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.....