News: National conference on global nuclear supply chain opportunities

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) in Rotherham is helping to coordinate a national conference that aims to show small and medium-sized enterprises how they can seize global nuclear supply chain opportunities.

Rotherham is set to be at the heart of the civil nuclear industry following last year's announcement of the Nuclear AMRC at the Advanced Manufacturing Park.

It will provide a focal point for the bulk of the UK civil nuclear manufacturing industry supply chain, ensuring that manufacturers in the UK have the capability and capacity required to compete for nuclear new build in the UK and globally, from skills training to research and development.

The conference will help companies maximise their involvement in the UK's estimated £40bn nuclear new build plant construction, supply and decommissioning chain.

EDF Energy, together with their reactor designer Areva and their other tier one and tier two suppliers will explain the nuclear industry structure to the wider supply chain manufacturers, as well as explain and demystify their procurement process for nuclear new build in the UK and elsewhere. EDF Energy and Areva will talk about what small manufacturers need to do to become competitive suppliers to the nuclear industry.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is organising the conference that is being held at the Manchester Conference Centre on Monday September 27. It is in conjunction with the Nuclear AMRC, Nuclear Industry Association, SC@Nuclear Programme, Government, EDF Energy, Areva, Westinghouse and Doosan Babcock.

In July, The North West Manufacturing Advisory Service was appointed the national lead to coordinate the real support to British businesses provided by the MAS service nationwide to help them seize the commercial opportunities the rapidly expanding global civil nuclear market.

Paul Fewtrell, Head of MAS-NW said: "The nuclear programme offers enormous opportunities for SMEs across the UK, and to maximise this opportunity, MAS-NW's lead role as an honest broker will encourage and support new suppliers into the nuclear supply chains.

"We want to encourage manufacturers throughout the UK to think proactively and even laterally as to how the products they sell could be sold into the nuclear industry. I can only reiterate that the opportunities are enormous, and it would be a shame for UK manufacturers to miss their chance."

Nuclear AMRC website
MAS NW website