Businesses learn of multi-million-pound nuclear sector opportunitie

DELEGATES gathered for a highly anticipated nuclear showcase event where hundreds of millions of pounds' worth of work on some of the UK's largest infrastructure projects took centre stage.

The BECBC Nuclear Group Showcase brought together members of BECBC, a network of organisations and businesses operating across the energy sector, alongside major project owners and supply chain partners.

Representatives from Sellafield Ltd, Sizewell C, Nuclear Restoration Services Dounreay and event sponsor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure shared updates on forthcoming opportunities, highlighting the significant pipeline of work available to businesses across the sector.

Dianne Richardson, BECBC Chief Executive, said: "It's great that we've had such high-profile speakers here today. Nuclear was out of fashion for a while, but that's completely changed. There are lots of opportunities in the sector. People know that if we are going to tackle climate change, we need clean energy. That's renewables and nuclear.

"BECBC exists for our members to do business together. We had 250 members here today. You can look for your future customer, your future supplier or your future collaborator. Events like this are a great way to find work and build relationships. Our members say the agenda and the speakers are so useful for them."

The showcase at Energus, near Workington, featured expert speakers, almost 50 exhibitors and numerous networking opportunities to explore what's happening across the UK's nuclear ecosystem.

Duncan Elliot, Nuclear Infrastructure Director at event sponsor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, which is undertaking around £900 million of work at Sellafield over the next 15 years, said: "Today is massively valuable. We do get contractors from events such as this. In the last few years, nuclear has become the place to be."

Speeches were delivered by Robert Astall, Commercial Business Partner at NRS Dounreay; Stephanie Atkinson, Supply Chain Strategy Lead at Sellafield Ltd; Ben Pritchard, Senior Commercial Manager - Governance at Sizewell C; and Claudia Elliott, Sizewell C's Strategic Sourcing Lead.

Managing Director of the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH), Gary McKeating, gave an update on progress at the iSH Enterprise Campus.

The showcase also featured presentations and a Q&A session with three of the candidates for next year's Cumbria mayoral election: Labour's David Allen, the Conservatives' Mike Starkie and Libby Bateman of the Liberal Democrats.