Not agile enough and inefficient. Going from factory to projects. Different skills required and flexibility. Need a proper nuclear industry. Need a more structured industry around where the work is. Performance on site is good, safety is good and security is good. Things change! We have to not just start at the front end; have to project ahead and look backwards. Put enablers in place to make sure it works. Early doors, share what work is going forward and engage supply chain to make happen. Change is happening, ownership is the first part of the dance. Have to evolve so don't fail.

Robert Astall

Commercial Director

Delivering through effective partnerships!

Thanks for interest in the Sellafield programme. Will be retrieving challenging material from some of the oldest building. Construction on a big scale. Nuclear materials retrieved and stored. Will not jeopardise our duty of care by doing things in haste. Overview of strategic approach - Spoke through Sellafield Vision and Mission.

Ensure stakeholders understand and support

To deliver major projects with excellence

Right people in the right place at the right time

Socio Economic

Drive tax payer value for money

Spoke about strategic partner - Scope is in development

Implement a regime to manage key relationships with critical suppliers

SME growth agenda - diverse supply chain and give them the opportunity to flourish. Publishing a new SME plan.

Hope the day is informative and enjoyable.

Graeme Rankin

Head of Commercial Strategy

Leading procurement for the Market Enhanced SLC

In Jan 2015 Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change announced change in management model.

Model: NDA - SLC - Supply Chain

Market Enhancement Capability alongside SLC

Private sector expertise on board alongside the SLC

Strategic need determined by Sellafield and expertise / capability procured by SL according to SL processes and procedures

Risk held in the appropriate place

Enhancement may be by a variety of partners across a number of areas

Seeking market assistance in identifying areas for improvements, solutions for improvement and implementation.

Key Features

Clear vision for the organisation and role of all partners

Clarity on what good looks like

Intelligent Client - Sellafield will always hold

Focus on shared outcomes

Creation of a common vision

Working in harmony and collaboration

Contractual framework based on a set of incentives which support collaboration

Opportunity for Sellafield

Model Change - provides opportunity to obtain support and to maximise benefits

Make better use of the funding.

Won't be just one business, will be putting it out as packages.

Industry Day Q1 2016

Publication of Contract notice Q1

PreQual Q2

Tender evaluation Q3

Announcement of preferred Bidder Q4

Contract Award Q4

Sellafield is willing to change fundamental organisational and cultural change.

Will look at the capabilities within the current frameworks (DSA, ISA ETC) to see if they can use their skills and experience within this role.

Develop some of own people into gaps left behind by NMP withdrawing. Progress into more senior roles that historically have been held by NMP.

Mark Steele

Procurement Prioritisation

Performance Plan 14 includes everything Sellafield does. Update periodically as things change. Covers all programmes.

Had a funding deficit at the end of last year so had to save money. Had to change their thinking. £70m more funding available but had a plan that was over the funding available.

Big things finishing that weren't delivered last year. Large contracts getting more done than that was planned.

Maximise added value to the funding we have available.

Need to move quicker it was never going to be positive as it meant somethings would not get done.

Worked with a small team looking at methodology and looking at strategic priorities. Built the process - everybody's project is the most important thing to them. It was going to be difficult to get buy in.

Internally they needed to be demonstrable fair.

Anything that takes funding feeds through this process.

Demonstrate appropriate governance around decision making.

Criteria was based on SL strategic objectives.

£950m scope went through, wish could have communicated what they were doing more.

£60m and £54m was taken out of planned work. There has been pain everywhere. Prioritisation plus efficiency - High hazard and risk reduction

Haven't got the money to do all that they want.

Can we demonstrate that what we are doing is an ALARP.

Impacts - Staffing redeployment

Supply chain impacts

Through all of this have been working with the NDA on how this fits in with the spending review. We have inputted the right plan. Back end of November will hear on spending review. 5 year plan.

On plan for hitting spend if anything having to manage. Nothing is being held up the work is out there and should be flowing through.

I found this presentation really interesting and informative. It was great to finally hear what has happened with regard to contracts stopping and to hear the why and how. As Mark said, it is just such a shame this couldn't have been conveyed earlier so the supply chain knew what was happening and could make changes earlier to accommodate this.

Helen Fisher, Head of Socio-Economics

Helen gave a very passionate and professional presentation regarding Socio Economics.

Socio Economic publication to give suppliers points, hints and tips current and future.

Three themes

Seven Objectives

Designed to support measurable social outcomes

Be proactive ensuing skills are there. It is about SME's and supporting local economic growth. Supporting communities addressing local concerns.

Skills

Involve - Inspire - Develop

Government announced all public procurements requirement regarding number of apprentices, graduates and trainees.

Need to inspire the next generation. Getting into schools and working with children. Do it in a coordinated manner all working together. Encourage children to come into the industry.

Supply chain get involved with work experience programme. Over 1000 suppliers. Good work experience is fantastic, bad just turns kids off.

West Cumbria Works - Employment brokerage

Growth

Match - Engage - Maximise

Help SME's to learn, grow and develop.

Want to help SME to fish. An SME brokerage helping SME's learn and develop. Matching SME's to opportunities.

Tier 2 Commitments to SMEs

Feedback, prompt payment etc

Opportunities into a single portal.

Responsible procurement

Community & Investment

Learning - Development - Success

Putting a logo on a football kit is marketing not socio economics

Sponsorship - Marketing

Helping area to become a centre of nuclear excellence

Local - Cumbria / Warrington / North West

How can you Support?

Work collaboratively to maximise the benefit.

Have a tier 2 governance socio economic committee.

Looking for suppliers to get involved so get in touch.

Measuring Progress

Not only measuring what we do today but what we do in the future.

You can view a copy of the Socio-economic strategy on the Sellafield website.

Sellafield Supplier Awards

During the forum Sellafield announced the following award winners:

Best Supply Chain Collaboration Multi Discipline Site Works (MDSW) for work on the Site Ion Exchange Plant (SIXEP)

SME Innovation PacTec EPS Ltd for the removal and packaging of legacy pond waste

Large Supplier Innovation Design Service Alliance (DSA) for the automatic guided vehicle replacement project

Supplier Going the Extra Mile CN Group for the Albion Square/Whitehaven town centre integration launch

Well done guys!

UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Centre

The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is delighted to be jointly leading the new UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Centre (JRIC), announced by Chancellor George Osborne in Beijing. The UK and China have jointly committed £50M to the Centre over a five year period.

The Centre will be established and run jointly by NNL and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and will incorporate projects on a number of different areas of work across the whole nuclear fuel cycle.

The JRIC will act as a portal to allow UK companies and academic organisations and their Chinese counterparts to work together on areas of mutual benefit and will support the development of Subject Matter Experts and others with higher level skill in both countries.

Over the coming months NNL and CNNC will work together to establish a programme of work for the Centre and to develop links with other UK bodies including NAMRC, NSAN, NIRAB and key UK universities working in the nuclear sector.

New Build

George Osborne announced this week that that the UK will guarantee a £2bn deal under which China will invest in the Hinkley Point nuclear power station. He said this will pave the way for a final investment decision on the delayed project by French energy company EDF.He said it would also enable greater collaboration between Britain and China on the construction of nuclear plants. EDF welcomed news of the government guarantee, but did not say if it put the project back on track.

Earlier this month, EDF admitted the Hinkley project in Somerset, which was intended to allow the plant to generate power by 2023, would be delayed.

In February, the firm announced that it had pushed back its decision on whether to invest in the plant.

It cannot afford the estimated £24.5bn cost of the plant on its own, so has been looking for financial partners to invest, particularly in China. This has proved difficult, which is why the government has had to step in to guarantee part of the cost.

NuExec Consulting

Well what a couple of week's it has been. This week Matthew and I launched NuExec Recruitment. This is a really exciting time for us and allows us to have a nuclear focused recruitment business which will have Lisa and my new chap in, alongside NuExec Recruitment that will focus on other highly regulated industry that will have Matthew and Ellen in it. Then I will float between the two as and when I am needed! – I love it when a plan comes together. So here is what you can do to help in return to all the information I have shared with you over the years. Firstly please make sure you have liked both our NuExec Company Pages, secondly please share our details with your non-nuclear colleagues and any contact names you can share with us for other areas of your businesses would be much appreciated. Of course we are still keen to be the nuclear recruiter of choice so any recruitment in the nuclear sector – get in touch!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuexec-consulting-ltd

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuexec-recruitment

It Could Only Happen to Me!

For once I think my life is quite normal and nothing terrible has happened over the past couple of weeks. Apart from stabbing myself with a knife, doing Go Ape and being too scared to jump off the platform, wearing a dress to meetings without realising there were coffee stains down it and falling asleep during a meeting.

So instead I thought I would give you a Friday chuckle with some of my best jokes:

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Ach

Ach who?

Bless you!

What's pink and fluffy?

Pink fluff

What's brown and sticky?

A stick

What goes ha ha bonk!

A man laughing his head off.

I bought some shoes off of a drug dealer. I don't know what he laced them with but I've been trippin' all day.

A man walks into the doctor's office with a piece of lettuce hanging out of his bum.
The doc takes one look and he says, "Jeeze, it looks like we have one hell of a problem here." The guy responds "this is just the tip of the iceberg."

What do you call a blind dinosaur?

Doyouthinkhesaurus

How do you make a tissue dance?

You put a little boogie in it!

Until next time.....

It doesn't seem 2 weeks ago that I last wrote, but it is so here I am again. It's been a mixed bag this last couple of weeks, but one thing is for certain and that is that the supply chain are still feeling the pain. Once again, this week has seen many people contact me who are being made redundant and are looking for new opportunities.

Sellafield

SDP

Obviously I am going to speak about SDP. Over the past few months there has been loads of speculation about this project and whispers of it being cancelled. Well it hasn't yet been cancelled but it is under review. Interestingly if it is cancelled it will not be for the reason 90% of us will think. It actually has nothing to do with money. When the SDP concept came about Sellafield had made very conservative assessments about what type of waste they were dealing with. In the background to the SDP contract there has been some parallel research going on looking at the waste and making assessments on it. The research team have discovered that actually the waste isn't as hazardous as they first thought and in actual fact it doesn't need to be treated in the way initially thought and can actually be stored in its raw form. Obviously this discovery will probably mean they no longer need SDP. However with all things in life as one door closes another opens. This now means there is waste that needs to be removed, storage units produced / designed and new stores built. So although there is unlikely to be an SDP there is still work to be done. One thing that I found really interesting was ama were aware of the parallel research going on and I believe the contract had a clause allowing Sellafield to cancel the contract if the research gave an alternative that was safer, practical and more cost efficient.

North Lakes Foodbank

It was great to read that 431 disadvantaged children in Copleland and Allerdale were given food through the summer lunch pack scheme. With the help of Sellafield and the supply chain 9,555 meals have been given out to families struggling in Copeland and Allerdale this summer. Over 14 tonnes of food were used to create the special food parcels which were given to families who usually relied on free school meals.

In total Sellafield Ltd and the supply chain gave a donation of £10,600 in food, money and time.

I think this is fantastic and would urge businesses and individuals to continue to support the foodbank. When you are shopping just buying a few extra tins and putting them in the collection points can make a world of difference to families.

NNL Redundancies

It was sad news this week to hear that NNL are to reduce 10% of their workforce of 900. Of the 90 jobs to go it is reported that 45 – 50 will be from the Sellafield and Workington facilities. NNL are alleged to be trying to save £5 million and hopes the majority of the cuts will be through a voluntary redundancy basis. My understanding is that some of that number will be contractors but some will be permanent staff members.

DRSL

I was also disappointed this week to hear that Neil McNicholas has stepped down as Managing Director of Direct Rail Services. Neil was involved in the set up of DRSL 20 years and stepped in as Managing Director in 1999. I am very fond of Neil as he spent some time on the board of Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster and I got to know him quite well. When I set up NuExec Consulting he gave me my very first role to help me get started. It's the little things that mean a lot and will never be forgotten. I wish him all the best for the future and I am sure he will be very successful in his next position.

Prima Uno Planning & Programming Ltd
Some good news came from our friends downstairs at Prima Uno. They are set to work with AECOM to provide project controls and specialist associated services. This is brilliant news for Sarah and her team and will allow them to build upon their extensive portfolio and provide further evidence of their continued commitment to provide their clients with an exceptional programme and project controls service.

NuExec

Well it has been a busy couple of week's which always seems to be the case. Matthew and I launched NuExec Recruitment which is our other recruitment businesses looking at other sectors. This has been going well and we are continuing to push on. NuExec Consulting is still ticking along with some new opportunities coming in over the past couple of weeks and a number of waste candidates having been placed. As always we are always keen to speak to people looking to recruit and those looking for other opportunities.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

So since last writing I agreed to the girls having a sleepover. So they invited 3 girls each but on the night we only had 7 instead of 8. So let me introduce you to the 7 girls aged 9 and 10:

I'm the boss – This child thinks that they are the law and everyone has to do what they say. (This also happens to be one of my children.)

The Teenager – Nothing is ever good and is prone to complete tantrums and shouts of "you are the worst mum ever!" (Another of mine – obviously)

The Been There Done That – This is the child that has always done everything that anyone mentions

The Coward – The child that is a massive scaredy cat

The Trumpet Trousers – This is the child that literally does not stop passing wind. And we aren't talking little girlie ones were talking earthquakes.

The Loud One – Lovely sweet girl but who doesn't seem to have a volume control and doesn't have an indoor and outdoor voice

The Quiet one – The one you forget is there but who you know is potentially a bad ass!

So it was decided that the girls would take over the downstairs and I would be sent to my room, and Stefan was obviously away! I brought all the mattresses downstairs and pumped up airbeds. I then went upstairs to get something and heard a massive smash. The "I'm The Boss" has managed to smash not one but 2 glasses shattering glass all over the kitchen just 10 minutes before the girls were due to descend. So there I was clearing up glass to the best of my ability and having to ban any kitchen entrance without slippers.

Just as I finished hoovering the first guest arrived. All seemed to be going well and the take- away they ordered arrived, so I laid it out on the table and disappeared upstairs to continue working. (My life is so rock and roll.) About an hour later I came down cleared the table and put out the birthday cake and snacks. They decided they were watching a film so I left them to it and went back to my work. About half an hour later there was a knock on my door and 3 girls appeared. "We don't want to watch the movie it's really boring what can we do?" I went downstairs and 2 children were watching and the other 5 didn't want to so I offered ghost stories upstairs. But I made it very clear that the stories were only for children that wouldn't be scared and wouldn't cry. 5 children followed me up and I turned off all the lights and just had a torch under my chin. I started "this is a true story" straight away "The Coward" went "I'm really scared I want to go downstairs." So I put on all the lights and led her downstairs and came back up to my audience and started my story. "This is a true story that was told to me by my friends Mum and this happened at a sleepover in 1981" PARP!!! I guess the trumpet trousers was a little scared. After giggling I continued my story, which included a sleepover like theirs where the girls were downstairs and were being told a story about a murder when they heard banging on the door blah blah blah. Finally, after about 5 stories and lots of flatulence from "trumpet trousers", and much that happened to me from the "been there done that", I sent them all back down stairs and went back to my work. By about 11pm I was ready to go to sleep. So I went downstairs and told the girls they could continue watching films and chatting quietly but I was going to go to sleep. It must have been about 11.45pm and I hadn't been asleep long when I was woken by banging. I wondered what an earth they were doing but didn't really want to get out of bed so I thought I would stay in bed and if they banged again I would go down and sort it out. Just before midnight there was another bang bang bang. I was getting out of bed when 3 girls appeared at my door crying. "What's the matter and why are you banging?!" I asked. "It wasn't us there is someone banging on the door just like the story!" Shit! (I didn't say that obviously but I thought it.) I raced downstairs to the front room to check on the girls they were all petrified and none of them had knocked. Then I got really scared and there was no way I was going to open the front door so I went upstairs and looked out of the window and there was no one around. I told the girls it was all fine and it was probably just someone who was lost or who had knocked on the wrong door but they were all petrified so I had to move all the mattresses upstairs and arrange sleeping up there. As I lay in bed my mind went into overactive and I started to scare myself and then I started to stress that I had responsibility for 7 little girls and what if someone broke in. Then I told myself that if someone was going to break in they probably wouldn't knock on the front door first. At every noise I went into the room where the girls were to check on them, but obviously they wanted to chat so I lay there with my phone in my hand until about 3am when the last of them finally went to sleep.

In the morning spirits were high again so I made pancakes, waffles, crumpets and toast and left them to tuck in whilst I started letting down airbeds, stripping sheets and putting the washing on. After they were all dressed we got out the fabric pens to sign their pillow cases we had given as invites. All was going well until I decided it would be really funny to write on "The Teenager's" bum with fabric pen. In fairness she was wearing this daytime onesie that I hate and would never let her out of the house in. So in my best writing I wrote "big" on one cheek and "bum" on the other. I think it is clear to point out here that this was ironic as my daughter has the tiniest bum ever and I have seen more meat on a butchers pencil. I wrote it for the fun factor. All her friends thought it was hilarious and that I was the best Mum ever but she went into melt down screaming and shouting about what a terrible mother I am and how mean and horrid I was before have a tantrum and running upstairs! All her friends stood horrified. "The Coward" said "I can't believe she speaks to you like that Emma I would love to have a Mum as cool and fun as you." Sweet. So we decided to ignore the "Teenagers" sobbing and played a game of twister. Obviously I won mainly because I used my big bum as an advantage to push all the girls over but hey, if you've got it use it!

Until next time.....

Where does the time go? We are fast approaching Christmas and my first year wedding anniversary! I can't believe how quickly time seems to go by.

Anyhow, on with the blog:

Sellafield

So as expected, especially after the last blog with the announcement of the new scientific process to treat waste, on Tuesday 13th October came the official notice that the contract to deliver SDP by a.m.a Nuclear was terminated. The alternative technical solution had been given Government approval. We all knew it was coming and whilst it is an awful shame for all those involved, as I said last time, as one door closes another opens so hopefully it will give other businesses a new opportunity.

NDA

I am so ridiculously excited about the Supply Chain Event on the 4th November. I have been to every single one since they started and I have to say they have become the best nuclear event of the year. NuExec will be there on stand 201 so please make sure you come and say Hi to me.

I saw an interesting Tweet from the NDA about supply chain spend that I felt was quite interesting so wanted to share it with you. In 14/15 the NDA spent £1.79bn in work delivered by the SLC supply chain. Following is a breakdown of the spend:

64% Sellafield

7% DRSL

3% LLWR

23% Magnox

3% RSRL

n-eboc 15

So last week saw the n-eboc 15 event at Workington and I have to say what an absolutely fantastic event it was. For the two days it was buzzing with lots of relationships being established and business being done. The dinner on the Tuesday evening was fantastic with great networking opportunities. The only downside for me is that I only managed to get into to a few presentations as I was too busy talking to people and making sure everyone was ok. However following are a few notes from the presentations I attended:

New Build

Professor John Fyfe

Remind the purpose of what this is about. 31 years ago there wasn't a future for the nuclear industry. Came together to fight for nuclear. Private sector was not vibrant. That has changed. West Cumbria is the centre worldwide.

Meet listen and learn. How best to take forward what we have heard.

Lord Mawson helps communities develop by helping people help themselves. People in a community is what is important.

Lord Mawson

At a moment of change currently one way of thinking is moving into another. How do you move out of a previous culture to a new one?

East London - Many saw Olympic Games, one of the directors of the Olympic programme. Building 5 new villages mixing private and social housing. Left a stadium as a legacy community stadium in the middle of East London. Shopping centre highly visited. Arts and cultures cluster. Massive period of change. How did it go from derelict and state of dependency to now?  Change takes time. Recognise when it arrives and lay the stones. Arrived as a clergyman. Started to loiter with intent. Found a religion outside of the church. Partnership with dance school. Set up nursery in the church.

Doers not talkers

Stop apologising and move forward.

A moment of opportunity has arrived in Cumbria now is the time to lay the foundation stones. Start to lead the way and inspire Government.

Stop the games and focus on the task.

Tom Samson NuGen

Exciting time to be in Cumbria. 10 years' time first reactor on line.

Will build on time and to budget.

Facts on table - data driven industries.

Need to invest in new nuclear so we have a UK source of generation.

Will run for 60 years

Want to engage with the supply chain in the UK. (Really???) Work with the supply chain and

buy British.

West Cumbria landscape rich with skills and heritage. Need to make sure the supply chain are ready to support them.

Importance of vision and belief.

Still in development stage.

This is a people industry!! We rely on people to keep us safe, to innovate and collaborate, community and legacy. Sustainable industry.

Gary Shuttleworth

Director Corporate Affairs

A year momentum

NuGen relocated to the North West

Open info centre Civic Hall

Completed initial stage of site investigation work

Close out phase of the GDA for the AP1000

Stage 1 Consultation.

Land contract signed with NDA

2018 final investment decision

2019 Main works commence

2020 First nuclear concrete

2020 to 2026 Power station construction

Early 2020 generation of unit 1

Stage 2 consultation May 2016

Supply Chain

Up to 60% will be accessible to the UK supply chain

Maximise existing regional and local enterprise in the nuclear industry within Cumbria

It's an EPC contract through which most will be delivered

All suppliers need to demonstrate that they can meet the project requirements in terms of cost, quality.

www.supplytomoorside.co.uk

Day 2

Lord Hutton - Key note speaker

Sellafield will be the largest construction site in Europe.

BAE

7594 Employees

6937 in Barrow - 85% live in the Barrow area

Nuclear powered submarines can stay underwater for long periods and doesn't need refuelling for 25 years.

Submarine Enterprise consists of The MOD, BAE, Rolls Royce & Babcock Marine.

Site Redevelopment Programme

8 Year programme been going for 2.5 years

Investments in excess of £300m

Combination of New Build, refurb of existing including replacement / upgrade of plant and machinery.

22 Projects

A mixture of Civil, nuclear and marine construction

Off site works

Facilities to be constructed on a live site

Morgan Sindall - Framework partner

BAE with CH2MHill as strategic partner - ATKINS all design - Construction Partners Morgan Sindall, Costain and Shepherd (now Waites)

Sellafield - George Beveridge

SME's are at forefront of commercial thinking.

Disagrees that spend isn't coming out to the supply chain they are spending more, have let large EPC contracts and framework. More contracts will be awarded in Autumn including DDP.  These contracts tie up a lot of spend. Need to work harder with Tier 2 to fully engage with SME's. Have a programme that Helen has launched. Continue to develop SME content.

Opportunities to Support

High Hazard and risk reduction

New innovative ideas

Decommissioning activities at the site will continue to increase.

Box Encapsulation Plant - Ewan Smith and Chris Cunningham

New facilities to enable decommissioning.

Before retrievals start have to build stores.

BEPPS and BEP two different projects and BEPPS also has DIF the projects are connected physically.

Chris said he wants to engage with SME'S and want to mentor SME's

Dennis Thompson - LLWR

Managing Director

How to work with LLWR

Bunkers designed for storage of tnt. Built for explosions and they are in the way.

Plutonium was stored in the magazines during war

Final decommissioning and demolition so they can build vaults. Decontaminating every square inch. Standing water in the magazines is a problem.

Critical Success Factors

A flexible and dynamic safety case

An accurate and detailed project baseline

A contractual model that encourages partnering

The right culture

What we all want in a contract...

Lowest Cost

Partnering Behaviours

Transfer Risk

Long Term Performance

Impossible to get all four if you are wanting to transfer risk.

Partnered with NSG

Martin Walkingshaw Head of Waste Management Services

235 employees

£74Million TO

51M Spent in supply chain

54% spend kept in Cumbria

Use 200 - 250 suppliers

Procurement Pipeline

Waste Treatment Services - Multiple Suppliers

Road Transport Services - Multiple Suppliers

Live Procurement

Metallic Waste Services Framework

Type B Packaging Services

Health Physics monitoring services Framework

Business Services Marketplace

Extended life of vault 9 for an extra 4 years.

Environmental permit will be received in November from the Environment Agency.

FabLab

As you all know I am a massive fan of FabLab in Cockermouth. They are holding an event on 20th November 1.30pm – 4.30pm called Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs & Innovation in Business. They are inviting female entrepreneurs /startups to join them for Global Entrepreneur Week 2015 to celebrate female entrepreneurs, digital fabrication and innovation in business. Their guest speaker is Sally Phillips, who will inspire you with her innovative Cumbrian business, Chimney Sheep. Sally worked with Fab Lab Cockermouth to 3D print a prototype handle for her award winning design and is a great example of how you can access the latest technology, in the Fab Lab, to benefit and grow your business.

This is a free event that promises to be fantastic.

In addition if you have kids they are running a number of events through the half term.

NuExec

It's been a manic couple of weeks but things are really beginning to take shape now with the changes in the business. So we had our new chap Alan join us and he is working within NuExec Consulting on nuclear with Lisa and Matthew, with the support of me and Ellen, is working in NuExec Recruitment pushing into other highly regulated industries. It's a bit strange having boys in the office but I am sure I will get used to it. As always if you are looking for support with recruitment or are looking for a new role get in touch.

It Could Only Happen Me

So the weekend after my last blog my parents kindly offered to have the girls so Stefan and I could have a weekend away. (This was clearly a case of:  Emma you are being a miserable bitch, always working and giving the kids a hard time let us give them a break from you.)

We decided that we would go to Peebles and go biking for the day. – At this point I should probably point out that I am shit on a bike. I find it challenging and I hate going fast, corners and other people being near me. Stefan however is near on pro level doing stupid things like carrying his bike to the top of the mountain to cycle down. So I was nervous but felt that after the hard time I put Stefan through with my back that it was only fair we did something he would enjoy. However I did make sure we booked a four star spa hotel for the Friday and Saturday night.

We travelled there after work and arrived at the hotel about 7.30pm. The outside looked magnificent and I had visions of myself relaxing in a beautiful room and feeling very important. As we walked in I felt those visions change rapidly. We had walked into a 1960's hotel. We checked in and I reassured myself that it was just the reception and the room would be fab. We tried to book dinner in the restaurant that looked like a school canteen and even though there were only about 20 people in, they said it was full. So we headed up to the room. Walking along the corridors it was like being in the hotel from the film "The Shinning". There were red carpets that were all torn and stained and it stank of damp and old people. We went into our room and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The curtains that were obviously the originals from the 60's, were almost black with dust and cobwebs. The filter in the bathroom was so full of dust and dirt you could hardly see the grates and it absolutely stank. We tried to shut the curtains and a spider dropped down and dust filled the room. Tired, hungry and almost in tears I went back down to reception and told them how awful the room was and asked if there was another. They gave us another room and when we went in it was bigger but it stank even worse than the other and it had two chairs that were just like what you get in an old peoples home. The ones with the head rest either side so the dear old ladies can sleep without their head bobbing around like a nodding dog. Plus they were stained and horrible. This wasn't shabby chic this was untouched, dirty and downright depressing. I went back to reception and said how disappointed I was and how an earth could this be a four star hotel. To which the proceeded to tell me they had actually lost one of their stars and the new owner was going to be investing £3m in the hotel to refurb it. I explained how that was all well and good for people staying in the future but it was advertised as a four star and it is like an old people's home and a dirty one at that. We were then greeted by the manager who said she would see what she could sort for us. We were then moved to a grand suite which had a bedroom and a separate lounge with views over the mountain. It was so much better that the other rooms so we thanked her and she even managed to get us in the restaurant for dinner. The food was surprisingly nice but the wine was the best thing and by god did I need it.

The next morning we were up early to go on the bikes. Stefan decided we could cycle to the place where they bike through stupid tracks as it was only a couple of miles away. (Really??) So we set off on our adventure. All was going well on our journey to Glentress until suddenly not only was there a fast downhill but there was a tight corner – the result was me nearly falling off the bike and only being able to save myself by putting my feet down which resulted in a very hard slam on the crossbar in a very unfortunate place. The tears automatically sprang to my eyes with the sheer pain of what had happened. And that was with special padded cycling knickers (who said sexy was dead!). Anyhow I got back on the bike and continued to Glentress. I soon learnt that extreme mountain biking wasn't really my forte and to be fair I was pretty shit even on the easy route. However I didn't want to let Stefan down so agreed to the blue route. Now we are talking cycling on ledges over sheer drops with really uneven terrain. I was absolutely petrified and my hands were so painful from gripping the handle bar so tight. We managed half the course before I finally chickened out and asked if we could please just cycle on the road. In all we cycled 24 miles which I didn't think was too bad but was looking forward to going back to the hotel for a shower. After I had washed my hair I went to use the hairdryer which hadn't been PAT tested since 2007 and gave out as much air as someone blowing on my head. Still by this time I think hysteria had set in and I finally saw the funny side and had a good laugh – even if for the next few days I was walking like John Wayne!

Until next time....

Well what an awesome couple of weeks it has been. I have been here, there and everywhere and have loved every second of it, although I feel like I need a rest now – I am certainly getting old. I have a great deal to tell you, so I will just do it all in chronological order.

UKTI Delegation Dinner / Soapbox

I was really pleased to be asked to attend a dinner with 15 UKTI delegates from around the world. It was a really interesting evening and there were some really interesting talks from the LEP and CoNE, among others, regarding the potential of Cumbria and why companies from other areas of the world should consider investing in our region. One thing happened at the dinner that got me thinking. I hear it a lot and it always prickles me a little. A councillor for Allerdale stood up and basically said that he was the only Cumbrian in the room and we had to remember the community and people who have always supported the industry, worked hard and welcomed the industry to the area. What prickles me with what he said was "I am the only Cumbrian" and this prickled me because what is a Cumbrian?? So my understanding from what he was saying was that unless you were born in Cumbria and lived your whole life in Cumbria then you weren't a Cumbrian. It also felt like he was saying that if you weren't "Cumbrian" you didn't care about the people and almost didn't have the "right"!

So this is how I see it. Many people who read my blog think I am "Cumbrian" and they think that because I am passionate about the area, the businesses within it and giving the local people a fair deal. I chose to live in Cumbria. I have invested in the area by buying a property, setting up a business and employing people who live locally. And my kids grew up from 22 months and nearly 4 here in Cumbria. So why is my passion and desire any less than someone who was born here? There are many people who live here in Cumbria who don't really care about the area, the people or the businesses so does that make them less Cumbrian? In my opinion what makes you Cumbrian isn't an accent and it isn't a blood line to the area. It is about how passionate you are to see the area you love grow and prosper. It's about going above and beyond, giving your free time to help the area. I am a Governor of a local school, I am a Director of BECBC and have my own business here in Cumbria I give above and beyond that which is expected and why? Because I see the potential in Cumbria and the businesses. I see the future for our children and want the industry here for all of us- "Cumbrian" or not- to prosper.

Copeland Open for Business Conference

So I am going to be really honest now. When I saw the flyer for this conference I was quite negative. I thought it would be all the same people talking all the same crap. In addition I wasn't very positive about the Mayor and didn't hold him in high regard. However, I felt I should go as I am committed to Copeland and have a house and a business and the kids are schooled all in Copeland.

All I can say is, for once, I am really pleased to be wrong. What an absolutely awesome conference. I am so pleased I went and learnt a huge amount. Firstly the Mayor, Mike Starkie. I actually really liked him. He was faultless. He spoke passionately, openly and honestly. He had no notes but was so polished and professional and really seemed to speak from the heart.

It was such a positive conference and instead of focussing on the negatives of the area it looked at the positives and the opportunities. There were interesting presentations from Rob Johnston at the Chamber, Paul Howarth, CoNe, Robert Armour, NuGen, Brian Gough, NDA and Rory O'Neill, Sellafield. Now I have to be completely honest here and share something that one of my BECBC colleagues pointed out. I clearly have a Comms Crush on Rory. Now this is a completely professional crush (my husband reads my blog) but my God he is so smooth and flawless with his answers to difficult questions. Anyhow, I obviously paid super attention to his presentation and I wanted to share some of the facts and figures with you.

• Sellafield is 73 years old has over 1000 buildings, more than 200 nuclear facilities and covers 2 Sq Miles.
• Supply Chain spend has risen year on year and this year is higher than before.

Estimated annual Expenditure £m

• Materials £80m
• IT £43m
• Design £95m
• Equipment & Systems £75m
• Services and Manpower £290m
• Corporate Contracts £70m
• Construction £340m
• Total: £1.43bn

80% of spend is with Tier 2 organisations or NDPB

Aspirational target of 25% spend with SME's

Tier 2 Work Packaging Strategy to consider SME's

Accessing innovation from SME's

Removing Barriers for SME's

Supporting and Mentoring SME's

SME spend calculation does not include Contract workers.

Opportunities

• SIXEP Contingency Plant (SCP) Project – Construction and commissioning of SCP based on proven SIXEP process technology and adjoined to the existing Plant to provide Site Ion Exchange Effluent capability be 2025. Value £225m

• SPRS Retreatment Plant Project – Construction and commissioning of a Product and Residue Retreatment Plant to receive, safely treat and repackage Special Nuclear Material to a form suitable for interim storage with capability as soon as possible to 2022. Value £180M

• Multi-Disciplinary Site Works – Provision of multi- disciplinary support to Operations – Civil, Electrical and Miscellaneous works. Value £160m

• Fellside Combined Heat and Power Plant – CHP and Fellside Boiler Park Operations, Maintenance and Management Agreement. Value Under review

• Self- Shielded Boxes – Design and Supply of Self Shielded Boxes. Value £25 - £50m

LLWR

A planning application has been submitted by LLWR for the phased construction of three new vaults.

The application is for the construction of three new vaults (Vaults 9a, 10 and 11) where waste would be disposed of in specially-grouted containers. If successful, construction work on Vault 9a could start next year and run for almost four years. (We can definitely help you recruit for that.)

The application would also allow higher stacking of containers in Vault 8 and the disposal of containers in Vault 9. It would also permit the construction of a final cap over existing and new vaults and the seven landfill-style trenches where waste was disposed of before the opening of the site's first vault in 1988.

The announcement of the planning application came just days after the UK's Environment Agency issued a revised environmental permit to LLW Repository allowing the continued disposal of low-level radioactive wastes at Drigg. (Congratulations guys I know you have been waiting on that.)

LLWR is hoping eventually to build up to 14 vaults on the Drigg site, leaving a closure date of around 2130.

BECBC Nuclear Decommissioning Sector Group

To tie in with the NDA event on Wednesday we had the Decommissioning Sector Group on the Tuesday at Manchester.

Rachel Beech - Balfour Beatty Box Encapsulation Plant EPC

BEP Project Update

• Integrated Project Schedule in place, covering SL and JV scope
• 99% of VTPs have been achieved
• Co-located JV and SL project teams in Risley
• Socio-Economic Plan in place
• Packages in progress/complete
• Temporary Site Accommodation
• Enabling Works for Site Accommodation and Compound
• Lead Screws
• Robots & Control Systems
• Steel Vessels (critical path)
• Integrated Plant Control System

A large amount of procurement going on:

• Steel Vessels - Dec 2015
• CE&I Bulk Materials - Dec 2015
• Scaffolding - Dec 2015
• Goods Lift - Dec 2015
• Out-Cell Finishes - Dec 2015
• Concrete Cutting - Dec 2015
• Piping Bulk Materials - Jan 2016
  
• Roof Liners - Jan 2016
• Crane Beams - Jan 2016
• Lighting & Small Power - Feb 2016
• Communications - Feb 2016
• Transfer Bogies - Feb 2016
• Shielded Windows - Feb 2016
• Building & Process Cranes - Feb 2016
• Stands & Fabrications - March 2016
• Grout Plant - March 2016
• PA Doors - March 2016
• Lighting - March 2016
• Intruder Detection System - March 2016
  

Rebecca Weston - Sellafield Today

• 2600 Buildings on site
• 290 with active inventory
• 11000 staff
• 5000 contractors
• £2bn year to operate
• £1.14Bn spend in supply chain last year.
• £1.5Bn forecast this year
• £800m legacy waste and silos - Hazard reduction and retrieval
• £1.2Bn operations and infrastructure

Next 6 months number of activities:

Output of the spending review by end November

Transition contract operator to NDA subsidiary.

MSSS degrading facilities highest hazard on the site. Time is of the essence.

Schedule driven

Move to store raw waste is huge for Sellafield. Can start to remove sludge as soon as BEP is ready.

LLWR - Tom Crowe

Now Tom took centre stage with his normal "razzle dazzle" and promise of some great procurements that will be moving forward!

• Spent £26m in first 6 months
• Metallic waste framework
• Packaging Framework - ITT next week - Award end of February
• Fleet Maintenance contract - 5 year contract ITT under construction issued in 2 weeks
• Professional Services - LLWR to use but other NDA Estate - Multiple categories project controls, tech author, legal etc - Shared Service Alliance - ITT early January - DPS under eight categories - 10 to 15 years
• Trying to make savings in supply chain
• Spending review will have an impact
• Waste Characterisation Framework engagement day April - looking at scope

NDA Estate Supply Chain Event - Connect and Innovate

John Veith

Opened the event.

1800 Delegates

John Clarke

270 Exhibitors

Great to see so many people here.

Lord Bourne was due as Baroness Vermas replacement. Parliamentary business third reading of the energy act in parliament so couldn't come.

Showed a video over the past 10 years.

Trying to expand opportunities for SMEs.

25% of spend through shared services alliance.

Sellafield - Change of model from a PBO to a direct NDA Subsidiary. Large complex with lots of unknowns needed a simpler interface. Market Enhanced model. Help to make Sellafield a better client. Tender early part of new financial year.

SDP - Work on understanding waste allows Sellafield to treat waste differently. Consequence was the cancelation of SDP. There will be other market opportunities from this. They do understand the impact on the supply chain but he believes the cancelation of the project was the right thing to do.

Spending Review - Acutely aware Government going through a periodic spending review. Chancellor and others general public reductions. Previous spending review did well. This time 25 - 40% cuts in spend is what the Government are aiming for. Will know answer by 25th November. Remains optimistic that they will be able to continue to make progress. Thinks there will be difficult decisions ahead. As soon as know will let the supply chain know.

Key thing Government is looking for is efficiency and to remove hazard across the estate. More value for every pound spent. Looking for collaboration. How do we work together and share experience.

Innovation - What is it? Bringing existing knowledge from elsewhere to solve problems we face. Truly innovative solutions to problems we have. Very high tech but also some things are lower tech.

If we want innovation the fundamental thing we need is people. Attracting the brightest and the best and drawing people in from other sectors. (NuExec can help you with that)

NDA supporting drawing on a diverse population. Working with Women in Nuclear. 17% in nuclear are women. 51% of the population are women. Industry charter for Companies to sign up to and make own commitment to create a more level playing forward to allow women and other diverse population to be part of your business.

Supply chain have asked for an event like today. Lot of support for free event. Third year pushed and encouraged for an international flavour. Pushed hard to extend links with other parts of industry especially MOD.

Rear Admiral Mike Wareham

Delighted to be welcomed back.

Last year was great to speak but more so to meet people who support us or who would like to be.

Lead a team of military and civil staff to design, procure and support Submarines.

Work with BAE, Rolls Royce, Babcock Marine and AWE.

Nuclear Submarine is very challenging.

Key role of UK Defence is to provide a nuclear deterrent. Today a Vanguard class is on patrol as we speak. More than 300 submariners dived on submarines.

Most importantly they rely on a supply chain for high standard components.

Subs need to be designed and built for all conditions.

Showed a great film of the Submarine leaving Barrow.

Government is committed to the UK Defence programme. 2000 people involved in the Successor program.

Opportunities for supply chain. We are growing and need the best that the supply chain can give. UK Supply chain has a remarkable mix of expertise and diversity. Need talent. Innovation is an essential part of the supply chain. Infrastructure integral to deliver the projects. Relies on collaboration and innovation.

NDA Awards

Celebrating work in the supply chain.  HC = Highly Commended

Technology / Innovation Implementation

TWI & Magnox - Winner

Forth and Sellafield - HC

JFN, CNSL & Sellafield

SME Innovation

Oxford Technologies

BD Nuclear

Penny Nuclear

Unblock Ltd

NSG - Winner and HC

DBD Ltd

Collaboration

CNSL

Nuvia & Global Platforms

PPS Consortium - Winner

Morgan Sindall and Arup

Interserve Consortium HC

BECBC  - HC

Innovus - HC

Gen2 - HC

Export Award

React engineering and Createc

Ministers SME Award

Forth Engineering

Oxford Technologies - winner

React and Createc

The presentations and awards were very professionally done but we were all keen to get to our stands and start networking. We were absolutely delighted to have a stand and we had so many people come and chat to us. The atmosphere was really positive and there was a lovely buzz about the place. The only negative was that it was so busy on the stand I didn't get an opportunity to walk around until after 4pm by which time everyone was packing down. I would have loved more time to network but other than pushing it to a two day event I don't know how they could make it any longer. It really is the best event in the nuclear calendar and every one goes there to network and do business.

Supply Chain News

I was delighted to hear that Oxford Technologies, has been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to bring its remote handling expertise to assist in the decommissioning work at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS site. The UK company's achievement in being awarded this work was due to the superiority of its technology and experience in the field of Nuclear Decommissioning – proving once again that UK companies can and do succeed in specialized, highly competitive international markets.

The relationship between MHI and Oxford Technologies has developed quickly to one of true collaboration and both companies are already building on the initial contracts and exploring other aspects of this incredibly challenging but important decommissioning project.

WYG has stepped up its acquisition drive buying a specialist land and property consultant in Cumbria as a springboard to target nuclear industry work.

The firm will pay £5m for North Associates (Cumbria) together with its subsidiary Taylor & Hardy, making it one of the largest property asset management and planning consultancy businesses in the UK.

The deal also strategically positions WYG to benefit from the expected £90bn of investment planned for Britain's 'Energy Coast' in West Cumbria, where WYG aims to use planning skills developed as part of its work elsewhere in the nuclear sector.

North Associates turned over around £3m last year making a pre-tax profit of nearly £500,000.

NuExec Consulting

It is a very important time for NuExec Consulting as Monday is our birthday. On the 9th November we enter our fifth year of trading. I would like to say a massive heart felt thank you to all of the clients and candidates we have worked with over the 4 years. Without your belief in us we wouldn't be where we are today. I am often told that I should keep business and personal separate and not take business stuff personally, but NuExec is personal it means the world to me. It is my life, my passion and my commitment to the industry. I genuinely appreciate every role that you give us and am grateful and humbled by every candidate we place. Here is hoping with your support that as we enter into our fifth year it is the best yet!

NuExec Recruitment

So Matthew is working hard to get this division up and running but as with any new venture it is hard work. So if any of our Nuclear clients can share any contacts with us for other parts of their business it would be much appreciated.

It Could Only Happen to Me

So I have two short ones from my trip to Manchester. On the Tuesday evening Lisa and I had arranged a night out with some of the BECBC members in the city centre. I was really excited as I don't get out often. We had a busy day with meetings and then went to set up the stand. We got talking to lots of people and before we knew it the time was past six. We arrived at the hotel and checked in and I asked the guy on the desk how long it would take to get into Manchester. He looked at me as if I was mad! He told us that it was match night so firstly it was very unlikely we would get a taxi until after the kick off and it would take over an hour to get in to the city in all the traffic. We were due at the restaurant for 7pm but we realized there was no way that we would be able to get there. It was so disappointing and it dawned on us that it would be dinner for two at the Premier Inn. Sadly we were in bed by 8.30pm and asleep by 9.30pm. At least we were both fresh as a daisy in the morning.

On our stand we had a prize draw. We had two prizes: some Cumbrian Ale and a bottle of Pink Champagne and people had to pop their cards in the vase to win. Lots of people put in their cards and I was quite surprised when someone asked if it was a real draw. I asked them what they meant and they said "Is it not a fix and you chose who wins?" I was shocked. "Of course it is a real one. We will draw it at the end of the day and whoever wins will be completely random."

The end of the day was soon upon us and I closed my eyes and pulled out the first card for the Ale. And the winner was Chris Stanger, LLWR! I couldn't believe that I had actually pulled out our biggest client. Luckily we were next to EnergySolutions so Tracey Little and Paul Sullivan promised to act as witnesses that it really was completely random. I asked them to keep watching whilst I pulled out the winner of the Pink Champagne. Now you will never in a million years guess who won it, to be fair you couldn't write it! The winner was John Clarke, NDA. Whilst Chris and John were pleased with their winnings I had many people confident it was a fix. Now to be honest if it was a fix I would have pulled my card out (it was in there) because I really wanted that pink champagne.

Until next time.....

It would be remiss of me not to start this week's blog without mentioning the awful attack that took place in Paris last week. 129 people killed with many others injured all in the name of religion. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be on an evening out on a normal Friday and to suddenly be set upon by terrorists. The fear these people must have felt, the complete disregard for life displayed and families loosing Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Husbands, Wives, Partners and Best Friends. You can only imagine the grief these people are feeling. The fear this attack has instilled in people going about their day to day business is obvious. On Saturday I had to sit and explain to my 9 and 11 year old why this had happened when I didn't really understand it myself. I had to hold my youngest whilst she cried as she didn't want me to go to London in a couple of weeks as she thinks I will be killed. If this whole situation wasn't bad enough now there are daily reports of Muslims being attacked. The two latest attacks I have read about one was verbal and one was physical and both were on women. They were being attacked for their religion and it is so very sad. As I explained to my children these terrorists aren't Muslims they are extremists who have taken parts of a religion and twisted it so they can inflict pain and death on others in the name of their God. I may not be religious but what I do know is regardless to your religion no God would allow you to inflict harm and suffering onto others. The principals of all religion are based around kindness and respect. It is so hard with all that is going on to not hate and not be scared, but I watched a video made by a man who lost his wife and mother of his son in the shootings. He simply said "I will not hate you and I will not live in fear as if I do then you have won. I will live my life with freedom and have laughter and love for me and my son then I win and not you." What he is saying is so true. These people want us to be suspicious of other people, they want us to hate, they want our fear, they want us to fight one another, they want us to attack Muslims and by doing this they win. They take your freedom, they take your humanity, your kindness and your love. I for one will not allow that to happen. I will grieve for those lives lost but remind my children every day that life is for living and loving, as are the people in it.

So moving on with the blog. There hasn't been much nuclear news this week so I will keep the blog brief.

Sellafield

A 50 tonne 'transfer tunnel' has arrived at Sellafield and has been successfully hoisted into place in the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo building.

The tunnel is the main component of the first Silo Emptying Plant (SEP) – one of three massive 360-tonne machines which will scoop out the highly radioactive contents of the building as part of its decommissioning.

The silo, which was built in the 1960s, contains waste created during the early days of the nuclear industry. It represents one of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's four highest priority decommissioning jobs. The other three are also at Sellafield.

The silo is now well beyond its operational life and its contents must be removed so they can be stored in more modern facilities before the material is ultimately consigned to the UK's underground repository.

Installing such a large and weighty piece of kit into a 50-year-old building containing some of the most hazardous material stored anywhere in the UK is a huge logistical challenge.

The metal structure, which was manufactured by Ansaldo NES at its engineering base in the West Midlands, first had to be transferred to a warehouse about two miles from the Sellafield site.

It was then sent to the site at walking pace on a flat-bed truck operated by a 'driver' following behind the load.

The next morning it was hoisted up into the silo building through a gap with only 20mm clearance either side and secured in place.

Attention will now turn to delivering the remaining components of the SEP machine so it can be assembled in situ before it can begin retrieving waste, currently scheduled to start in 2018. Production of the two remaining SEP machines is still ongoing.

The start of waste retrievals at the silo will mark the beginning of approximately two decades of work, with the final material expected to leave the building in about 2038.

Sellafield Ltd announced in October that it expects the silo to be cleaned up quicker and for about £1bn less than originally planned following a switch to a simpler method of treating and storing the material.

The original plan to treat the waste via a complex 22-step method has been shelved in favour of a 'raw waste' storage option that simply places the material untreated into containers, with a final finishing step added prior to its consignment to the underground repository.

NDA

This week saw the commencement of the court case EnergySolutions vs NDA.

EnergySolutions are suing because they wrote to the NDA expressing its concerns about the adequacy of the procurement process and requesting further information following notification they had not been successful with their bid to continue to manage the Magnox sites. EnergySolutions did not issue proceedings within the ten-day standstill period and the NDA entered into a contract with the successful bidder. EnergySolutions brought a claim for damages within the 30-day period, alleging breaches of the 2006 Regulations.

It will be interesting to see the outcome of this.

EnergySolutions & Atkins

Another mention of ES this week was the news that they have signed a definitive agreement for the sale of its Projects, Products and Technology business to WS Atkins plc.

Atkins will pay $318 million for the PP&T business, which is comprised of EnergySolutions' North American government, Europe, and Asia businesses. Atkins will hire approximately 650 EnergySolutions employees pursuant to the agreement. EnergySolutions will retain its logistics, processing and disposal ("LP&D") business, its reactor decommissioning business, including current projects at Zion, IL and LaCrosse, WI, and its North American utility services, including liquid waste processing, fuel pool services, and other commercial projects.

Nuclear industry is too white, too male and too middle-aged

First of all this wasn't my title this was one from In-Cumbria on Monday. My title would have been Nuclear industry too white, too male and too old! (Ha ha ha )

So this headline came from Al Mather who is the former CE of Centre for Leadership Performance.

The report reads as follows:

"She argues that, as in nature, diversity is the key to success in business and the nuclear industry is nowhere near diverse enough.

Mrs Mather said: "If you happen to attend one of the many nuclear shindigs and conferences you will notice a common theme – male, white and middle aged – a singular form a sociocultural monopoly that has featured for many years.

"Monopolies on the whole are viewed as unsustainable, risky and undesirable. "However, in our nuclear world we have all let this be the status quo for some considerable time."

"Diversity delivers business results. "The fact is that companies that have both male and female board members perform better.

"To be fair, the nuclear industry has started to grapple with how to promote women. "But diversity is not merely about gender," she said.

"Having a diverse team in terms of race and sexual orientation, as well as gender, enables and facilitates different perspectives to become part of the company narrative and in turn will lead to better, more rounded thinking, creativity and results.

"Ultimately, a diverse labour base will better enable UK plc to engage with, and play a leading role in the global nuclear renaissance.

"If the nuclear industry is serious about bridging the looming skills gap, developing a more dynamic and effective supply chain and engendering a stronger culture of innovation, then making a conscious decision to mix it up a little might be a good start."

This did make me chuckle and also made me realise my own business USP. So not only are we the best nuclear recruitment business but we are an SME (tick one) We have 3 female and 2 male employees (tick two) We have an employee of mixed ethnicity (tick three) and an employee of a different sexual orientation (tick four). – What more reasons do you need to work with our business? We tick all your socio economic and diversification boxes!

Britain's Energy Coast

News has come out last week regarding Steven Szostak the current MD of Britain's Energy Coast. After 3 years he will be stepping down today and handing the reins to Michael Pemberton who is currently working for BEC as a Programmes Director. He will aim to draw up a strategy to secure the long-term financial future for BEC, in order to deliver regeneration into the west of Cumbria.

Nuclear Institute

I would like to give a little plug to the Nuclear Institute as I believe it is something that everyone in our industry should be involved with. I used to think that it was only open to really clever people with Engineering degrees and doctorates but this really isn't the case and they welcome all people who can display professionalism within the industry. Here is some information on what they do and if you aren't a member please do think about getting involved:

"As a charity (No:1125404) we work with our members to promote high standards of professionalism as well as support education and training in the nuclear sector.

Our work in education and training involves offering a variety of services, events and resources for everyone from young people in schools and universities, to professionals, the government and the general public. These events and resources provide information on a range of subjects, such as advice on career pathways; the discussion of technical issues which can advance nuclear science, engineering and technology; and basic information to help public understanding of nuclear sciences and their impact on society and the environment.

In the interests of public safety, we also promote high standards of education and professional performance within the nuclear industry. We have previously done this by developing the Nuclear Delta™, which is the leading document for outlining the professional standards for the entire UK nuclear industry. Each of our professional members have shown that they have reached this standard as part of the membership process.

We promote education, careers development and maintain the standards of the industry by providing the following:

•Lectures, seminars and training events

•Outreach to schools and the general public about nuclear energy and careers in the sector

•Awards to students and professionals

•The Nuclear Delta, ensuring the safety and competency of professionals

•Accreditation of nuclear professionals through our membership process

•Support to individuals' career development and recognition (including registration as an engineer and scientist)

•Networking opportunities for industry members

•A range of printed resources and online media for education and training

The Nuclear Institute also publishes its journal, Nuclear Future, every two months which contains news and information about the industry as well as a number of high quality technical articles.

NuExec

We have been very busy these past couple of weeks and are delighted to be working with some new clients too. In addition, Matthew did a great presentation at the BECBC meeting in launching NuExec Recruitment and came away with some work, so a job well done. We always have time to take on more though so if your company, regardless of industry, is looking to recruit Exceptional Individuals or you yourself are looking for a career move please do get in touch.

It Doesn't Only Happen To Me!

I was delighted at the Cluster meeting last week when a lady came and had a chat with me. She told me that she really enjoyed my blog, especially this section as she was relieved that these things didn't only happen to her. So she proceeded to tell me a story. It made me laugh so much that I have decided to share her story with you. So this is how she told it:

"I was rushing one morning to get my kids out of the house to school and pulled my cardy out of the tumble dryer. Now, it was one of those with that really static material which everything sticks too. I peeled off a sock that had stuck to it and headed to the car. I ran the kids to school and as I was walking back across the road the lollypop man approached me. "Excuse me are these knickers yours?" He was holding up a black thong! I was outraged why an earth would I be dropping my knickers in the middle of the street. I gave him a stern look and said "Of course they aren't mine," Feeling rather annoyed by the lollypop man's outburst I headed to the office. As I walked in one of my colleagues stopped me and said you have a sock on your cardy and proceeded to peel it off. Then it hit me! The black thong obviously was mine and had been stuck to my cardy and it must have fallen off as I crossed the road!"

See, these things don't only happen to me!

Until next time.....

It has been a while since I wrote but I have been away. However I am back now so welcome to the last blog of 2015 which includes news, views and a look over the past 12 months with some of my favourite blog bits!

First and foremost I need to obviously mention the horrific floods that hit Cumbria. Whilst the effects are devastating I remain in awe of the 'Cumbrian Spirit" it really is something special and never before, any place I have lived, have I ever known a community that pulls together quite like Cumbria.

Talking of Cumbrian Spirit my friends at the FabLab in Cockermouth have come up with an awesome fundraising initiative for the flood recovery. They have created decorative stars made from recycled materials that have gone on sale across the county to raise funds for the 2015 Flood Relief Appeal run by Cumbria Community Foundation.

The Stars create a beautiful decoration that can be hung in shops, homes, cars and even on Christmas trees and represent the strength and resilience of the county.

Follow the link for further details:

http://fablabcockermouth.org/cumbria-stars/

 It was great to see Sellafield, NDA, NMP, NNL, LLWR and BEC come together and pledge £500,000 of immediate funding to aid the county's flood recovery effort.

The pledge is made up of cash donations totaling £271,000, with the remainder made up of in-kind commitments to provide people, materials, equipment and expertise for as long as the community needs it.

Also, an immediate cash injection of £71,000 was made to Cumbria Community Foundation's flood appeal by the nuclear industry.

Other help provided so far has included:

• a team of Sellafield Ltd project managers to help develop Cumbria County Council's recovery programme
• emergency generators to provide power at locations across Allerdale
• Sellafield Ltd funding of £35,000 to ensure this weekend's Taste Cumbria festival can go ahead as a county-wide open for business event
• dozens of nuclear industry staff released to volunteer for emergency response teams

Sellafield also urged their supply chain to get involved and help both financially and practically not just West Cumbria but the whole of Cumbria that was ravaged in the storms. Supporting business and communities to rebuild their lives.

Sellafield

We all waited for what seemed an age for DDP to finally be announced. It seemed the glimmer of hope in what has been a really tough year in the industry. The results from DDP I don't believe have been officially announced but following is what I believe are the winners. Please remember this is just my speculation and is not fact:

Lot1

CNSL - (Shepley, Westinghouse, React, WYG, JFN)

Integrated Decommissioning Solutions - (Energy Solutions, Hertel, North West Projects)

Areva, Doosan, Atkins

Nexus - (a collaboration led by Costain)

Lot 2 - FGMSP

Energy Solutions and Westinghouse

Lot 3 - MSSS

Team of Amec, Shepley & Hertel

If this is an accurate reflection of the results then I feel this is quite good for the local supply chain with many of the winners having good local presence.  Obviously the biggest winner here is Atkins, with them acquiring EnergySolutions this gives them a great hold of the contract.

Please be aware though as I mentioned this is not the "official" line up and is just what I have picked up from my network.

LLWR

I was delighted to read that the fabulous Bendalls Engineering are the successful bidder for the contract to manufacture LLWR's (an even more fabulous company) new packaging for the transport of nuclear material.

An invitation to tender to construct specialised packaging, known as Type B (Novapak), was issued in August 2015 and Bendalls, launched in the county as a family business in 1894, will begin the project early in the next financial year.

The firm says the contract will help it continue to invest heavily in its apprenticeship programme.

Chris Woodhead, Bendalls MD (I placed him – just saying!), said: "The Novapak contract is hugely-important to Bendalls and the wider Carr's engineering division.

"We are really pleased to have won through a highly-competitive process to work with LLWR on its delivery.

"The project demands the highest quality and highest integrity of engineering and manufacturing which is core business to Bendalls with over 50 years of service to the nuclear industry

"Importantly, contracts of this nature underpin our continued investment in a highly-skilled workforce based in Cumbria."

LLW Repository Ltd will manage the manufacture of the high-specification stainless steel packaging. Each package, around 2m3, will carry four, 200 litre drums of material.

The Novapak will replace LLWR's existing fleet and be in operation for eight years.

NDA

The NDA spoke at BECBC last week. I wasn't there but my awesome team were and shared their notes with me.

Focussed on Legacy

Support 16% of UK energy generated

Magnox still generating

NDA 10 years old this year

Over a billion in savings

Driven 2 million savings using collaborative procurement

Funding - £16Billion next 5 years including generation. Amount of effort and work they had to put in to secure that was huge. Have to deliver some real efficiencies and savings. Work and effort is huge and that is the only reason they have secured the funding to allow continuation of major projects.

Difficulties is income will be dropping. When Wylva stops generating the income drops.

Great progress at Dounreay.

Magnox 10 sites from generation to care and maintenance. Successful transition to the new PBO anticipate a further billion pound savings.

LLWR – Very successful result of the team in alternative waste routing. 80% of waste is diverted. Collaboration and support of the supply chain has enabled this to happen.

Sellafield – Most diverse portfolio of any nuclear site in the world. Spend about £2Bil a year. Key focus hazard and risk reduction. Have had ups and downs in performance. Good progress. Key thing need to do is drive efficiencies and improvements in the business. Taking ownership of the site as of April. Cannot predict with Sellafield too many uncertainties this is why a PBO wouldn't work it had to come back into the remit of NDA to ensure long term efficiencies.  Accelerate risk reduction. Have to look at Sellafield as a business and need to look at the mission. Come 2020 the site will be a remediation site. Start to address what that means right now. Drive better value for the tax payer. Nuclear tariff is applied to everything that is done. This shouldn't be the case in all areas. Make sure the things we lose through changing the model, Sellafield can still access through the supply chain – like expertise.

Secured Paul Foster to stay with Sellafield. Selected a Chairman who will take up the role on the 1st April. Will be announced next year. Exec Team being recruited.

Strategic Partner / Market Enhancement – May be more than one. Decision to approach from a different prospective. Starting point was what does the business need to look like by 2020 and where are the capability gaps. This was the driver of the model. Being the intelligent client.

Enhancing capabilities. Environment with a common vision and working together to deliver business mission. Driving the right culture and behaviours. Setting what behaviours they want to see moving forward. Looking at capabilities 3 bundles, engagement 25 companies involved.

Bundle 1 - Support of architecture of business – shape of the business.

Bundle 2 -How do you get there?

Bundle 3 - How do we improve project and programme delivery. Too many projects running late and over cost. Broad bundles.

Critical review of business, announced change, key thing it is just enabler to do things differently and more effectively.

Community – big part of mission significant improvement on skills, Albion Square. Number of things know need to address some of which are captured under CoNE. Massive prospect of new build alongside Sellafield if don't start thinking about skills, infrastructure, housing and community programme then all we are doing is hoping for the best. As an industry we need to step up to the plate.

NDA Draft Strategy and business plan consultation

NDA are publishing more details on the implications of the spending review settlement in their draft business plan and draft strategy documents. Both documents will be published for consultation on 5 January 2016, later than originally planned so the final drafts take account of the spending review.

You will have 6 weeks (until 15 February) to take and look at the proposed strategy and plans. Please send them your comments and views.

Final NDA news they do now have a blog which you can register for on their website.

Oxford Technologies

I was very excited to hear the great news from our lovely friends at Oxford Technologies. As you know they have had a fabulous year winning a number of awards and high profile contracts and now their year ends with them becoming part of Kurion, Inc. as the latest affirmation of their commitment to expand and improve services to customers.

Kurion, Inc., based in California, solves challenging technical problems in nuclear decommissioning, and as such complements Oxford Technologies' expertise in the remote handling arena.

They remain committed to delivering the high levels of service their clients expect from Oxford Technologies. Their working culture, company name, address and contact details will remain the same.

Congratulations guys really pleased for you!

New Build

I read a very interesting article that stated that Toshiba (60% owner of NuGen) is looking for outside help to fund its £8Bn programme after a collapse in its share price. They are apparently in talks with local financial institutions to support the construction of Moorside, after running up losses following an accounting scandal. I hope this is something and nothing as we have already had one major change with NuGen and it would be a real disappointment if it happened again – watch this space!

NuExec

I have some really exciting news NuExec Consulting has been named the Best Nuclear Recruitment Specialists in the Corporate Vision Magazine Recruitment Awards. We are absolutely delighted to be named the Best Nuclear Recruitment Specialist of 2015 and it speaks volumes about our industry knowledge, our commitment and our ability to find exceptional individuals. We used our case study with the work we did for Low Level Waste Repository in Drigg, where we delivered a managed service project in just six months as oppose to the predicted nine and filled roles that had been vacant for up to three years by our innovative and communicative approach. We have a great team at NuExec Consulting and in September launched NuExec Recruitment to take our knowledge from the nuclear industry into other sectors.

In addition, in a huge buck to the trend at the time of year, we have a great deal of new roles currently and coming up, so please make sure you keep a watch on our website. We were delighted to win a really significant contract locally in Cumbria earlier this month but we are still on standstill so can't talk about that just yet but I will be telling you about it in the New Year. We also have some great project work coming up on some really key roles hopefully this will be prior to Christmas so make sure you are following me on LinkedIn.

The Year's Best Blog Bits!

January

The moment I leaked NMP's contract end after it had been kept such a good secret. It went public on the Tuesday following the blog. I actually had no idea I was leaking something so significant:

NDA

I came across a US press release on Wednesday that makes for interesting reading and thought I would share with you:

"U.K. NDA Nearing Decision on Potential Sellafield Alternatives

The U.K.'s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is nearing a decision on potential alternatives for management of clean-up work at Sellafield, the NDA said yesterday. In the fall of 2013 the NDA decided to extend for five years URS-led Nuclear Management Partners' contract to manage Sellafield clean-up, but noted that it could end the contract early if necessary. The British Parliament's Public Accounts Committee subsequently questioned the extension and called for contract termination if performance does not improve. "In line with the recommendations from the PAC hearing in 2013, the NDA has been working with Government and industry experts over the last nine months to consider whether there are alternative options to the current arrangements at Sellafield that might deliver more effective progress," NDA spokesman Bill Hamilton said in a statement yesterday. "This work is reaching a conclusion but no decisions have yet been taken. In the meantime, we continue to work with NMP to improve performance at Sellafield."

Before deciding to extend NMP's contract the NDA said it considered several alternatives. Those included major contract modifications, recompleting the contract or doing away altogether with the parent body organisation model and increasing management and oversight on the part of the government. But it remains unclear what alternative options the NDA has considered in recent months. "

It is strange that this is a US press release and there has been nothing about it yet in the UK? I thought the decision was made and that was that but after reading this I am not so sure. I think this is definitely a case of watch this space.

February

The moment Tom Crowe, LLWR gave NuExec a public thank you and made me cry:

Tom Crowe LLWR Update

Well I was absolutely delighted when Tom did his LLWR update. He actually started by thanking NuExec for the work we have done in delivering their permanent recruitment.  I was that chuffed I actually nearly cried (I know I am such a girl). The thing is, winning that contract was such a huge deal for us and we have worked so hard to ensure we have given the best possible service we can, so to have a public thank you is such a big deal and so very appreciated.

March

My trip in an Ambulance:

It Could Only Happen To Me

So as you know from my blog a couple of weeks ago I have been in real pain with my back / sciatica and you all read about my incident in boots. Anyhow last week as it progressively got worse I was given crutches and referred for an emergency MRI scan on Saturday. Then on Sunday I bent down to put something in the dishwasher and that was it, I could not move. The pain down my left leg was just atrocious. I was absolutely sobbing with pain and was stuck unable to move or make the pain go away. I got Stefan to call my Mum – because of course as a 37 year old grown up when something goes wrong you call your Mum. She arrived took one look at me and rang for an ambulance and they did not hesitate in getting me in the ambulance and heading over to the hospital. Even on a concoction of Morphine, Codeine, Naproxen, amitriptyline, diazepam and gas and air I was still beyond pain. After a few hours I needed a wee and was faced by my worst nightmare a commode in a ward full of people and protected only by a curtain. The nurse helped me on and whilst in complete agony I began to wee and then it happened. Out came a really loud trump! Of course as I was in so much pain I couldn't hold it in. So the whole ward, all the nurses and doctors and all the visitors not only heard me tinkle but also heard me do a massive trump. Back on the bed and with more morphine administered and my new best friend in gas and air they told me I would need to be transferred to Carlisle as they had no orthopaedic beds. By now it was 11pm and I would have to wait for at least 1 – 2 hours for an ambulance then I would have the journey over and they would need to check me in etc. etc. So I asked what they were likely to do. As there was no record of my MRI scan I had had the day before they would just keep giving me the same pain relief and then I would see the spinal consultant on Friday. So instead I packed myself home with all those drugs and am living in a drug induced state unable to even make myself a brew due to the pain. However the good news is I am seeing the spinal consultant tomorrow (I am writing this on Thursday but you will be reading this on Friday which will be the day I see my consultant so I could say I am seeing him today but then I wouldn't be able to tell you what he said – and now I'm confused and need more morphine.)

April

My Ethics Soapbox:

Soapbox

Do you ever sit back and think 'am I the only one that feels like this?' Do you wonder if it's only you that just can't switch off your emotions in business? Do you ever wonder how people can work unethically and just not seem to care?

This week I am really questioning myself and the fact that I care, not just a little bit, but I really care. I care so much that when a company I really like doesn't win a bid I have to fight back the tears. I feel I want to stand up and fight a fight that isn't mine to be involved with. And when a candidate is let down it hurts even more, as it isn't just business, its people's lives.

So here's the thing. Lisa and I set up NuExec because we wanted to do things differently. We wanted to run a business based on our ethics and beliefs. We didn't like the way agencies we had previously worked with conducted business. We hated the whole sending CV's without even speaking to the candidates or building relationships. We hated the way candidates were encouraged to work contract, without a care that this was putting the candidates livelihood at risk. The way they would put people in a short term contract without telling them it was short term and just have them leave a secure role. We are proud of our ethics and even publicise them on our website:

"As a small organisation we focus on relationships and like to think of our candidates and clients as friends. Over the time of working with them solid relationships and mutual trust and respect is built ensuring continued communication and recommendations.

As NuExec is a niche and specialised consultancy we will only work with candidates and clients we genuinely feel we can fulfil the requirements for. We will not represent any candidate or work for any client who we feel do not share our ethics."

Saying all that though I find myself questioning if having these ethics and values makes me a bad business woman. Does caring, I mean genuinely caring about a candidate make me a bad business woman? Does speaking to candidates and advising them not to take a role they are offered through NuExec as they have a better offer with better career opportunities that they should accept, make me a bad business woman? Does telling a client I will no longer work with them because they offered my candidate absolutely terrible terms expecting them to work a 7 day week, unable to take holiday and all for a really low salary, make me a bad business woman? Does the fact that when a candidate who has turned down other offers to take a role for a Client we represented her to who then a month on has the offer pulled, leaving us on the verge of tears trying to do something to rectify the situation so she isn't left with nothing, make me a bad business woman? Does the fact that I class my candidates and clients as friends who I would do anything for make me a bad business woman?

I can't help thinking that my inability to switch off my emotion in business is a bad thing. The very reason I write this blog is to share information and be a voice for the supply chain, and to try and make some kind of difference, to make the industry a better place. But does that make me a bad business woman?

I guess I don't know the answers, but what I do know is the minute I stop caring is the minute I should stop in this business. I genuinely believe Lisa and I are unique in our attitude and in our ethics. I know sometimes I can annoy people with my honest and open approach. Sometimes they may feel I speak out of turn and am too vocal, but that is because I care. I want to make a difference. I want to find people careers that are right for them, that will allow them the best possible opportunities and I want to work with clients who share my ethics and who care about their people. And if that doesn't make me rich, do you know what – I don't care, because money can't buy you happiness. But knowing you did the right thing by somebody, that you have found them their dream job, that you have found a solution to a client's recruitment problems, that your client has told you that you have done a fantastic job, when you are told you are the best recruiters they have ever worked with, when a candidate sends you flowers because they are so grateful for a role you found them and when someone emails me to say they love my blog – That, my friends, gives you happiness.

May

Things start to get really tough in the industry:

Sellafield

When I wrote my last blog I was contacted by one of my regular readers who felt I should mention the dire state of the supply chain due to lack of work in the sector. It seems whatever service or products you offer within the industry times are tough. It seems no one is spending and small businesses are facing exceptionally hard times because of it. I personally have put a lot of that down to the elections. I think a number of businesses were waiting to see what was going to happen within Government and subsequently budgets before putting out contracts. Of course also with Sellafield we have the added complication of the strategic partner which also seems to have had an impact.

In my last blog I mentioned the 3m cubed boxes and how disappointed I was that the contract had gone out of area. Since then it has now been officially announced that the winner of the contract is Metalcraft. Apparently Metalcraft was chosen not just because of the quality and value for money it could offer to fulfil the contract to the standards required to store nuclear waste, but in particular the socio-economic commitments it made to deliver a package which includes new jobs, apprenticeships and training development to advance the capability of manufacturing skills. In addition Metalcraft has committed to a new facility in West Cumbria for the finishing of boxes for the Phase 2 contract, subject to successful sanction to proceed.

I really hope they do fulfil these promises and I hope that Sellafield will enforce them. I think too often companies make socio economic promises within tenders that they never deliver and don't seem to have previously had to demonstrate where they have fulfilled their pledges. I do believe this is changing though, and Sellafield seem to be wising up to actually asking for proof of deliverables – although I may be wrong.

June

My walk of shame:

It Could Only Happen to Me!

At the weekend we went down to Birmingham for the weekend because as a Father's Day treat we were having a tour of the Cadburys factory. I had booked a lovely hotel with a swimming pool and the girls were looking forward to going for a swim. We settled into the room and then decided we would go swimming. I did the real "girl" thing to do and put my swimming costume on in the room and then got back dressed over the top and then headed down to the pool. The girls and I got changed and then we walked through to the pool area. It was really busy and Stefan was already in the water. I had three towels that I needed to put on the side I walked round the pool one way but couldn't get through so had to walk round the whole pool dodging people as I went. I then found a place to put the towels by the window that looked over into the reception area. I could swear the man gave me a strange look but thought nothing of it and started a conversation with a nice family. Then I walked all the way back around the pool where Stefan and the girls were. I was about to get into the pool and Stefan shouted to me: "Are you really going to get in the pool like that?" "What do you mean" I said "What's wrong with my costume." Suddenly there was laughter from a number of people and I looked down to realise that I still had my brown frilly bra on over my black swimsuit. I was absolutely mortified as everyone joined in the laughter at my sheer embarrassment. I rushed to a packed changing room and took my bra off and threw it into the locker. I walked back out to the pool and still everyone was laughing. I got in the pool and said to the girls that I couldn't believe that they hadn't told me. Caity, my eight year old, said that she thought it would be really funny if I got in the pool wearing it and that was why she hadn't told me. As I swam over to Stefan swamped with embarrassment he turned to me and said: "Look on the bright side at least you have an "It could only happen to me" for your blog!

July

Trying to remain optimistic:

Well quiet is an understatement for the industry right now! I get that budgets have gone up and supply chain spend is going to be more, but when is that going to happen? The supply chain is buckling beneath them as having no work is not sustainable. Redundancies are at an all-time high, businesses are closing offices and pulling out of the industry whilst other SME's are having sleepless nights worrying if their business is sustainable in the current climate! – I however remain optimistic and think that come September / October time Sellafield are going to go "Shit we have this money to spend and we haven't spent it – let's start putting contracts out". Then Tier 2's will get busy which will filter to the 3's and 4's and we will recruit all the exceptional individuals they will need to deliver the projects.

So other than hearing how companies are struggling there isn't much news. You probably already know that the DDP contract is having its value cut. From my understanding it is only going to be worth 25% – 30% of the original value - that is a huge blow to companies that have spent hours on the bid for the work.

August

Paul Foster telling us straight:

Short term funding strategy is the same and is supported. £70 million pounds more than they have previously had . £1.9Bn cash and £2.3bn on the books. £75 million efficiency expected.  £200m short for the work wants to do. Have to prioritise work and stopping certain things and keeping others going.  Risk and Hazard reduction is what they are working to. Knocking on head either low probability work, asset maintenance and care as can't afford it.  Accelerating certain areas and cancelling and stopping others. That won't change moving forward. Overlaying corporate values so keeping apprentices as they are lifeblood of the business need to keep with socio economic impact. Critical skills have to be kept going. Have to consider putting businesses to the wall. Tried to apply common sense and value.  Deferred £150m of work. Enjoyed support of Government and NDA. Comprehensive spending review continuing and expecting to hear late autumn. Overheads at Sellafield too high have to reduce spend and overheads. How we procure supply chain and how we access supply chain has to be addressed.  Desire is to get nothing wrong so produce groups and processes to stop getting things wrong. So have become very process heavy and we have got to unpick that. If the supply chain can help to unpick then they are happy to listen. Sellafield has to be agile as it isn't currently. Sellafield is funded annually. Cannot save, borrow or carry money forward.1.95Bn cannot spend a penny more or defer money. Sellafield is a business and is just in a different environment. What are seeking to do is to federalise Sellafield. Strong central direction and strong values and hand over more authority to delivery areas. Stiffen up central Sellafield but push more authority out to enable people to crack on.  Longer term relationships with the supply chain. Work with you for a longer period of time so they can make commitments to the area. Preferred suppliers so know they will get work when it arises. Gives consistency and has companies ready, change the way in which we procure, commoditise what we do. Try and treat employees like adults. Spent 15 years taking authority away from people and now they want to give it back. At the moment big chunks of work but moving forward this will change to smaller different packages of work.

Have a bright future and have at least 40 years' worth of work. 30 new facilities to be built. Estimated another 60 years beyond that. Sellafield due to stop at 2123. Currently getting work from other estates. Good skill base and a good place to be. Sellafield will be a standalone company it will be government owned and annually funded. Work going to be changing to small groups individually led. Supply chain needs to change with us. Shaping competitions and engaging the supply chain.

Don't want people to need us as much as they do. Have to encourage diversity into other areas. Not healthy supply chain need to be more agile that are not so dependent on them.

Answers to Questions

Other parts of government funded businesses get 3 -4 year funding. If they could get funded that way it would give them better scope and allow them to update things and manage budgets more effectively.

Need to educate leadership group and empower them. Give permission to innovate and stop following processes. Give them permission to make decisions.

Currently stepping through some places 7 layers of staff in other areas 12 and some people called managers with no teams. Thin out the layers. Need to align and reorganise. Sometimes need 50 people to make a decision. Pulling out huge chunks of process. Inactive work same bells and whistles as highly regulated. Cut down to 7 layers and remove redundant processes.  Save several hundred jobs in doing that but it doesn't mean redundancies they will relocate people into other areas.

Acquisition Strategy will there be a review?

Yes there will be a review but Strategic partner is an understandable cog in a story. 2005 BNFL sold major projects group and a lot of it is now in Cavendish. Weren't doing a lot of major projects. NMP brought in a large amount of capability for Major Projects support. Sellafield has never had an internal major project capability. Sellafield needs some augmentation. Strategic partner worked at cross rail. That model will not work for Sellafield as an ongoing series of projects and programmes.

Currently looking at how it will look, how to compete it, incentivise it and how it will work. Want things to be done quicker looking to go to market early next year partner late 16 early 17 in place. They are the pivotal of the strategy. Strategic partner one end and chemical the other. Need to take successful frameworks the gaps and make a pyramid and see where it fits together. Make sure right framework and right companies. Maybe they need 1, 2 or 3 companies. He personally doesn't want a consortium.

Work supporting Tepco and other sites in the UK revenue is important to offset NDA costs but doesn't add to budget.

How Sellafield will help companies diversify?

Writing a blueprint for Sellafield and will socialise with supply chain. Historically been sterile in footprint and need to be a bit more proactive with the weight they have got. Healthy West Cumbria is really important. They can't be reliant on Sellafield. Not offering solutions just explain what challenges are and commit to plan to make outcome happen. Stepping stones to get there.

Tier 2 need to help the lower tiers to diversify. Sellafield will try to help supply chain but it is partner organisations responsibility too.

Sellafield Skills Strategy?

Working in generality rather than specifics. We are obsessed with Stem but it is only half of what they do. Do need science and engineering it is the backbone of what they do. Safety Engineering and science. Programme and Project Management skills needed and need to make sure have enough of these skills. 1200 buildings with inventory waste. Some of the buildings are more challenging than the ones they are currently working on. Need to engage on strategy regarding waste. Will need people in waste and environmental. Need problem solving and collaboration skills. Behavioural skills. Launching West Cumbria works. It needs accounts, procurement and administration etc.

Delays have been a result of the management change. Need to lead our way through it rather than just administer it, we need to look at what we really need to do and what we really want. Reintegrate as a single business. Empathise with the supply chain and know there are changes needed. Need to change culture on site and then the process will improve. Make sure what we procure is owned, understood and wanted.

Spent a week at Fukishima which was distressing, conditions they work. Turned to Sellafield for help because of our expertise. WANO came and visited and gave an excellent review. 300,000 tonnes of fuel into reactors 100,000 processed and half of that through Sellafield. West Cumbria has a negative approach needs to be a more positive place. Need to represent it positively and make it a better place to be. Start representing in context or people will think it is a bad place. Proud to be associated with Sellafield. Workforce get hurt by critiquing constantly. Great future ahead hoping with change of ownership will allow better flow. Need to compete in a manner to allow people to answer the exam questions. Keen that Sellafield has a positive effect on diversity.

I personally feel a lot better now Paul has actually come and engaged with the supply chain and told the truth instead of all the placating we have been getting. It is important the supply chain know and understand the challenges of Sellafield and this will allow them to make the decisions regarding diversification and how to model their business. Certainly our business has felt the pinch in the industry but I realised a good few weeks ago that diversification is going to be key for survival. As such in September you will be seeing NuExec Recruitment coming on to the scene this will be a new business that will be taking the experience of nuclear into other regulated industries whilst leaving NuExec Consulting to focus on Nuclear.

September

Sorry Claire I couldn't resist – Four nuclear professionals do Dublin:

It Could Only Happen To Me

As I mentioned in my last blog, a couple of weeks ago myself, my husband and two other mad nuclear friends went to Dublin. As always we had some very funny experiences. So get yourself a brew, get comfy and hopefully this will raise a smile:

So Stefan, Tony and I left Cumbria on Friday lunchtime and headed to over to Preston to pick up Claire from work on route to the airport. I made it quite clear that once we arrived at the airport I was handing adult responsibility to someone else. Tony nominated himself as designated grown up. So I parked the car and whilst waiting for the bus I quickly checked the boarding pass for our terminal and handed Claire and Tony their passes. We got on the bus and got off at Terminal One and headed straight to security! Here we hit our first problem the lady told us we could only have one bag of fluids. So Claire was busily trying to fit all her stuff in one bag and was getting a little stressed. I wasn't bothered as I had a massive clear bag in my hand luggage so I was alright. Anyway she got sorted and marched off but left her suitcase. Luckily Stefan noticed it and took it with him. When we got to the scanner to scan our boarding passes I asked Claire if she had forgotten anything, all of a sudden it dawned on her and the look of panic on her face was priceless. Stefan handed her the bag and he proceeded to try and scan his pass, as did I, but they weren't working. The lady took the passes and told us we were at the wrong terminal! – Well I did say I didn't want adult responsibilities. We found our way to the right terminal and then headed to security to be met with absolute bedlam and lots of shouting. We were told we needed to remove all electronics and all fluids. If there was anything in the bag that shouldn't be it would be rejected and there was a 2 hour wait for your bag. We looked over and there was a crowd of people all waiting for their bags to be checked. I took all my stuff out and Stefan was in front of me. He had the same clear bag as me and they told him he had to fit all the stuff in to one of their tiny bags. Panic hit as I knew there was no way my stuff was going to fit in that bag. I didn't want to have to wait 2 hours or we would miss our flight so I hid my bag under my jacket in the tray and hoped that it would get through. I walked through and stood on the other side. This women was asking the man for her bag as she was going to miss her flight and he just turned round and asked her why she was so late getting through and it was tough, she would have to wait in line. I have never been so stressed at a security point in my life. Thankfully we all got through and quickly scuttled off.

The flight was pretty uneventful and very quick, when we landed I stood up only to find some dirty little scumbag had stuck chewing gum on the seat and it was now all over my new jeans! I was so cross but nothing I could do. We headed to the apartment and as we walked out of the lift it actually really looked like a prison. It had balconies and stairs up with doors all along just like a prison wing. I just hoped it was ok on the inside. Thankfully it was lovely inside and as we were unpacking Claire suddenly shouted "Emma come quick there is a man with his willy out." I rushed over absolutely shocked at what sort of place we had come to, and of course to have a look. Thankfully it was just a random statue and not a real man.

The evening was lovely chilled and event free, apart from Claire's new found love of the green post boxes! Next day we headed out early to the Guinness tour where I am proud to say I drank my first pint of Guinness. Now between you and me, I had actually smuggled some blackcurrant squash into my handbag and when no one was looking I squirted it in – mmm Guinness and black. After the tour we decided to go to the Old Jail as it sounded really interesting. Tony, as designated grown up, took the map and said it's only a short walk. Well let's just say not only did he get us lost but he took us through the Dublin Ghetto and I am not even joking. Loads of windows were boarded up, the schools had high fences with spikes (I don't know if this was to keep the kids in or keep people out); there were loads of dodgy looking people walking around and the police were regularly slowly driving past. We finally arrived and really enjoyed it. We got a taxi back to the Viking Experience that I had booked that morning, however, When I went to talk to the man he told me I had actually booked for the Sunday and not the Saturday (honestly I was absolutely useless this holiday) but luckily they had a bus we could jump on. It was so funny everyone had to wear Viking hats and the driver told loads of jokes and funny stories about the area. Every few minutes he would shout now and we would all have to roar and shake our fists at the passer-by's. There reactions were hilarious. That evening we headed out to a restaurant we had booked and guess what?? Yes you guessed it! Tony got us lost again so we decided we would take away his adult responsibilities and give them to Stefan. When we headed back to the apartment we found some people injecting drugs into their toes. We certainly didn't hang around getting into the apartment and locking the door.

The next day we set off early to the Jamieson tour. Now I am 95% sure our guide was drunk. He kept losing his balance and forgetting what he was saying. After tasting all the whiskeys we then enjoyed a whiskey sour while we chatted. We were reminiscing about children's TV when we were young. I said to Claire "Do you remember that programme it was called something street and it had a pigeon in it?" "That will be Pigeon Street then" said Claire and my goodness we found it absolutely hilarious. We had another whiskey and then staggered to Dublin Castle. For those of you who have never been, this is a stately home. So as we were walking around Claire and I slipped off into a little side room off the great hall and noticed it echoed so we had a little game of bogies (where you take it in turns to say bogies and see who dares say it loudest.) As we walked through to the main hall one look at Stefan shaking his head and the look of disgust I realised all the people in the great hall had heard us. Obviously after a good few whiskeys Claire and I found this hilarious and across the hall Tony was looking at a painting when he suddenly shouted "bogies". After a few more rounds we made a sharp exit to consume some more alcohol. We had a lovely lunch (yes it was still early) and Claire and I went back to the apartment whilst the boys went to get some supplies. We thought it would be a hilarious idea to take some funny pictures of us dressed up in the boy's pants on Stefan's Ipad and we even made a toilet selfie video. We also updated Stefan's facebook status to bogies then put it back where it was and tried to sit and look innocent on the sofa. It took him all of a minute to realise what we did and in fairness both him and Tony thought it was hilarious.

Unfortunately the evening didn't end well as I had the same problem as I had experienced in Holland that time (my regular readers will know exactly what I am talking about) where I spent all evening on the toilet. Poor Tony was trying to brush his teeth ready for bed and I had to ask him to leave the bathroom. Well I think it's fair to say we are all very good friends now!

October

Finally learnt about what was happening on SDP:

SDP

Obviously I am going to speak about SDP. Over the past few months there has been loads of speculation about this project and whispers of it being cancelled. Well it hasn't yet been cancelled but it is under review. Interestingly if it is cancelled it will not be for the reason 90% of us will think. It actually has nothing to do with money. When the SDP concept came about Sellafield had made very conservative assessments about what type of waste they were dealing with. In the background to the SDP contract there has been some parallel research going on looking at the waste and making assessments on it. The research team have discovered that actually the waste isn't as hazardous as they first thought and in actual fact it doesn't need to be treated in the way initially thought and can actually be stored in its raw form. Obviously this discovery will probably mean they no longer need SDP. However with all things in life as one door closes another opens. This now means there is waste that needs to be removed, storage units produced / designed and new stores built. So although there is unlikely to be an SDP there is still work to be done. One thing that I found really interesting was ama were aware of the parallel research going on and I believe the contract had a clause allowing Sellafield to cancel the contract if the research gave an alternative that was safer, practical and more cost efficient.

November

Cumbrian Soapbox:

UKTI Delegation Dinner / Soapbox

I was really pleased to be asked to attend a dinner with 15 UKTI delegates from around the world. It was a really interesting evening and there were some really interesting talks from the LEP and CoNE, among others, regarding the potential of Cumbria and why companies from other areas of the world should consider investing in our region. One thing happened at the dinner that got me thinking. I hear it a lot and it always prickles me a little. A councillor for Allerdale stood up and basically said that he was the only Cumbrian in the room and we had to remember the community and people who have always supported the industry, worked hard and welcomed the industry to the area. What prickles me with what he said was "I am the only Cumbrian" and this prickled me because what is a Cumbrian?? So my understanding from what he was saying was that unless you were born in Cumbria and lived your whole life in Cumbria then you weren't a Cumbrian. It also felt like he was saying that if you weren't "Cumbrian" you didn't care about the people and almost didn't have the "right"!

So this is how I see it. Many people who read my blog think I am "Cumbrian" and they think that because I am passionate about the area, the businesses within it and giving the local people a fair deal. I chose to live in Cumbria. I have invested in the area by buying a property, setting up a business and employing people who live locally. And my kids grew up from 22 months and nearly 4 here in Cumbria. So why is my passion and desire any less than someone who was born here? There are many people who live here in Cumbria who don't really care about the area, the people or the businesses so does that make them less Cumbrian? In my opinion what makes you Cumbrian isn't an accent and it isn't a blood line to the area. It is about how passionate you are to see the area you love grow and prosper. It's about going above and beyond, giving your free time to help the area. I am a Governor of a local school, I am a Director of BECBC and have my own business here in Cumbria I give above and beyond that which is expected and why? Because I see the potential in Cumbria and the businesses. I see the future for our children and want the industry here for all of us- "Cumbrian" or not- to prosper.

And that brings us to December. It has been a real rollercoaster of a ride this year and as always I am looking forward to bringing it to a close and to get excited for the promise of a prosperous New Year. I love New Year as it is a start to new dreams, new challenges and new achievements. It is the time of year when anyone can make a change and follow their dreams.

Thank you for all your support over the past year and I hope you have found the blog informative and entertaining. I will be back in the New Year so all that is left for me to say is: Merry Christmas!

Until Next Time.....

Happy New Year and I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. It has been a while since I wrote but I have been kept very busy on a project to deliver an Operations Manager for James Fisher Nuclear. I only have a couple of weeks left on it now but if there are any inspirational leaders out there that fancy a new challenge then get in touch.

I haven't much news and gossip for you as I haven't spoken to many people but I will share with you what I know.

Sellafield

I haven't had much news from Sellafield other than the procurement opportunities that you will find under the BECBC header. However Sellafield are organising an event called:

Opening the Door to Opportunity – 23rd February at Energus, Workington

The event is for SME's where they will get an opportunity to speak with the current main contractors on site. Booking details are below.

www.bookwhen.com/sellafield

NDA / Sellafield

So I am sure you have all heard that Tony Fountain will become the new chair for Sellafield. Tony takes up the role on 1 April 2016 replacing Tony Price. I have to be honest and say I am not sure how I feel about this (Not that my opinion really counts for much). As most of you will know Tony was the CEO of the NDA from 2009 to 2011 and does have an impressive career but I can't help thinking that what we need is fresh new blood with fresh ideas and people who are not held back by past cultures and experiences. I have a feeling that the whole new board that was discussed will just be a team of Sellafield Old boys! What I don't understand is how things will change if you have the same people leading. However I could be completely off the mark and this could be the best thing to happen to Sellafield. As always, all we can do is wait and see.

Strategy

The NDA has asked for the Supply chain to read and challenge on the new strategy that is open until 15th February 2016. They stated that they wanted their suppliers to grow and be successful and they believe they can play a positive role in this. There is a video and links on their website so please take the time and go and review it. We often complain about the way things are done in the industry: well here is your chance to comment on it and help make the change.

Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster Jan

Sellafield Update

Robert Astall, Commercial Director

Market Enhanced Model

• 1st April implementation of the new model
• Key part is the right behaviours
• Need to plug gaps left by the exit of NMP.
• Appropriate risk transfer
• More dialogue with supply chain
• Collaborative approach
• Looking for agility and flexibility
• Formed a steering group - held scene setter with experts & Supply chain - Held workshop
• Looking for a number of strategic partners not just one.

Proposed Scope:

• Strategy Business Partner – Contact Olivier Demarthe
• People and Transformation Partner – Contact Colin Reid
• Programme and Project Delivery Partners -  Contact Scott Reeder

These may evolve as thinking continues

Delivery vehicles:

• Advisory
• Resource Augmentation
• Co-source
• Outsource

Current Status

• Scene Setter with 25 organisations technical dialogue
• Held detailed technical dialogue meetings
• Competition principals
• Must attract organisations who have values and behaviours that are consistent and complementary of SL
• Must retain flexibility in the resultant contracts
• Must provide a contractual framework based on a set of incentives which support collaboration.

IRP endorsement Feb 2016

SL Board Endorsement

NDA Endorsement May 2016

DECC Approval July 2016

An industry day will be held in September 2016 subject to sanction

Key Messages

• Pre Procurement phase
• No concrete scope
• Extensively consulted with supply chain
• Long term partner collaborating
• More than one
• Key to Sellafield moving forward.

Stuart Wilson

Procurement Update

SPRS Retreatment Plant

Re Qual - Sept 2016

ITT Dec 2016

Value >£100m - >£250m

SIXEP Contingency Plant

Value >£100m - >£250m

Pre Qual June 2016

ITT September 2016

Andy van Schaick

ISA Work Programme

• Subject to Comprehensive Spending Review
• Electrical one of the biggest programmes in the portfolio
• Analytical Services a large lab transfer project and ongoing maintenance. £400m still in the study phase.
• Steam project - Fellside boiler, new power plants to be constructed.
• Pipebridges - 25 on site. 10 urgently need upgraded
• Package Management - Flasks maintenance, grit, jet and shot blasting will need to be procured.
• Infrastructure Minor Projects - Rail maintenance, compressed air maintenance, water, inactive tank farm, laundry, roads and sewage studies.
• Interim Storage Facility - Delivering through ISA
• Security Enhancement - Civil build and security equipment
• Socio Economic plan - do publish it and do review it.

Looking to improve and be more consistent with the supply chain.

Have a procurement plan but that is dependent on funding.

Supply Chain spend £68.7m

SME spend £32.9m

BECBC Member spend £36.7m

DSA Update

• Let in 2012
• 3 year review NDA endorsed to continue with the contract.
• This looked at value for money and engagement with the supply chain

12/13 £52.7m

13/14 £113.6m

14/15 £133.6m

15/16 £96.4m forecast

Socio Economic

• 15/16 £17.2m Tier 3 and 4
• £9.8m SMEs
• Quarter of work delivered in West Cumbria
• 15 Grads in Cumbria
  

Innovus Sellafield Game Changers

• New technologies, ideas and methods
• Accelerating delivery
• Reducing cost
• Reducing Risk
• Making Operations Safer

If you have an idea that could do any of the above they want to know. Managed by Innovus and sponsored by Sellafield.

• Wants to introduce new ideas.
• Will give a £5K grant for market and technology research to articulate your idea
• Open to all from individuals, SMEs, universities and larger organisations
• Additional funding available for further development
• All IP stays with the innovator
• Innovus support throughout the application process

What's a game changer

Novel technologies and methods that provide more efficient, less expensive and safer ways of meeting the Sellafield Decommissioning Challenge.

How it works

• Follow Twitter and LI for updates
• Going to be realising challenges they are looking for solutions to.

Technology Supply Chain Event - Thursday 11th Feb at Energus

Innovate UK Award up to £1.5m

Bringing the event to Cumbria. Wednesday 2nd March at Rheged

Radical, innovative and cost effective ideas to the challenges in oil & gas, nuclear or energy systems.

Collaborative bidding process.

Taking inspection to the limit

Dealing with data

Engaging in energy

Mike Starkie - Copeland Mayor

I was absolutely delighted that Mike Starkie came and spoke at the Cluster as I feel he has a huge part to play in local business success. I have to be honest and say that this guy really inspires me. There is something about him, his manner and the passion and honesty he speaks with that makes me proud to be part of Copeland and makes me proud to have Mike Starkey as our advocate.

Copeland Borough Council

Values

• Work with partners
• Be cost effective
• Treat everyone fairly and with respect

Ambition

• Town Centre Regeneration - For our towns, villages and streets to reflect the prosperity of the area
• Commercialisation  - Grow the commercial activity of the Council to benefit the people of Copeland, ensuring that the wealth generated in Copeland stays in Copeland.
• Employment, skills & social wellbeing - Attract businesses and professionals to Copeland and retain young talent. Working with partners to support the most vulnerable in our borough
• Strengthen the way we operate - Continually review our service to ensure they meet the needs of the people of Copeland and ensure they are efficient and effective.

Looking for a solution to the hospital problem. The idea is to make it a centre of excellence for rural healthcare. Making it a training hospital. Recruitment has been the biggest challenge and is why the services have been lost.

Copelands Vision to build a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Summary

• Prospects and opportunity for the people of Copeland
• To attract businesses and professional people to Copeland
• Retain our most talented young people with a diverse range of career opportunities
• For our towns, villages and streets to reflect the prosperity of the area
• To ensure the wealth generated in Copeland, stays in Copeland
• To significantly improve infrastructure
• Combining efforts to develop first class education and health services in Copeland and end deprivation
• Aligning our ambitions with Copeland's potential!

Have to be solution focused instead of focussing on the problems.

NuGen

I was delighted to read that Mitie has secured the security contract with NuGen. Just before Christmas we were selected as one of three suppliers to Mitie here in Cumbria. We were against stiff competition and were the only SME selected with the others being multinationals. It just goes to show it isn't the size of the business that matters, it is the passion and drive of the people to deliver the results.

NuExec

So the last month has been a big one for NuExec we won the project with James Fisher Nuclear to recruit an Operations Manager, we won the contract with Mitie, we have managed to get on to a framework giving us access to major recruitment contracts and we are delivering the Stakeholder Director role for the Cluster. In addition this month we have already seen two candidates placed with two new Clients that we haven't previously placed with. All in all a very good start to the year. Add in to this the award we won in December for the Best Nuclear Recruitment Specialist and I well and truly have my chufty pants on. However, with two additional staff in the office and a keen aspiration to take on apprentices this year, we still have the capability for more. So if any of you are now back looking to recruit in the nuclear sector or other sectors (don't forget NuExec Recruitment) then please give me a call or come and have a coffee.

It Could Only Happen to Me

As you can imagine having not written for a while I have quite a few I could choose from but I will go with one from Sunday and then drop in a quick flash from Thursday.

So as I mentioned I am doing this assignment for JFN and I am conducting the first line interviews for them. One of the candidates I was keen to interview found it difficult to meet with me during the week so agreed to interview them on Sunday. I went to the gym for a workout then came home and did all my housework and in the meantime managed to pop one of my red acrylic nails off. – Absolute tragedy of course. I nearly went to the office in my gym gear. Being a Sunday I was confident that I wouldn't need to wear business dress and I have met this person on numerous occasions. Anyhow I decided that might be too casual, so slipped on a pair of jeans and a jumper. I got to the office early to get some work done but noticed the office was dirty so started to clean. I then opened the microwave to clean it to be hit by an absolutely vulgar stink of rotting salmon that filled the office. Someone had exploded their salmon while cooking and left it in the microwave. I tried cleaning it whilst gagging and gasping for air. It is probably key to point out here that we can't currently open any of our windows as, due to some very bad craftsmanship, they have had to be nailed shut whilst we await for replacement windows. Even after cleaning it the smell still wouldn't go so I was trying to waft it and spray allsorts to mask the smell of rotting salmon before my candidate came in. With just over 5 minutes left I raced for a wee and decided to take my phone with me just in case they arrived. And just as you guessed whilst I was on the toilet the phone rang. So I had to answer it and explain to the candidate I was just pulling up my pants and I would be down to let them in. I raced down the stairs and opened the door to find him beautifully presented in a suit and tie and there was I sweaty, in jeans and with a fingernail missing. I quickly apologised and advised I should have advised him as it was Sunday I was expecting informal dress. I ushered him into the meeting room, through our fishy office as quick as possible, and offered him a coffee. I was gasping for one by this time. As I poured in the milk I quickly realised that the milk was off so had to go in empty handed again apologising for not only my appearance, stinky office but also my off milk and lack of coffee. Thankfully he is a regular reader of my blog and knows that these things are not uncommon and I am still a complete professional!

One last little flash as this is becoming common practice for me. On Thursday I went to my car to get something out. It was parked in the courtyard behind our offices and for some reason there were a few guys milling around. Anyhow I took no notice and bent into my car to get my charger and as I did there was a big gust of wind and the back of my dress blew right up to my head. Only this time I wasn't wearing my monkey knickers oh no this time it was much worse because I was wearing a thong!

Until next time.....

Hi! Just a quick blog this week as I have had a very busy week and don't have much time to have the craic. However with the official DDP announcement I thought I should at least let you know the facts as oppose to my speculation as in the last blog.

Sellafield

Rather than typing my take on it here is the official press release from Sellafield regarding DDP:

"Sellafield Ltd is agreeing what is thought to be the UK's first ever public procurement that guarantees benefits for the community.

A decade-long package of socioeconomic investment will be delivered via the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership (DDP) framework, including jobs, apprenticeships and work for small and medium-sized businesses.

Under the framework, worth a predicted £500m, the first four confirmed 'delivery partners' – made up of 12 companies - will enter a 10-year agreement to support Sellafield Ltd staff on the decommissioning of Europe's most complex nuclear site.

In order to be chosen, the companies had to demonstrate how they will support Sellafield Ltd's socioeconomic strategy, with particular emphasis on the key themes of skills, growth and community. They were also assessed on other factors including quality and value during a two-year tendering process.

Of the 12 selected companies, 11 are based in, or have a significant presence in, Cumbria. All have committed at least 20 per cent of their sub-contracting spend with small to medium-sized enterprises.

The successful companies, working as part of four consortia or joint ventures, are now working with Sellafield Ltd to finalise the details of their socioeconomic commitments. Sellafield Ltd is also finalising the framework agreements with two other consortia who were successful in the initial tendering process, and they will be confirmed once legal and commercial arrangements are in place.

The delivery partners confirmed so far are:

• Integrated Decommissioning Solutions (comprising Energy Solutions EU Ltd, Hertel (UK) Ltd, North West Projects Ltd and Westlakes Engineering Ltd)

• The Nexus Decommissioning Alliance (Costain Oil, Gas and Process)

• Cumbria Nuclear Solutions Ltd (Shepley Engineers, James Fisher Nuclear Ltd, REACT Engineering Ltd, Jacobs Stobbarts, Westinghouse Electric Company UK Ltd, White Young Green Engineering Ltd).

• The Decommissioning Alliance (Jacobs UK Ltd, Energy Solutions EU Limited, Westinghouse Electric Company UK Ltd)

Among the pledges given by the selected companies are:

a 'local first' recruitment approach, with one consortium aiming for 95 per cent of work to be done by Cumbrian workers

• a commitment to give 150 jobs to 'under-represented or disadvantaged' people
• a commitment to create up to 240 new apprenticeships over the 10 year agreement
• companies promising to provide training, school outreach and business mentoring

And, in what is believed to be a first for public spending in the UK, these commitments will be written into the contract, meaning companies would lose out financially if they fail to deliver.

Independent data analysis of the £500M DDP framework has found that 1,140 jobs a year could be created or supported during the 10-year contract period.

A £500m investment under DDP from now until 2025 would represent an expected spend of more than £95 for every minute of the next decade to help clean up the highest priority hazards at Sellafield.

The work to be carried out under the contract has already been mapped out as part of Sellafield's existing performance plan.

But there is extra 'headroom' in the framework of up to £1.5 billion, meaning the total investment could potentially be even greater than the predicted £500m, depending on how Sellafield Ltd prioritises and delivers its work.

NDA

There was also an article about the NDA:

"Sellafield Ltd will be given a £2bn annual budget for the next financial year as the site enters the most crucial period in its modern history.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) secured the sum for the 2016/17 financial year as part of the Government's Spending Review, announced in November last year.

The announcement was made in the NDA's draft business plan, which was published last week, and marks an increase in Sellafield's £1.9bn budget for the current financial year and underlines the NDA's commitment to securing progress in the site's clean-up programme.

However, Sellafield Ltd has made clear that further efficiency savings will be required in order to deliver the scope of work planned for 2016/17.

From April 1, the NDA will take ownership of Sellafield Ltd, as part of a raft of reforms aimed at bringing a more streamlined approach to the management of the site.

The new structure is designed to remove unnecessary bureaucracy and promote closer alignment between the NDA and Sellafield Ltd.

A year of landmark progress is expected at Sellafield in 2016/17, particularly in the highest priority legacy ponds and silos clean-up programmes.

All remaining fuel in the Pile Fuel Storage Pond is expected to be cleared during the year and bulk retrievals of sludge and fuel are scheduled to begin from the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond."

NuExec

It's been a busy time over the last couple of weeks and we have seen some interesting roles come in. The nuclear side of the business remains fairly quiet but hopefully we will see this picking up soon. We are really excited to be currently going through Cyber Essentials so we can ensure we are working from a cyber security perspective as efficiently and securely as possible. If you have any current opportunities you are looking to recruit please do get in touch so we can share our Exceptional Individuals with you.

It Could Only Happen to Me!

So just a quick it could only happen to me to brighten your day. During the storm on Tuesday and Wednesday roof tiles were coming off our offices roof and landing on the car park so we were advised not to park in the car park and to park on the road.

On Wednesday I was working late in the office and by the time I left if was 7.30pm. I had all my bags and I had left my laptop on as I was going to have to work further when I got home, I also had a thick diary and notepad in there so couldn't close the bag. I walked to the car rain pouring into my bag. As I approached the car I started to press my key and it didn't unlock. As I got closer I realised it wasn't my car. But my car was parked there I remembered parking it. Omg it had been stolen!! By this point I was soaking wet and nearly crying! I turned to walk back to the office to call the police when a car up the road caught my attention. It was of course my car!! I had completely forgotten that I had been to collect the girls from school and had parked on a different road!

Apologies it's brief but I am sure I will have much more to say next time.....

I am feeling a little queasy today after a very entertaining evening at the Cumbrian NI Dinner last night, where I was kindly invited as a guest of Doosan Babcock. I haven't much news again this week, things seem quite quiet but I will share what I know! – Oh and for the chaps that I spoke to last night, I decided not to go with the content suggested for my blog but it is still there in my mind!

I was also criticised last night for the lack of controversy and personal opinion in my blog so I will do my best to rectify this!

Sellafield

I have been quite amused over the past couple of weeks with the way the DDP contract has been publicised in the media. Apparently the contract guarantees £500m in socio economic commitment to the area. Well obviously as the predicted framework is worth £500m I can't quite see how they can deliver to what the media has portrayed. I mean I know Helen is a task master when it comes to socio economic but even she wouldn't expect all the money to go into the region.

Actually whist I mention Helen Fisher it reminds me that the second Sellafield magazine is out and this time it is covering:

• Magnox Swarf Storage Silos: The clean-up plan for Sellafield's most hazardous facility
• An interview with Sue Hayman: What does the MP for Workington think about Sellafield?
• A look at how Cumbria has managed to stay open for business following Storm Desmond
• Defence in depth: Keeping Sellafield safe and secure

There are some other interesting articles and if you look really carefully you will find a little photo of yours truly! Let's have a competition have a look at the magazine (you can access it online through the Sellafield website) and the person that comes up with the best caption for the photo will win themselves a little prize!

Anyhow as usual I digress. So the DDP contract then is not only giving £500m to socio economics of the region but I also read that the winning companies are:

• Integrated Decommissioning Solutions (comprising Energy Solutions EU Ltd, Hertel (UK) Ltd, North West Projects Ltd and Westlakes Engineering Ltd)
• The Nexus Decommissioning Alliance (Costain Oil, Gas and Process)
• Cumbria Nuclear Solutions Ltd (Shepley Engineers, James Fisher Nuclear Ltd, REACT Engineering Ltd, Jacobs Stobbarts, Westinghouse Electric Company UK Ltd, WYG Engineering Ltd).
• The Decommissioning Alliance (Jacobs UK Ltd, Energy Solutions EU Limited, Westinghouse Electric Company UK Ltd)

There are going to be 114,000 jobs immediately for Cumbrian people. 95% of those jobs are guaranteed to go to local Cumbrian people.  – I love a good headline! In actual fact the official press release states:

"Among the pledges given by the selected companies are:

a 'local first' recruitment approach, with one consortium aiming for 95 per cent of work to be done by Cumbrian workers a commitment to give 150 jobs to 'under-represented or disadvantaged' people a commitment to create up to 240 new apprenticeships over the 10 year agreement companies promising to provide training, school outreach and business mentoringAnd, in what is believed to be a first for public spending in the UK, these commitments will be written into the contract, meaning companies would lose out financially if they fail to deliver.

Independent data analysis of the £500M DDP framework has found that 1,140 jobs a year could be created or supported during the 10-year contract period."

In reality we will not see any jobs coming out of the DDP framework for a number of months and many of the companies involved already have a good workforce ready and able to move on to the project. However, don't get me wrong, I am absolutely delighted that socio economics feature so highly now in Frameworks as it should. And the fact there is a focus on local labour and upskilling really is great news, but it does make me chuckle how out of context the information is taken when it appears in the media.

Innovus

Our friends at Innovus were delighted this week when they won an award for Outstanding Social Enterprise in the Better World Awards. Well done guys your passion, enthusiasm and hardwork deserves to be recognised!

BECBC

BECBC Feb Meeting this was a very busy event with 161 people attending

NuGen and 3DW - Working together

Thanked cluster for giving them new relationships with supply chain. Working creatively with the companies.

Development company currently until financial decision.

Working in public consultation stage and site assessment works.

Launched design competition which involves architects from throughout the world to design the look of Moorside.

Cluster has been successful in introducing them to businesses.

It is about engaging and communication.

3DW worked closely with them regarding the site.

Marrick are their design and marketing agency

Working with Adamedia overhead drone footage

Thanked the cluster and Directors for allowing them to engage and it is paying dividends.

Andy 3DW

Third year as a BECBC member and met NuGen at a cluster meeting. Make 3D visuals of large construction.

Largest 3D model ever produced from the site to accommodation and transport links.

Visualising new infrastructure and all that around it.

Everything they produce is interactive

Modelled the whole of Cumbria and how this would look

NuGen Bright Sparks Programme

Three of the closest schools to Moorside

Three year programme involving 600 local pupils

Visits to Nuclear Power Station at Heysham

In-School mentoring by STEM experts

Year 10 pupils

Links into the curriculum

Second stage consultation will kick off on the 14th May until 30th July covering the whole of Cumbria.

Acorn did a presentation on the case study of LLWR and collaboration and how they assisted LLWR & Graham Construction to create a new culture by knitting the two different cultures together.

Dalton Nuclear Institute at Westlakes gave an update on their facility and Knowles gave a presentation on their business and capabilities.

Nuclear Decommissioning Services

Nuclear Decommissioning Services has been acquired by Renew Holdings. Renew is an engineering services support business that already owns Shepley Engineering, PPS Electrical, West Cumberland Engineering and Mothersill Engineering. Nuclear Decommissioning Services will run as a subsidiary of Shepleys.

NuExec

Things are going really well with us at the moment and we are the busiest we have been for ages. We have some fantastic jobs and not all of them are featured on our website, due to confidentiality, so do get in touch if you are looking for new opportunities. As always, although we are really busy we still always have room for more opportunities so if your business is looking to recruit please get in touch.

NI Dinner - So Grown Up

I decided not to do an "it could only happen to me" but instead to give you the details of my rather entertaining evening last night at the NI Dinner. So at this point it is probably key to point out that I hardly ever drink at business events as I feel it is important to conduct yourself in a professional manner when in a business environment. However I have had one hell of a month and when Doosan Babcock kindly arranged transport for me I decided that I would throw caution to the wind and have a drink. (Maybe not the best idea especially when you are still feeling ropey at 13.30pm in the afternoon.) So I am not going to name any names but I was sat next to a lovely chap and we were chatting away and then there were two chaps and a lady who I know. So the two middle chaps were writing notes in their programme to each other and poor (let's call her Vera.) was getting a little paranoid that they were talking about her. So I decided I would share a note with her to make her smile. Now, I should probably say that when I have a drink I really should have an adult with me. In fact I quite often look for an adult when I am out and about. I think in all situations there should always be a designated grown up. So let's just say instead of writing I drew her a little picture. I wouldn't have drawn that picture for anyone else but as it was Vera I thought it would be fine. Whilst this was going on there was a man talking from Hospice at Home. This is a charity that I support hugely as is cancer research as it is something very close to me and a number of my friends and I would never make light of cancer or the devastating affects it has on people. Unfortunately I passed the programme to (let's call him Brad) and instead of passing it to Vera he opened it whilst the chap next to him looked and they came face to face with my fantastic drawing of......yes you've guessed it a cock! (I told you I need a grown up.) The result was 5 of us crying with laughter in the middle of a very serious presentation. And you know when you are trying with all your strength to be serious and you just keep giggling well that was me. I was flushed, tear stained and trying with all my strength to pull myself together. After that point and me shocking these poor chaps who thought they were inviting a grown up, things went from bad to worse and all I can say is I really hope that someone took that programme home with them.

Until next time.....