Collaboration in action - Resolve and the power of the Cumbrian supply chain
Resolve Engineered Solutions is a partnership between four BECBC member companies: React Engineering, Forth, Core Nuclear Solutions, and COMS. Formed in 2022, Resolve brings together over 250 personnel across multiple disciplines to deliver engineering solutions in the nuclear and broader energy sectors. The group was created to combine the strengths of each business and offer a more joined-up, end-to-end delivery model - while maintaining the flexibility and responsiveness of SMEs.
In its first year, Resolve won the BECBC Collaboration Award, recognising the success of its integrated approach and alignment with the values of the cluster. Kayleigh Daniels, Head of Development at React said: “Building stronger relationships together is in everyone’s interest. It helps us open more doors beyond Cumbria and helps grow the size of the opportunities for everyone.”
Following a successful initial engagement, Resolve has been awarded a new two-year contract to continue supporting Sellafield Ltd’s Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor. The ECOE was created, in part, to address resource and capability challenges in engineering delivery and introduced a new way of working through focused ‘Sprint’ teams - small groups of people tasked with solving specific, real Sellafield/NDA site challenges. “We couldn’t always get resources we needed because of a skills gap and a shortage of Sellafield personnel to support and drive the Sprints to their potential. So, we went out to the supply chain. At least one member of the Resolve team is with the Sprint teams every day of their six-week project, supporting, guiding. It has made a huge difference,” said Matt Dixon, Nuclear Solutions Group Engineering Lead, from the Engineering Centre of Excellence.
The ECOE needed a support partner that was agile, local, and capable of working closely with Sprint teams. Resolve met that need through an embedded, co-located model. React, Core, and COMS are all based in West Cumbria, and Forth occupies part of the same building as the Centre itself - allowing immediate access to workshop facilities, rapid testing, and prototyping. “Sprint teams can walk next door and test solutions immediately,” added Matt Dixon. “That level of access and trust is essential to how we now work.”
According to Lorna Devine, Nuclear Solutions Group Engineering Lead at ECOE: “Resolve’s embedded presence enables us to iterate, adapt, and deliver far more effectively than a remote partner could. Their understanding of Sellafield’s unique environment is second to none. We’re building a new way of working here - and Resolve is central to that. Their approach has unlocked both innovation and efficiency.”
Resolve has supported several Sprints since the partnership began. In one example, the team helped solve an issue with skip compatibility in a hazardous pond. A simple, bespoke tool developed by Resolve and the Sprint team enabled compatibility checks to be completed before skips were deployed - reducing the risk of downtime and improving safety. The solution cost £65,000 and helped avoid potential disruption worth over £300,000 per day. “We give them a package of work, and they deliver,” said Matt Dixon. “They understand how we work and what we need. Previously the Sprints came up with a concept and that wasn’t always deployed. Now, with Resolve, we can move the solution into site delivery. This speeds up deployment and is saving the sites incredible amounts of money.”
Resolve’s approach allows ideas from Sprint teams to be tested, proven, and delivered within short timeframes - offering value for money while supporting Sellafield’s strategic goals. The partnership that created Resolve has a truly local mentality. “We always look to Cumbria first,” said Kayleigh Daniels. “Working together made Resolve possible, and we’re continuing that approach as we grow.”
By providing clients, like the ECOE, with direct access to trained specialist resources based in the local area, Resolve ensures that every pound spent contributes to the local economy. With a team of over 250 locally based employees, Resolve fosters a resilient and growing economy within our communities, enabling people to live, work, and play in their local towns.
Resolve's commitment to community support is evident through its involvement in various projects and initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for people in Cumbria. From sponsoring the React Foundation's School’s of the Future Programme, which inspires young students to envision the future of education, to supporting The Freedom Project, which aids victims of domestic violence, Resolve plays a key role in uplifting the community. Additionally, Resolve's sponsorship of the Cumberland Council Stars of Tomorrow Ball and the Whitehaven RFLC annual Pensioners Christmas Meal highlights its dedication to diverse community needs. These efforts not only enhance social value but also demonstrate Resolve's integral role in fostering a thriving, interconnected Cumbrian economy.
With the new two-year contract in place, Resolve is continuing to support and scale Sellafield’s Sprint programme - offering greater testing capacity, faster delivery, and a direct route from concept to implementation. The model is also being explored for application at other sites and sectors, including nuclear defence and nuclear new build. “We want to expand what’s working - and show how local companies can work together to meet national challenges,” adds Scott Telford of Forth.